Conference moira::parenting

Holly-

I have a close friend who had to have a cervical colonization ...
I'm not certain of the spelling of that, but it's where a fairly
large, cone-shaped section of the cervix is removed. Is that the
same procedure you had?

She has since had a child, and is pregnant with her second.  She did
have one miscarriage prior to the first child, but she never mentioned
if it was related to her previous surgery.  Her miscarriage was at
6 weeks, which is not uncommon for miscarriages.

I'd suggest finding an ob/gyn who specializes in this type of
high-risk pregnancy, prior to becoming pregnant.  Then you'll have
complete information beforehand.

--Jennifer

    PLEASE READ 20.125 
    
    it is my story about cervical problems during pregnancy.  If you need
    any more info please call me at the DTN mentioned in that note.
    
    Good Luck and God Bless you and your husbands decision regardless 
    of what you choose. 
    
    NG

    My wife has "incompetent cervix" and has only been able to carry
    with the Schorodkar cerclage [spelling not certain on Schorodkar].
    This is the "big" cerclage, put in with anesthesia as day surgury,
    not the McDonough cerclage, the "little" one which only needs a
    local, so it might be what you'd get.  The little one didn't work
    for her [i.e. miscarriage anyway].
    
    The cerclage is a stitch to hold the cervix closed.  It can be
    taken out before a vaginal birth or left in for a Caesarian.
    
    Anyway, I know it's possible to do the:
    
    	cerclage, bed rest, remote monitoring, pre-term labor,
    	go to the hospital to stop labor with a drug,
    	get another stronger drug,
    	get another stronger drug,
    	get a premie anyway,
    	premie in the hospital,
    	all with a two-year-old at home
    
    bit and still live, as that happened to us.  Still, though I've fully
    recovered two years later, I didn't do the hard parts--and my wife 
    says she's permanently scarred by the experience.  She doesn't do
    notes files and so on, so you'll have to take it from me that it can
    be very scary, tragic [we had some miscarriages along the way before 
    the pregnancy that went to 31 weeks], very stressful on the marriage,
    hard on the other kid[s], dangerous and so on.  But I'm _very_ happy
    to have my daughter, and we can say in retrospect that it was worth 
    it for her.
    
    On the other hand, we're _not_ going to do it again. [To give you an
    idea of how the OB people take this, when we asked at the exit interview
    about more kids, the doctor said in a heavy, impersonal way "Well, if
    she came in pregnant and wanted the child, we'd do what we could," 
    while a nurse in the office less offically said, "Don't do this to 
    us again!"]  And when she asked about drug two what would happen 
    if she got a bit too much, they said "You'd stop breathing".  And
    she was having a hard time moving her hands already, as she was upped
    to the maximum safe dose [on to drug three!].  There's a considerable
    risk to the mother in all this.
    
    Does this help any?  Your situation may be different, after all.
    
    		-John Bishop

    Thank you for your responses.  My husband and I have made the decision
    to "Go for it!" as they say.   We've determined that the benefits of
    another child outweigh the risks.  I'll keep you posted.  Don't hold
    your breath though as it took 2 years for the first one!
    
    Holly
    

       Good luck Holly !!!!
    
       Rose

    Thanks for your responses.  I thought I'd update you that I just 
    found out that I am pregnant.  Doctor says I will need to have 
    surgery.  I'll keep you posted, but please if there's any more
    experiences I'd appreciate hearing them.  I have alot of anxiety
    as to how this pregancy will be so hearing from others will help
    me be prepared.
    
    Holly
    

    I read an article about a year or so back, so the details are kind 
    of sketchy.  But, as I recall, Tracy Nelson (granddaughter of Ozzie 
    & Harriet, daughter of Ricky Nelson -- was in the "Father Dowling 
    Mysteries" TV show) also had (I believe it was) cervical cancer.  
    
    She apparently went through some intensive treatments, including 
    radiation therapy.   (mentioned in the article that she was given a 
    hard time for insisting they cover her overies during the treatment).  
    
    She is married to the guy who played Melissa Gilbert's husband in 
    the latter episodes of on "Little House on the Prarie".  When the 
    cancer went into remission, they decided to try for child.  She got 
    pregnant, and they ended up with a normal, healthy baby.
    
    Peggy

    Well, I had a Doctor's appt a couple weeks ago and here's an update.
    I'm scheduled for surgery in 3 weeks for a cerclage which is where
    they stich in some heavy duty material around the opening of my 
    uterus where the cervix was to help support the weight of the baby.
    This should help prevent a miscarriage and prevent me from having to
    be bed ridden for a while.  Doctor says I'll have to stay in the 
    hospital for 2 days but the recovery isn't a big deal.  I'll keep
    you posted.  I'm still interested in hearing about similar experiences
    if you know of any.
    
    Holly
    

    Surgery was a success!  I'm now back to work.
    
    Holly
    

Congratulations, Holly!

   Carol  :-)