Incompetent Cervix Support Group

I am starting this thread to help women become aware of incompetent cervix and give those suffering from the condition a place for support when planning to ttc, are ttc, are pregnant, have suffered a loss due to IC and even those who beat IC.
I am including a list of members of this thread and their current IC statuses (pregnant, beat IC or TTC with IC). I am also including information for those who feel they may have this condition or are just curious about it.....
We also have a fb page so feel free to request an add!!!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_173907529325855

Here is a siggy my friend on here made (I will link her profile soon)










The information
DO NOT USE THIS INFORMATION TO DIAGNOSE YOURSELF! IF YOU SUSPECT THAT YOU MAY HAVE IT TALK WITH YOUR OB/GYN OR MID-WIFE!

Incompetent Cervix (IC) is something that I am seeing more and more around baby gaga and even outside of the internet. Many people do not know what this is because it is not well known about unless you or someone close to you suffers from it so some may be asking…”What is Incompetent Cervix?”

I think American Pregnancy Association says it in the best way possible:
“During pregnancy, as the baby grows and gets heavier, it presses on the cervix. This pressure may cause the cervix to start to open before the baby is ready to be born. This condition is called incompetent cervix or weakened cervix, and it may lead to a miscarriage or premature delivery. However, an incompetent cervix happens in only about 1 out of 100 pregnancies.” (Last updated 01/2007)

What can be the cause of IC?

“A weakened cervix can be caused by one or more of the following conditions:

* Previous surgery on the cervix
* Damage during a difficult birth
* Malformed cervix or uterus from a birth defect
* Previous trauma to the cervix, such as a D&C (dilation and curettage) from a termination or a miscarriage
* DES (Diethylstilbestrol) exposure” (American Pregnancy Association, 2007).

Treatment

When a doctor has discovered that you have IC they often have their own preferences as to what route they would like to see you go. Here are some of those options:

1. Cerclage – stitched the cervix to reinforce it from opening.

There are 3 kinds of stitches that can be used.

• McDonald
• Shriodkar
• Transabdominal Cerclage. (AKA TAC)

The first 2 types are removed before birth but the last is usually left to remain in place and requires a woman to have a c-section.

1. Bed rest is another option for women with IC and often accompanies a cerclage. Sometimes it is moderate bed rest while other times it is strict.

1. Progestrone injections which are used to help relax the uterus so that is is less likely to contract.

These can be used separately but from what I have personally seen they USUALLY go hand in hand. Some women are lucky enough to only need the cerclage though!


There are risks to having a cerclage placed but sometimes the chances of a healthy baby out weight those risks!!

For more info on cerclages please check out this site! (thanks Rinnie!)
http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/Ce-Fi/Cervical-Cerclage.html

PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION FEEL FREE TO ASK BUT REMEMBER, SENSITIVITY IS HEIGHTENED WITH SOME WOMEN WITH IC!!

I don't expect a lot of posts tonight because most of the people I know aren't on that have it but if this helps someone then good!  

I'm SOOO glad someone posted this.
 

I remember scouring this site for hours when I was diagnosed with IC, and finding little to nothing.

Got a cerclage (Actually, 2 for me), and through weeks and weeks of hospitalized and regular bedrest (STRICT bedrest), and a TON of anti- labor drugs, I delivered a beautiful girl at 36 weeks. It wasn't exactly term, but it was a wonderful blessing to someone with IC.

I had to keep pressuring my doc. I knew I had this, but couldn't prove it. I finally talked him into cervical length checks, and sure enough I was right. I believe it was divine intervention, I just KNEW.

Quoting Mrs.Gallows {+Ember}:“ I'm SOOO glad someone posted this.   I remember scouring this site for hours when I was diagnosed ... [snip!] ... finally talked him into cervical length checks, and sure enough I was right. I believe it was divine intervention, I just KNEW.”

Welcome! I am sure there will be more mommas in here soon....posting to their profiles now and also going to make an announcement. Feel free to pass along the link to ones you know of!!

I don't know of any mamas who have Ic. Well, not in my PT, anyway.

But this is great. I remember feeling so alone when I was going through it. It's so rare, so nobody could support me and tell me the things I wanted to know.

