cerclage - recovery time?

[Anonymous]

I am going to have a cerclage done preventively (I have a t-shaped uterus). I had one with my last pregnancy and remember it being out patient procedure with minimal if any recovery time. HOWEVER, when the scheduler called me from my ob practice and i asked what i should be expecting recovery-time wise in termsof going back to work and such she said, oh, probably about a week..... A WEEK?!?!

anyone else have one and remember what the recovery was before you were back to work, picking up your kid, etc?

[Anonymous]

I took it very easy for two weeks. I lost one baby at 18 weeks, and for my next pregnancy, I took the cerclage very very seriously. I spent a lot of time in bed, and I think it saved my baby.

What did your peri say about it?

[Anonymous]

I had a cerclage at 18 wks and was instructed by high risk MD to take it extremely easy. Continuing work was not an option for me becuase I am in sales(on my feet) Also, not able to pick up my son or any walking for extended periods of time. I am not sure about your situation but I was given a lot of restrictions which I took very seriously. I am now 29wks and the cerclage is holding. Good luck & try to be patient.

[Anonymous]

op here -- haven't see the peri yet -- i just finished with the RE, now going to the OB, probably they will do the cerclage -- they did it last time -- and then send me for regular checks to tthe peri. when i had it the last time, it was at about 13 weeks -- i know def post-nuchal testing. i never had any issues, any cervical lengthening, etc. totally held int here and they didn't remove it until literally they did my c-section at 38.5 weeks. i remember i was told no exercise except swimming (which i did during my 2nd trimester) and no intercourse.... but otherwise, i literally was at work until two days before my c-section.

i have a very active 2yo -- so trying to figureo ut how long i will be VERY restricted. i can't imagine having to go the rest of the pregnancy without being able to pick him up, get him in and out of the car, etc...

[Anonymous]

14:26 here. I think that only your doctor can tell you. Most women I know have taken disability leave after the cerclage. My best friend was on bedrest for several months for two pregnancies - in the hospital. Picking up a two-year-old would have been out of the question for me - I just wouldn't have risked it.

But it sounds like your situation might be different.

I would call your doctor to ask. As someone who lost a baby in the second trimester, I would just recommend not overdoing anything. To me, there is nothing worse in life than losing a baby and wondering if you could have prevented it.

Best wishes - hope your doctor tells you what you want to hear.

[Anonymous]

I just had my cerclage placed yesterday - 13.5 weeks. I was also told to plan to be out from work for a week and take it VERY easy. Last pregnancy I had an emergency cerclage at 20 weeks after my ultrasound showed that i had a short cervix. I went straight to the OB who did an exam, was 1 CM dialated, and I was immediately admitted to L&D. I was on strict bedrest for the remainder of my pregnancy. In bed, as horizontal as possible, only up to go to the bathroom and a 5 minute seated shower ever 4-5 days. I made it to 39 weeks. It can be done - with a toddler I imagine it will be a lot more difficult.

The one thing that helped me stay focused on taking bedrest seriously was to ask myself each time before I got up out of bed if whatever I had to do was worth risking losing the baby. That usually kept me in bed.

[Anonymous]

op here -- yikes! i totally am hoping for the best for those of you who have been through this or going thru this now i mean.

i guess my situation is really totally different -- i have never had any issue with an incompetent cervix -- this is totally preventative b/c i have a t-shaped uterus and that COULD create a situation with more pressure on my cervix.

BUT my last pregnancy, as i said, was told no exercise and no intercourse but was never on bedrest, swam and did normal stuff through the entire pregnancy, delivered at full term and delivered a baby in the 60th percentile or so for weight (considering i'm a shrimp myself and was never in more than the 4th percentile growing up - it was nice to have a "big" baby!!).

so -- your posts have begun to prepare me for what MAY happen... i think i will continue to live in la la land though and assume this will be no big deal. fingers crossed!

[Anonymous]

Hi,
I just had a preventative cerclage put in at 14 weeks. (never been pregnant before, but had had laser surgery on my cervix, and a cervix on the shorter side of the normal range, thus increasing risk of preterm labor.) i was out shopping two days later. i was placed on no restrictions by my doc at all, just told to "listen to my body." i did stay in bed most of the following day, because my back was really stiff (i was already having some back issues and i think the epidural and stress exacerbated it). but my spotting was gone w/in 24 hours, and i had no abdominal cramps at all, except for literally about two minutes at the very end of the procedure. my doc said that my exercise and activity will begin to be much more restricted around week 20, and then we'll see how it goes.

so the week of recovery may not apply to you either; that is, i wouldn't just assume that it does, unless your doc confirms.

[Anonymous]

I had one done at 20 weeks and was out for two weeks and was on bed rest for those two weeks. Dr. let me go back to work after two weeks but I had to drive (no more walking -office less than a mile from home) and was not allowed to exercise, have intercourse, or swim for the duration of pregnancy. I got the shots at 27 weeks (for lungs) incase baby came early. By week 36 I figured I had about made it and started walking everywhere until delivery. Had to have sonos every other week for measuring my cervix. Was over due by 10 days.

[Anonymous]

Op here -- thanks for the responses.

had mine done Friday morning. 13 weeks. i laid low in bed the rest of friday and really was a lump all day saturday too. by sunday tho we were running errands and i didn't have any probs.

i head into the ante natal center at Fx hos next week -- but I'm thinking they are going to tell me no exercise the rest of the pregnancy and no intercourse... we shall see! as long as this baby makes it out ok -- they can tell me to do whatever they want!!

[Anonymous]

OP - I am going to the ffx antenatal center this week to get checked to see if my cervix has shortened at all since my last check. If so, my dr. recommends cerclage for me too. He also said it would be done on Friday and I could go back to work on Monday so your story is helpful to hear - that it doesn't have to mean extended bedrest. Thanks for asking the question and posting your follow up info. Are you by any chance going to Perinatal Associates of Northern Virginia for your care? If so, which doctor did your cerclage? I've met them all but I have no idea who I'd want to perform that should it be necessary.

[Anonymous]

i will be going to the antenatal center at Fx hospital - not sure if they are the same as Perinatal Associates?? the group i go to is literally in the hospital. a doc from my ob/gyn office did this cerclage (as they did my last pregnancy when i had one) and then my follow up is with the antenatal center.

actually -- this cerclage about half way through the procedure my doc called a doc from this group to come in and consult -- she wasn't sure she was getting enough of the cervix with the stitches.. anyway -- dr. bronsky (sp?) came down, checked it out and then offered to scrub in to assist with the rest of it.

kinda freaky as you are laying there on the table BUt reassuring to know that group was there and my doc could get someone there so quickly.

[Anonymous]

Perinatal Associates is Dr. Bronsky, Dr. Al-Kouatly (I know I spelled that wrong - I can never recall the correct way), Dr. Nies and Dr. Khoury. They have seen me in their offices a mile or so away from the hospital and also at the antenatal center. I guess several practices utilize the antenatal center? I'm still trying to figure it all out. That is good to know that they have other doctors on hand that they can call in for "back-up"!