Update on my cousin....Long

Well I went to see my cousin yesterday and it was not a good day for her. As I was walking in the doctor was walking out and he did not give her good news.

First...apparently her incompetent cervix was because of a D&C she had done 2 years ago. Apparently they didn't tell her that they had to dilate her cervix and in the process somehow her cervix got damaged.

They also didn't give her a good report. She's only 19 weeks and already 3 cm dilated. They can put a cerclage in however the doctor said she runs a high risk of infection, still going into early labor and possibly even losing her ability to carry another child ever. This was extremly hard to hear....she's only 27 this is 2nd pregnancy the first resulting in a m/c.

Right now she is on complete bedrest with her legs elevated. Her cervix is open and she can stay that way until however long the baby holds out however, they told her since she is already 3cm and the sac came out a little it was exposed to bacteria and she runs another risk of infection there. The sac is currently back in it's place and the baby which is a is a little fighter. She was moving all over the place and her heartbeat was strong at 150. This is the good news.

They also proceeded to tell her that she was lucky she ended up in a Catholic Hospital that doesn't believe in abortions because if she would have went into another hospital they would have done nothing to prevent her from giving birth. ***...personally I don't believe this but who knows.

Right now it's a waiting game. From some research I have done I see that usually once this happens and no cerclage is put in place the baby is usually born. She is having no contractions and her cervix has stayed steady at 3cm since Monday night which is good. They told her that if she can hold the baby until 24 weeks the baby has a 50/50 chance of making it...28 weeks the chances go up. If the baby is born now even if it's alive they won't try to save it until at least 22 weeks.

We are still praying and believing that God is going to work a miracle and she will have a healthy baby....maybe premature but a fighter. Please continue to keep my cousin in your prayers. Thank You!

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

I can't believe they won't try to save the baby until 22 weeks. One girl just had a baby at 19 or 21 weeks (can't remember) this year and the baby is fine now and came haome from the hospital a few months later. I will pray for her to keep that little girl going!!!!!

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

Jacqui, it's awful, your poor cousin. I hope & pray that Mum & Baby will be OK

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

i am sending tons and tons of prayers her way....

I hope she opts for the cerclage, it prob.is her best chance..oh so difficult. I hope baby can stay in at least until 24 weeks, to give her a good shot of surviving

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

Many many

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

My sister just spoke to her and she is opting for the cerclage

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

sending prayers to your cousin and family. hoping for the best for them

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

Posted by jacquig

My sister just spoke to her and she is opting for the cerclage

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

i don't understand why they wouldn't try the cerclage? i am not an OB, but i would think that even though the cerclage is an invasive procedure, the risk of infection is much higher just leaving the cervix open. so why not take a chance and put it in while giving prophylactic antibiotics?

3 cm dilated is not too bad - some women go on with that level of dilation for weeks and weeks. with a cerclage and complete bedrest, i think she's got a fighting chance.

if this is truly an issue of cervical damage, then it's not going to be better for the next pregnancy, if anything it will be worse. so why not maximize the chances of this pregnancy being successful?

which hospital is she in? not to be a hospital snob, but if she's in a community hospital you might consider transferring to one of the larger academic centers with more advanced high-risk care. studies have shown that both high-risk mothers and their babies do better in places with better resources. just a thought...

ETA: just saw the above post, SO glad that she is opting for the cerclage. from my (limited) OB knowledge, i would think that that is her best option.

Message edited 8/10/2007 11:47:15 AM.

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

which hospital is she in? not to be a hospital snob, but if she's in a community hospital you might consider transferring to one of the larger academic centers with more advanced high-risk care. studies have shown that both high-risk mothers and their babies do better in places with better resources. just a thought...

She's in Good Sam....they are trying to get her moved to NSUH

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

Well she went in for an amnio...if everything looks good they are going to do the cerclage today. Thanks for the prayers ladies!!!

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

She needs to be at a hospital with a great NICU, I would try to get her moved to LIJ or Columbia, those were my choices when I had to have a pediatric cardiologist on call at all times for my boys.

Good luck to your cousin.

Re: Update on my cousin....Long

My sister had a cerclage put in for my niece at 20 weeks(they noticed her cervix was open when she went for a sonogram!) She wasn't put on bedrest but was told to stopworking. They took the stitch out atthen end of the 8th month and said she could go anyday- well she didn't go the whole ninth month!!! She ended up having to be induced at 9 days PAST her due date

Her next pregancy was twins- she had the cerclage done early in her preganany and carried the twins to 37 weeks when she was induced because she was huge!!!!!

So tell your cousin it can work!!!

Sending her tons of