Failed Cerclage (not emergency cerclage)

Taryn,
I am so sorry for your losses and God bless your angels. I loss my daughter Cadence on 12/2/07 at 22 1/2 weeks. My cerclage failed. It was not technically a planned cerclage but it wasn't considered a "rescue" one either bc they noticed little funneling but since they felt little resistance in my cervix, they decided to do the cerclage. Well it didnt work. I will need to get a transabdominal cerclage for the next time. Thru the belly they can supposedly get it higher and th higher keeps it closed better. Well that is what they say. For me I am just for being educated and praying and those doctors can do what they know. And I hope withall of that, that will bring my other children safetely to my husband and I. If you fidn any info, I will share with you and I hope you do the same. Please take care
Geri

It happened to me too
Let me first say, I am sorry for your loss, as I feel the same pain.

I lost my son, Chance Beckman Williams, 13 days ago due to a failed cerclage. I'm so angry. I had the cerclage placed at 18 weeks, two days after my sonogram revealed a short cervix. Also, after a Perinatologists' confirmation of the revelation, but he also added that it was funneling. A doctor from the OB office, whom I intrusted with me and my baby's care, performed the surgery. I thought I was safe, that is until my follow ultrasound with the Perinatologist about 14 days later. The Perinatologist revealed that my baby's sac (membranes) had funneled right through to the stitch. Needless to say, it took two weeks for part of my membranes to funnel pass the stitch, and become lodged there. My son continued to live inside me, not knowing what was to come. I nurtured my boy for two weeks, not knowing what was happening to me, us, and him.

I'm crushed that I carried my baby boy for 23 weeks, fought for two days in head lower than foot position to keep him in my belly (magnesium drip and all), and he entered the world so early anyways. My son fought for his life in the NICU for 22 hours 43 minutes before I got to hold him as he ascended to heaven. I'm so crushed that this happened to me and my first born.

I am in the process of trying to grieve and figure everything out. The next time I get pregnant, hopefully in 2 or 3 months, I will demand a TAC at 12 weeks. A mother can only bare so much... Ladies demand the best care! I had aches and pains well before that 18 week sonogram, but my doctor dismissed it. Oh how I wished I'd demanded the attention or went somewhere else. Just perhaps the ending would've been different had I'd gotten the stitch before my cervix began to change. Perhaps the ending would be the same.

Next time, I am armed with the right information, and plan to start off right away with a high risk OB (I have an appointment in two weeks), and have an action plan for a TAC. I will refuse to loose another child, without exploring all my options.

Hi

To everyone, including mom2Chance,

I lost my son lance on Dec 13, 2008. He was born at 22 weeks. It is suspected that I have an incompetent cervix or went into pre-term labor. I unfortunately share a similar pain as you. I felt as if my doctor really didnt pay me much attention, and because I never complained about much, he felt all was ok.

I am scared to death to have another baby, My doctor seems to be very confident of the vaginal cerclage but I am just paranoid that it wont work, additionally I am not sure how long I would be out on bedrest. I am considering just doing the transabdominal procedure as well. There is no need for me to chance another life when (like someone previously mentioned) we already know what is more likely to work. I cant get to 22 weeks and have the same thing happen when I could have down the TAC.

I have heard that fertility is affected by the TAC but I am not sure who true this is.

I am praying for all of our Angels!

I also lost 2 babies...first, had my son, Logan, on June 17, 2008 at 20 weeks....second, had my daughter,Amelia, Jan. 19, 2009. After the loss of my son I was dx with IC. When I found out i was pregnant again 3 months after the loss of my son I was so excited but scared. I had cerclage placed, with my second pregnancy, at 13 weeks by my ob/gyn. He placed a Mcdonald cerclage. I went for my us, at 22 weeks, and found that i had funneling through out my cervix and also had buldging membranes. I was rushed to a different hospital to have a rescue cerclage while attempting to save my baby the doctor ruptured my membrane. It took 3 days before I went into labor. I lost my baby girl at 22.4 weeks. I too don't know where to go from here. Maybe a Shridokar cerclage or TAC???? Any suggestions???

Where you on bedrest?

I would demand a TAC at this point. Personally, I would rather do all I could than to have more losses and wonder if I should have tried something different.

