18 Weeks - Cerclage Surgery

 

How Far Along: 18 weeks.  Our babies’ vocal cords are formed and their heart features are fully detectable.  Their lungs have already begun exhaling amniotic fluid.

Total Weight Gain: 145 lbs (so about 11lbs gained)

Maternity Clothes: Pretty much all maternity pants.  Some of my regular tops still cover my belly, but mostly wear maternity tops now as well.

Sleep:  I've been put on Indocin to help control contractions, so I'm up at 2am to take my medicine.

Best Worst Moment This Week: Tuesday, I had my appointment to do the full anatomy scan on my babies.  That part went extremely well. They are both ahead of schedule at 10oz each.  What wasn't so great was my cervical length - it went from 32mm two weeks ago (which is about 2mm above normal) to 17mm - which is what it should be when I'm around 34-36 weeks pregnant.  Not only was it significantly short, Baby A had begun funneling.  I was devastated.  It's too early for them to be born yet!  Apparently, I've been having contractions that was causing this and didn't even realize it. 

Dr. Paul immediately put me on Indocin to control the contractions and told me I need to have cerclage surgery done to close up my cervix.  He put me on bedrest for Wednesday and then was to be admitted to the hospital Thursday morning at 11am.  Surgery was scheduled for 6pm Thursday evening. He said that I would probably be released Sunday evening and he wasn't sure of what restrictions I would have.  He warned me that bedrest is usually what follows cerclage surgery.  OMG!  Bedrest for 20 weeks!!  This was all so overwhelming to me.  What I thought was going to be a good day and a good appointment turned out to be one of the worst!  Jared was just as devastated.  We worked so hard to get here and we couldn't lose my babies now.  Tuesday turned out to be such an emotional day and phone calls were made to both parents and my boss to let them know the possible risks and outcomes of this procedure.

Surgery went on as planned at 6pm on Thursday.  It took about 20 minutes and was a success!  Dr. Paul was able to stitch up my cervix without puncturing Baby A's sac or harming the babies in any way.  He was such a life saver!  And to think that if I stayed with Dr. Reining, who wouldn't even look at cervical length until 24 weeks, I know we'd be in a different situation.  Dr. Paul did an ultrasound late Thursday evening and Friday morning to check up on my little ones.  They were as playful as ever!  Saturday morning, he came by again to check up on them and told me that I was able to go home!  My restrictions are limited walking and driving.  No lifting and no sex (Sorry Jared!).  He also wants to see me weekly for the next few weeks to make sure I'm healing okay and will adjust the restrictions accordingly.  He said bedrest, however, is inevitable - it's just a matter of when. 

 

 

Movement:  Starting to feel slight 'flutters' in my belly but no kicks.  

 

Looking Forward To:  I have to call Dr. Paul on Monday to set up an appointment for Friday.  Hopefully things looks good and I can continue to have a relatively easy pregnancy.