Cervical Cerclage

I was admitted for the Cervical Cerclage and thankfully didn't have to wait too long before I was taken through to theatre. After surgery I was told I had been given a spinal anaesthetic (light epidural) and that the stitch was put in my cervix without complications. Due to the numbness and tingling I had in the lower half of my body, I spent quite a few hours in the recovery area, which made me a very frustrated and extremely hungry/thirsty pregnant lady. I'd been fasting since the night before, so pretty much demanded a sandwich and something to drink. After I'd finished I was finally transferred to my private room where James was waiting for me.

I was so worried about the baby that I asked James to take the doppler out and check for a heartbeat. Next came the longest 10 minutes of our lives as we tried but failed to find it. I could softly pick up my own heartbeat but gone was the loud, rapid thumping of our little one. Tears rolled down my face as I feared the worst and threw the doppler across the bed. But my amazing fiance picked it up and tried again. Within seconds... there is was! The most beautiful sound in the world. Our baby's heartbeat was loud and clear, and racing at 152bpm. We spent the next few minutes crying tears of joy that our beautiful baby was okay.

I tried using the bathroom but having no sensation in my lower body made it impossible for me to go, despite knowing I had a full bladder. I was given an hour to pass urine but after that came and went with no success I was (against my will and with much resistance) given a catheter. Thankfully I was still too numb to feel it going in but ohhh once the anaesthetic wore off I was ready to rip that thing out myself! I pretty much demanded the nurse remove it by 9pm as the discomfort and pain was too much to bear. She checked with my OB to see if he would approve it and to my relief he did. But under one condition... That I empty my bladder within 2 hours, or else another catheter would be going right back in. Thank goodness I managed to do this, albeit painfully, and was able to sleep a little more comfortably during the night.

In the morning the nurse took my temperature (high) and blood pressure (low) and said I wouldn't be discharged until I'd eaten breakfast, emptied my bladder and seen the doctor.

By the time all of this had happened, it was already midday but I was happy to be heading home for some much needed rest and recovery.

Post-op I've only had minimal light pink spotting and some slight stinging when I pass urine. Other than that, mummy and baby are doing very well. We have our fingers crossed that the stitch will keep my cervix securely shut until it's cut by our OB at 37 weeks. And once again, it's back to bed rest for me. But really, who could complain about getting to sleep in all day, every day, with an amazing man waiting on them hand and foot?! Ahh the sacrifices I have to make. ;)