Dearest Ashlelylb and Gingerk,

I am so very sorry for your losses. No one should ever have to go through the pain of losing a child. And then to have to go through more then one loss is unthinkable.
My husband and I have lost 2 daughters that were born 9 months apart. Unfortunately, another pregnancy is not an option for us. I will be 40 years old in May and the thought of another pregnancy terrifies me.
Please know that I'm thinking of you and your families and hoping that the future brings you peace.
Keep us posted on how things are going. I wish you all the best.
Colleen

I went to see the perinatologist today. He thinks that the Shridokar cerclage is the way to go next time. I asked him about TAC and he said it is basically the same as the Shridokar except one is placed abdominally and the other one through the vagina. He said that doctors do the TAC because they are afraid to go through the vagina to place the stich high up on the cervix due to having to move the bladder. he gave me statics of 85% do fine, 10% do ok and 5% don't make it to full term. He seems to be a good doctor who has placed like 900 cerclages. If anyone is intrested in him, Google Dr. Potter (Atlanta). Has anyone had a Shridokar cerclage?? What to expect??

the transabdominal isthe best wayto go after a failed Shridokar one higher is not always thenbest abdominal is placed high thatiswhythey do it laperscopic the dont stitch the cervis so there is no trama to it I am in your position I has mc donalds it made it to 26.5 baby is ok but stitched failed .next they did Shridokar i made 36.4 but I also did 14 weeks hospital bed rest . they think itworked buttome funneling at 17 weeks is scarry and hard waiting for you water tobreak or labor .I am 9 weeks sceduled monday for cerclage but waiting on consult for abdominal . it is the best stitch with less worries but not many docs do it so you have to research . I lost one at 17 weeks and know how hard it is and the fears we carry trying again but it will work out find the best docs it takes time but worth it.
emil if you have ?

I am 27 years old and I have no children. I have been pregnant five times...but no children. My most recent lost was the longest I was pregnant...22 wks & 4 days, Prior, to me knowing about my 5th angel my husband and I were concered why I was unable to get pregnat after trying for 4 years...to our amazement at my routine GYN visit my doctor told me I was pregnant. it was the first time I had a high-risk OB/GYN that was dedicated to making this a sucessful pregnancy and for the first time identifying that I had an incompetant cervix based on my history.

I knew I couldn't not bare the grief, pain, and embarrassment of another loss and the insecurities that I was not WOMEN enough to be a mother. I had a cerclage put in during my 16th wk. 2 weeks after I was sched for a doctors appt and he recognized that my cervix was opening between the stitching. Immediately, he told me to go to the hospital. What upsets me most is that prior to my visit I expressed to my doctor that I was feeling alot of vaginal pressure and it was extremly painful when I got up from sitting for a long period of time. He said that the baby was sitting very low next to my bladder. Never did he put me on bed-rest before he seen that there was a problem. I blame myself to this day that I did not go to another doctor; especially after he blew me off.

so word of advice: DO NOT LET ANYONE TELL YOU HOW YOU SHOULD FEEL ABOUT YOUR BODY. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THE RESPONSE TELL YOUR DOCTOR AGAIN OR CONSULT WITH ANOTHER DOCTOR. YOU KNOW YOUR BODY BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE!!!

At 18 weeks I was admitted into the hospital on strict bedrest. 4 weeks of laying with my head up-side down, not able to walk to even to the bathroom...I still lose the baby.
I prayed EVERY day that I can carry this healthy-strong heart beating child full term or at least enough time where she survives.... still my prayers have not been answered. Now after child #5 I am numb about the loss. It was recommended for me to wait 1-2 yrs before getting pregnant again. But I want to give up on the idea of me having children. i need to understand why I can not carry full-term.
I rushed back to work to stay busy, I avoid conversations and I rarely go out. At one point I was angry/scared that my husband still mouns the loss of our children. I cant stand seeing my husband suffering becz of my stupid body, but I thank God that he is who he is, because I don't know how many men could go through what my husband has with me for the past 9 yrs.

Even though I try to avoid the situation; act as if I can move on, I still cry and get angry about it. After reading so many brave women testimonies I could only cry with empathy and relief that I found others that know the pain, suffering, disappointment, and the impact that it has... Some still trying..still scarred..and others that have finally delivered a live child.
Makes me wonder is there hope for me.

Hello ladies....I am sorry to read all the losses we've all had. It really isn't fair. I am 6wk2day pregnant and I am going in on the 5th for my 1st ultrasound and then my first visit with my Dr. on 8th when I am 7wks to discuss what plan of attack we have to get this baby to full term. I lost twin girls on Sept 8th, 08 due to an IC. This was my 1st pregnancy.

