When a woman is experiencing issues such as the weakening of her cervix during pregnancy, several methods are used to help her and prevent premature birth or a miscarriage. One of those methods is called cervical cerclage, and it is one of the most frequent options doctors use to treat an incompetent cervix.
This procedure is essential because it keeps the unborn baby safe inside the uterus due to the fact that the doctors sew the cervix completely shut until the delivery date. This is also called a cervical stitch, and it is the most efficient cure for cervical insufficiency, as previously mentioned.
When searching for an obstetrician in Bradenton, Florida, you have to consider the variety of services different centers and clinics offer. If you are looking for the highest quality, knowledge, and safety, Women’s care of Bradenton is definitely one of the places you should check out before deciding who will take care of your reproductive health.
Why Should I Get a Cervical Cerclage?
Many people are not eager to undergo any surgical treatments because they believe that it is riskier than consuming pills or having other types of treatment. Below we are listing some of the situations where the cerclage procedure is used as a good option when choosing methods of treatment:
- Healing an incompetent cervix safely and quickly, with a very short recovery time
- Past miscarriages caused by an abnormally shaped uterus and damage to the cervix
- Past miscarriages which occurred in the second trimester due to a cervical insufficiency
- When you have a short cervix (less than 25 millimeters)
- When you have previously undergone procedures such as a cone biopsy or an electrical loop excision
- When your cervix is damaged due to previous abortions
When to Get a Cervical Cerclage?
Ideally, the cerclage procedure should be done from the 12th to the 14th week of pregnancy. This guarantees a safe procedure that will not affect the potential for successful future pregnancies. When the procedure is done after this time (up until week 24), it is called an emergent cerclage. This option might have consequences on future pregnancies, and the patient might need a cerclage procedure once again.
The cervical cerclage procedure is not done after week 24 of pregnancy because it could cause premature birth. Also, there are some other cases when this procedure is not recommended, such as:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Infection of the uterus
- Preterm labor
- Prolapsed fetal membrane (amniotic sac is coming out through the cervix)
- When the amniotic sac is leaking
- If there is a fetal anomaly and it is unlikely that the baby will live
- If you are carrying two or more babies
How to Prepare for a Cerclage Placement
Prior to the procedure itself, there are a few steps you will need to take to prepare yourself and your body for the cerclage procedure.
Firstly, it is recommended to abstain from sexual intercourse at least seven days before the procedure. Also, if you have an infection, the course of antibiotics needs to be finished before the cervical stitch.
When you come to your scheduled appointment, the doctor will check your medical history and discuss with you any previous procedures, pregnancies, and complications that might have occurred. Afterward, they will do a cervix examination, placing a speculum inside your vagina to check the cervix, which might be followed by transvaginal ultrasound.
Also, the doctor might take a swab of the cervix to check for any potential infections or draw a sample of the amniotic fluid from the belly. Apart from the tests, this is also the perfect time to ask any questions which might be worrying you and get the information you need in order to calm yourself down and prevent potential stress caused by the procedure itself.
The Cerclage Placement Procedure
Before starting the cerclage procedure, the patient lays down on the examination table with both feet in the stirrups. The medical provider gives the patient an anesthetic, which can either be a local one (to numb only one part of the body), regional or epidural (injected with a needle to the back), or a general anesthetic which puts the patient to sleep.
The surgery can be done through the vagina (transvaginal) or the stomach (transabdominal). Doing the cervical cerclage through the vagina is the most common way, where the doctor uses a speculum to hold the vagina open and stitches the cervix closed. The transabdominal approach is mostly used when the patient has already had a cervical stitch, and it did not work, or if the cervix is too short.
The Aftermath
Here is some vital information on how to take care of yourself after the cervical cerclage and what are the do’s and dont’s.
- You should not feel much pain after the procedure, but you can take some medication to ease the pain and discomfort.
- If you experience immense pain, please contact your healthcare provider immediately.
- After the procedure, the patient stays for observations for a few hours and is free to go home.
- You might be given an antibiotic to prevent possible infections.
- It will take around ten days for the stitches to heal, so it is recommended to stay at home and rest, or at least avoid exercising and heavy physical activity.
- It is of the utmost importance to follow the doctor’s advice so the stitches can heal as promptly as possible.
- You might experience blood spots, cramps, and pain while urinating for the first few days after the surgery.
- Schedule regular visits to your chosen medical professional to make sure that you and your baby are safe and healthy
When Do They Remove My Stitches?
The stitches from the cerclage placement will be removed before you are scheduled to deliver your baby. This usually occurs around week 37 of your pregnancy. The steps taken to remove the stitches are very similar to the procedure itself, where the patient lays down on the examination table, and the doctor uses a speculum to hold the vagina open and remove the stitches. This lasts only a few minutes.
If you had an abdominal cerclage, the doctor will most likely recommend a C-section procedure and remove the stitches during the delivery.
What Are the Risks of a Cervical Cerclage?
Here is the list of some potential risks one might encounter when undergoing this procedure:
- Infection caused by the procedure
- Damage to the cervix
- Vaginal bleeding
- Premature rupture of membranes such as the bag with amniotic fluid
- Preterm labor
- Permanent narrowing of the cervix
- Miscarriage
Call Us!
Going through a procedure that might determine the success of your pregnancy is neither easy nor comfortable. Our team is skilled and ready to help our patients in every possible way to make uncomfortable experiences as bearable as possible. Call us and discover why we are one of the best in this area!