Oh no... are the hourly toilet trips back? And you thought your boobies couldn't get any larger? YOU ARE WRONG!!! And oh... the perpetual hangover feeling is back. You are tired, eventhough the only activity you did whole day was to lie down on your back (or left side, as lying on the back causes breathlessness these days) and surf the internet. Welcome to the final lap of your pregnancy!
By this time, most of us would have been itching to get out of the house, and we probably already did. After all we are way past viability, and if you are having twins, you might even have your cerclage already removed! It feels like Independence Day! But for some of us, our doctors may still want us to be on full bedrest till baby is fullterm, and that is only 3 weeks away! Perhaps your doctor has already scheduled an appointment for stitch removal as well, and if that is so, you know that it's time to get all things ready because many of us IC mommies go into labour right after the stitch is removed. Besides, some of us may have gone into premature labour anyway, so an earlier removal is required as the last thing we need is to tear through the stitch. Well, it's all about striking a balance (Read Week 33Week 33 here)
If you had a TAC (transabdominal cerclage), the cerclage will probably be removed through abdominal incision as well. And commonly, your baby will be born via a C-section anyway, so perhaps your scheduled C-section won't be until 39 weeks. Or if you plan to have more kids, you may even want to leave your stitch in there. But if you have a TVC (transvaginal cerclage), then you will have to have it removed before you are able to deliver vaginally.
So what are the preparations like towards the DITCH THE STITCH DAY (DTSD)?
1) A few days before your scheduled DTSD, your doctor will probably need to check through ultrasound and perhaps physical examination the position of your baby, the growth of your baby and other factors before deciding whether or not to go ahead with stitch removal on the scheduled date. Sometimes, if the lungs of the baby are found not to be fully mature yet, the removal may be postponed for a few days or even few more weeks.
2) Once your doctor confirms that the DTSD will be as scheduled, then it's time to pack the hospital bag!
3) Always be mentally prepared that baby may come soon after (few hours maybe?) the stitch is removed. Some babies take more time, perhaps even past due date! With my 1st baby I had an emergency cerclage placed at 23w4d when I was already 2 cm dilated, and he came about 9 days after the cerclage was removed. With No. 2, it was a preventive cerclage at Week 14, and he didn't come by till due date itself!
4) Also continue to look out for signs of premature labour (before the DTSD, that is) as you may still tear through your stitch (it's still there, ladies!) and if you do go into premature labour, your cerclage will have to be immediately removed.
5) Have you prepared your birth plan? It's about time!
6) Have you actually made preparations for the arrival of a baby? Look, removing the stitch is almost as good as your scheduled C-section day! Except that baby may not come yet... you know, until... due date, or even after due date. But hey, please be totally prepared as this may be your last trip to the hospital before you come home with a little bundle of joy in your arms! After all, doctors usually remove the cerclage in the labour room!
7) Speaking of the labour room, usually the removal would be without any form of anaesthetic. So....
8) Ok, it's not that bad (but really, speaking from pure personal experience alone, both times, I could remember the cerclage removal pain more than labour itself! In any case, also be prepared that there may be plan B, if the doctor couldn't find the stitch due to scar tissues or other factors. It is rare, and usually the stitch removal is a simple outpatient procedure, where you just get ready to go home and wait for labour to start!
Yes, we are REALLY ALMOST THERE!
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