Quoting Mrs.Gallows {+Ember}:“ I don't know of any mamas who have Ic. Well, not in my PT, anyway. But this is great. I remember feeling ... [snip!] ... feeling so alone when I was going through it. It's so rare, so nobody could support me and tell me the things I wanted to know.”

Sadly I am seeing more and more momma's with it but I think it is because it is just being caught more now. Do you plan on TTC again?

I love this, Mel! I'm here to talk to for those of you who have been newly diagnosed or would just like some info, I have IC, a cerclage, and am doing the progesterone shots with a few restrictions and would love to help with information in any way I can, provided I know it!

Quoting ~Mel Belz and Peyton~:“ Sadly I am seeing more and more momma's with it but I think it is because it is just being caught more now. Do you plan on TTC again?”

I sure do. Just not for a while.
I had a whole host of things happen while I was pregnant that make a pregnancy soon after REALLY dangerous, and possibly might make me infertile. My IC is bad enough and I sustained a lot of damage to my cervix while pregnant, that my peri told me I should wait 2 years at a minimum.

I also have PCOS, which makes TTC hard.

I guess the big man upstairs just wants to know I am dedicated to having children.

Quoting Mommy to Braden & Ethan:“ I love this, Mel! I'm here to talk to for those of you who have been newly diagnosed or would just like ... [snip!] ... the progesterone shots with a few restrictions and would love to help with information in any way I can, provided I know it!”

It is kind of cool to see how others are dealing with their treatment. I had really strict treatment. I had a late emergency cerclage, and that could be the reason, plus all the other crap.
But that's awesome that you only have a few restrictions.

Quoting Mrs.Gallows {+Ember}:“ I sure do. Just not for a while. I had a whole host of things happen while I was pregnant that make ... [snip!] ... I also have PCOS, which makes TTC hard. I guess the big man upstairs just wants to know I am dedicated to having children.”

Wow! Well I hope everything go in a positive direction for you!!! IC alone can be overbearing!!

Ok got my announcement and comments done so hopefully more people join! I can talk more now! A lot of momma's have their babies here on Earth but some I know will be ttc soon so I know they will need it!

Quoting ~Mel Belz and Peyton~:“ Wow! Well I hope everything go in a positive direction for you!!! IC alone can be overbearing!!”

It sure can be.

But I can't complain about it now, I suffered then, but I can't think about all the bad when I look at my daughter. I went through Hell for her, and I would go through in the same way for her future siblings.

My nurses told me the whole time that all the treatments I went through without complaining, most women here refuse because they find it 'too hard'.

And that made me feel so proud. I had felt like less of a woman when I found out I had IC. And this thread, even though only 2 women are in here besides me, makes me feel wonderful already. To know that there are other women who have suffered through this, and that I am no less of a woman than a woman without IC.

Thank you, this couldn't have come at a better time. I had a breakdown about my problems with IC, and how it affected me emotionally, just last night.

Quoting Mrs.Gallows {+Ember}:“ It sure can be. But I can't complain about it now, I suffered then, but I can't think about all the ... [snip!] ... have come at a better time. I had a breakdown about my problems with IC, and how it affected me emotionally, just last night.”

Feel free to post your story! With Peyton my cervix was so soft when they placed the stitch at 14 wks that I kept tearing. My doc told me at either 34-35 wks that he didn't think I would make it a week but I made it 22!  

This is great. I remeber right after I lost my first looking for any support or information on IC. I know now that without the couple of girls I found on here with IC I would not have been as stress free during my last pregnancy. I am thankful for having great doctors and great support because without those Gabe would not be here.

Quoting Mrs.Gallows {+Ember}:“ I'm SOOO glad someone posted this.   I remember scouring this site for hours when I was diagnosed ... [snip!] ... finally talked him into cervical length checks, and sure enough I was right. I believe it was divine intervention, I just KNEW.”

Oh and btw my LO was born at 36 wks as well!

Quoting SexyMexie~Zach & Gabe's M:“ This is great. I remeber right after I lost my first looking for any support or information on IC. I ... [snip!] ... my last pregnancy. I am thankful for having great doctors and great support because without those Gabe would not be here.”

I am so glad your LO made it!!! I remember talking to you at the very beginning of your pregnancy!