I am just curious. Have anyone of you (or know anyone) who has had a successful pregnancy with a cercelge? If so, what cerclege did they use? Bedrest? If so, starting when? How frequent did you/they go in for checking if your cervix was opening after the cerclege? I am worried that I won't have a successful pregnancy. It took soo long to get here....we had to do IVF to get to this point.

I have lost six pregnancy due to my cervix. I went to Dr. Potter (Atlanta) and he has given me hope of a successful pregnancy. I have made it to 24 weeks and I feel great. Bedrest and prayer has helped me to be strong with this pregnancy. My water broke with the McDonald cerclage at 19 weeks with my last pregnancy. If the cerclage is not placed in the right spot or close to the top of the cervix it might not work properly. Cause that was my problem. I am hoping that I could make it to term or at least 32 weeks. We all have suffered lost but our determination keeps us going, so never lose hope. I know its hard.

I had a loss at 20 weeks, this last april and I learned about a transabdominal cerclage on the internet. Check AbbyLoopers.org in the internet. I did and I was able to speak with two drs. (dr. Haney in Chicago and Dr. George Davis in NJ) who can do this type of cerclage. It is high up, where the uterus meets the cervix and it is done via 4 small holes in your stomach. Dr. haney told me that he has never lost a baby witha TAC due to incompetent cervix.
First my docot in NC told me, he will not do the TAC for me untill I had another 2nd trimester loss, or a failure of a vaginal cerclage. I told him I had had all of the "failures" I was prepared to have. The pain of loosing anothe rbaby is not one that I can hendle. So finally he agreed and I had the surgey this past friday. I am hoping that we can try another IVf after that and the TAC will hold to term.
Don't loose hope, and find a doctor who is willing to really help you.

My OB put a cervical cerclage in when I was 14 weeks pregnant. Prior to that pregnancy I had had my first child at 29 weeks (she's 16 now), then 7 yrs later I had a blighted ovum, the following year I gave birth at 21 1/2 weeks (my son lived for 15 days), the following year I was pregnant and that's when I was diagnosed with an incompetent cervix. My doctor told me that I had to make it to the 14th week of pregnancy before they would intervene. At that point the cerclage was in place and I was monitored every week until delivery. My cervix began to open at 7 months, I was hospitilized until I gave birth at 37 weeks (he's 8 now). I am now 8 1/2 weeks pregnant now and I'm scheduled for my cerclage in 5 weeks. The cerclage worked for me. I think it's all about taking action before the worst happens. Good luck to everyone.

Priscilla,

I lost my son at 22 weeks due to IC and I also recently experienced a blighted ovum. What type of cerclage did you have, were you on bedrest prior to going into the hospital?

Ashley

I can relate to your sadness of losing your much wanted babies. I am soo sorry for your losses. I can tell you that I had a McDonald cerclege at 13wk4day. It was done 4 days ago and so far, so good. My cervix was long and thick and a really good candidate for the cerclege. It was placed as high as possible and will be taken out at 37 weeks. I had soo many worries and fears leading up to having it done. There are risks and I worry but am hopeful this will work. We are going in 6 days for a check-up and an ultrasound to check the cerclege. I wish you luck.

I just lost my first child, our baby boy at 22 weeks premature last month (july 14th,09) due to incompetent cervix. My dr recommends a cerclege during my next pregnancy, which i'm completely scared of so it's nice to read everyones storys and know that i'm not alone. My prays go out to you all sincerely.

There is a ton of info here on Share about cerclages and hopefully by reading them you won't be so overwhelmed. I had one in my 2nd pregnancy and the procedure was not near as bad as I was expecting. They basically give you an epidural (saddle block in my case) and you can't feel a thing. It was pretty easy over all.

Good Luck,
Jackie

By the way, this is an old discussion that I posted a few years ago about my experience with my cerclage. Hopefully i twill help you figure out what to expect. Cerclage discussion

I also lost a child after getting a cerclage. I had mine done at 14 weeks into my pregnancy. I was scared but was also prepared to have my baby. No price was too high. I was on complete bed rest thereafter. I still felt crampy and I knew something was wrong. I visited the doctor and I was told all was okay I just had to continue with bedrest. I did and then at twenty-seven weeks my little girl came. The cerclage came loose and she was born the same night. She lived only three days. I previously lost a boy in 2004, unaware at the time that I had an incompetent cervix. After two failed pregnancies I am hurt, confused angry, and disappointed. I don't even know if I ever want to be pregnant again. the thought is just too scary. I think adoption may be the next step for me as I do want to be a mom. Who knows, maybe its the path I am to take.

Welcome to Share. I am so sorry that it is the loss of your child that brings you to here.

I will tell you that this is a great place to find help healing and a shoulder to lean on. I do know of other women who have had failed cerclages, but I know many women with successful ones as well. Do the drs have any knowledge as to why the cerclage came loose? There are other kinds of cerclages that might be an option - some are just different forms of a cervical stitch and others are placed higher in the abdomen and are permanent. There are also some studies that show 17P suppositories help reduce PTL problems in women with suspected IC.

But I can totally understand not wanting to be pregnant again. My first child was early because of IC or PTL, the doctors weren't sure which. In my second pregnancy, I had a cerclage and 17P shots, and thankfully carried full term. But the pregnancy was so stressful and I was so paranoid, I never want to be pregnant again. And that's without a loss in my history so I can only imagine how you must feel. My heart goes out to you and I hope you can find the right path for you. I have a friend who lost twins about 5 years ago and has now adopted 2 children from Kazakstan. They are the cutest family ever. So keep that as a definite option.

Hugs,
Jackie

hey, sometimes i know that the last thing you want to here is i'm sorry for your lost i no because i am there. i just lost my baby boy 3 days ago 10/23/09 at 18 weeks. this is my 3rd lost do to an ic. with this pregnancy i was suppose to get a cerclage at 13 weeks but sadly my ob had a heart attack and could not perform the surgery. from then everything started to go wrong. i was refered to a perinatologist who did not believe just because i had 2 losses due to ic that i would have another. so he recommeded that he monitor me on a weekly bases in order to determine wether i need a cerclage. well that didnt last long becouse the following week my cervix began to shorten and 2days later i had to get a cerclage they were only able to save 8mm of my cervix. 3wks later i went to the er for vaginal bleeding and pressure that i had been feeling for sometime. when i was examined they had discovered that the water bag was bulging through the stich the dr said that she had to break the bag because my cervix could split or i could get an infection in my uterus inow wonder if that was the right decision being that i had to be induced and my uterus would not contract maybe he was not ready to be born. that lost was definately the hardest. the lostbefore that was at 20 wks i had an emergency cerclage at in 05 at 18 wksbut the baby died because i got an infection. and before my first lost was again at 18wks due to an ic i had lost three boys. my dr recommends that th next time that i conceive she will place the stich at 12wks high up on the cervix above the bladder. she says that she is hopeful.

well i now that i will have a baby in the future and i pray that i dont ever have to revisit this place again because it does not get easier i mean i feel all the emotions in one and reading all of your messages has made me a little stronger and more hopeful. hopefully i can help some one with mine i believe that we go through things in life for a reason and this may sound crazy but it is not for us to suffer but for us to grow and have an impact on the lifes of others i mean think about it; its kind of bitter sweet but if we didnt go through it how would we be able to support each other as we are doing today. as for our little angels they were never ours to keep. we needed them but god needed them more. dont get me wrong i am saying all of this with a heavy heart and after today i may still cry. but i will move on and continue praying looking for ways to prevent this from ever happening again.

so please stay positive and hopeful and never give up

love baby love 3

I hads my cerclege done at 13weeks after lossing twin girls last year. The cerclege (stich around cervix) is placed high. I was not treated any different in the practice, visits every 4 weeks, but at my 22wk apt I was having funneling above and to the stitch. I was dreading the worst thinking I was going to lose another baby. With bedrest at home, weekly dr visits w/ultra, p17 shots....I have hope......I am 27 weeks today.

please feel free to contact me if you want to talk more. It seems like it will never happen but the best advise I can give is TAKE IT ONE DAY AT A TIME!

Congratulations on 27 weeks. One day at a time is a good way to take things around here...

Please keep us updated on you and the baby.
Ellen

Congrats on 27 weeks! That's awesome! Please keep us posted on your progress!

Yolonda

`Hello I now that this thread may be a bit behind schedule but I did come across it and thought the words written by 2blessed2bestressed wa very influential. I just lost my son at 22wks on Tuesday Jan 5th at 19 weeks. I had both a cerclage and an E.R. cerclage done but my membranes began to funnel for a second time in 4 days and doctors were not hopeful. I had my labor induced and cannot find solace in this situatuin yet.

I also gave birth in March of '09. I was 23 weeks and had a lil girl. She was in the NICU for 5 months. Doctors were getting ready to let my baby girl come home but she became sick form a blood transfusion. In August she passed away. She was tired of fighting and I could not watch her suffer anymore.

I am trying to make sence of this situation and am usually a spiritual person. But as I write I can not find the reason to why I or anyone of us should go through such a horrible ordeal.......

I will say that the words written by 2blessed...are comforting and maybe it will get better. But right now I only find comfort in my tears and hope for a better outcome next time if there is a next time.

I know words can't really comfort the terrible hurt you are going through right now but your post made me want to reach out to you and tell you how sorry I am to hear of another heart broken as yours has been.

Be kind to yourself and take time to grieve. I found a local support group really helped me process this senseless loss. Wishing you support on your journey.

Thanks. I know that I need time physically and emotionally to heal but I am trying not to focus on when Society thinks that I should try again. My fear now is that if I wait too long I will be unable to have children again or something will happen where it will take a couple of years to get another bundle of joy.
I am approaching 28 but.......I have been trying for years to conceive. I was seeing a fertility doctor and there was no success and on my hands and knees praying and then finally..... I finally got pregnant at 26 with my daughter out of the blue. But then she passed.
I thought that I was being shown favor when I got pregnant again with my son but that only ended up in another tragedy.

I desperately want to try again soon but I am afraid. Skeptical of what others may say about me trying again in a few months and scared that this ordeal may happen again. To be honest the few people that knew that I was pregnant do not even know that I have lost my son. I don't even know if it's embaressment or the thought of people feeling pitty for me.
I am just ONE BIG QUESTION MARK

I wish you the best of luck in your next try as well. I have had a baby die at birth, 3 other miscarriages and a baby at 29 weeks who is now healthy - I want another so bad but wonder how many times I will try for success this time. I have low progesterone, an incompetent cervix and a tilted pelvis so not much on my side . . . . it seems so unfair at times to watch people have 4, 5, or more kids and some who don't even care about them . . .

Hello everyone,
I am 24yrs old and I lost my first baby boy on April 17, 2009. I never thought I would ever post this publicly but this will help me heal and I hope this will help any of you. I was diagnosed with an IC after losing my child at 22wks. I really thought everything was going to be okay because I past the 3month mark and was like hey I'm going to have this baby unfortunately, it took a wrong turn and I just couldn't believe I lost my first baby. My husband and I were so devastated. I thought after what happened to us I thought it would make us much stronger but we were falling apart. He was frustrated I was frustrated. It was just a battle of emotions moving like a rollercoaster. I kept blaming myself finding everything thing that I did wrong. I was sucked into this whole depression over my son’s death for the remainder of that year. I was so terrified of getting pregnant that I pushed my husband away and became a workaholic. I gave him all the excuses of why I didn’t want to have sex. I kept saying I was tired. It got to the point where me and my husband argued every single day once I got off work. I went into a whole drinking episode and I hit rock bottom. I was so afraid of that feeling I had in the hospital of losing my son that I drank and numbed it away. I drank often because I didn’t want to share with anyone family or friends about how I really felt. I thought I could handle my feelings and emotions on my own. I didn’t even want to open up to my husband because he felt the same way and I didn’t want to make him sad because I constantly blamed myself. I didn’t realize all of these things until me and my husband sat down and just had a lay out of what we have been feeling then we started to open up to each other explaining our own journeys with what happened to our son. So instead of going on the journey of recovery together we were trying to handle it the best way we thought we could and it didn’t work. We both realize this after that great talk and it made me stronger than ever. Its just sad how death can take its toll on you and just put you in darkness.

After this whole episode of losing my dear child, I realize that I can’t dwell on his death and also never would I forget it. So I made a promise to my son that I will keep trying no matter what and one day I will have his brother or sister. Just this past month, me and my husband decided we are going to try again and to stay positive. It was a rough road last year but ladies I want you to know that there is a man above us who sees all our pains and suffering and he knows we can handle it. We are woman and the reason why there are humans here I just want everyone to know not give up and have faith.

Here is a little hope story for you all:
My mother lost my little brother right after me. I was born in 1985 and my little brother in 1984 the reason is still unknown. He was born 7 months premature and ever since that year my mom had multiple miscarriages. She wanted a boy so badly because she had three girls me and my two sisters. Her doctor diagnosed her with an Incompetent cervix. Fifteen years later after more than 5 miscarriages my mom gave birth to my little brother at the age of 39 going on 40. Her doctor placed a cerclage at 13 weeks and my mom carried my miracle brother for 38 weeks. He is healthy and is 10 years old so he is such a blessing. I was the youngest child until he came along and he has brought so much joy and happiness to our family. See there is hope.

Good luck to everyone and I wish you all the best. Thank you for reading my story I really appreciate it.

Good luck in the future and I hope future pregnancies bring you joy...

Ellenbb