I don't even know if anyone has any answers for me. I'm really annoyed at the number of cysters with IC issues. It seems to me that a much higher percentage of us have it than do non-cysters. So, there's probably a hormonal cause, right? I'm ticked that I can find no evidence of anyone doing any research about this.
I raised the subject several times with my doc during my pregnancy, and I kept getting put off because I didn't have any risk factors. I had an U/S at 18 weeks which was fine, a few days later I was at the doc with a discharge, at which time he said my cervix was fine (manual check). I keep wondering if there was funneling or something even then, if I should have forced him to do an U/S. He just looked at the one done a few days prior, said the discharge was nothing, and sent me home. Two weeks later, IC hit me. Two weeks after that, labor and broken water. Six days later, Rivi was born, and he only lived one day.
I keep torturing myself - maybe if the doc had done an U/S, I could have had a cerclage before my cervix actually opened all of the way. Maybe Rivi could have lived. When the doc said nothing was wrong, I believed him, but looking back maybe I shouldn't have... I wish I could go back in time and at least get a second opinion.
__________________ Dominici was born May 2006!
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Miracle Baby Boy Rivelino, born too early to live on October 6, 2004 at 24 weeks and 6 days. Never to be forgotten, always to be remembered, forever my source of inspiration.
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Viv,
We all beat ourselves up about the "If only I had..." statements. I hate to hear other cysters doing it, but I have done it constantly, so I really have no room to talk. I realize that caregivers rarely see this problem. It effects only about 1% of pregnant women. Unfortunately it seems to be a MUCH higher percentage among us with hormonal issues. I want to see research being done about it, but at the absolute minimum, I want to see additional monitoring of PCOS pregnancies for this and ptl (IC's mean little cousin). There are not only losses, but also lots and lots of premies around here who would have been better off with a few more weeks on the inside. And many near misses. Not fair. It's as if no one cares. And doctors don't trust a mother's instinct like you were having with the discharge. I would assume that you were right about the funnelling or thinning. We will simply never know.
I think that guilt is the most depressing part of grief. I wish I could get rid of that aspect. But try to remember that guilt is really only appropriate when there was at least partial intention involved. I know that you had no intention of opening up. It simply happened, and now you are the one suffering the worst of it all. You are not to blame.
((Hugs))
Sheri
__________________ Metformin 1500mg, Yasmin, managing IR/pcos with lower carbs
First pregnancy ended at 23 weeks due to incompetent cervix.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Mary Catherine will be in our hearts forever, November 28, 2003.
Second loss March 9, 2004 at five weeks
Third pregnancy, Cerclage at 13w
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Fourth pregnancy, Cerclage at 13w
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Miracle Baby Boy Rivelino, born too early to live on October 6, 2004 at 24 weeks and 6 days. Never to be forgotten, always to be remembered, forever my source of inspiration.
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Miracle Baby Boy Rivelino, born too early to live on October 6, 2004 at 24 weeks and 6 days. Never to be forgotten, always to be remembered, forever my source of inspiration.
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Viv,
Your little sweetie looks so familiar. I'm so sad for you. It will always be hard, but it does get a little bit easier.
Hang in there,
Sheri
__________________ Metformin 1500mg, Yasmin, managing IR/pcos with lower carbs
First pregnancy ended at 23 weeks due to incompetent cervix.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Mary Catherine will be in our hearts forever, November 28, 2003.
Second loss March 9, 2004 at five weeks
Third pregnancy, Cerclage at 13w
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Fourth pregnancy, Cerclage at 13w
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Some research was done on IC and hormones in 1980's eastern bloc europe. Since all the papers are in Polish or Czech though, I have no idea if they found a correlation or not.
I keep meaning to find someone who speaks and reads polish who can answer for me. I do know someone who speaks some czech, don't know if she could translate a scientific article though.
It does seem like there are a lot of us here with IC, and a lot on the IC board with PCOS...but now the boards are cross contaminated, so doing a sample and bringing it to someone's attention might not be believed. Its odd though.
I'm so sorry that they didn't catch your IC in time. It may be cold comfort to know this...but they did catch mine in what should have been plenty of time, and it still didn't help. Rescue cerclages are risky and often fail, or like me, even if its caught early, it doesn't mean that they make it far enough to get a cerclage in.
You did the best you could as Rivi's mommy and what happened wasn't your fault, and probably wasn't even the doctor's fault. I do wish they had listened to you more, at least you wouldn't have so many unanswered questions...I know how that is. I will always wonder if they had gone ahead and put a cerclage in for me the first day if I would have saved Isaac. However, looking back, I think its easy to see the "should haves" but at the time, everyone just acts with the knowledge they have.
The picture of Rivi is beautiful. What an amazing head of hair.
Aviva
__________________ Erica -38, To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. DH Sandy-38
Dx PCOS/IR since I was 18, on 2000mg metformin XR.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. and missing Isaac Doran born too soon 2/2/04,
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I forgot my PM wasn't working. Something's been screwy ever since I switched my e-mail with SoulCysters.
Rivi: We were amazed how much hair he had! And, it might have changed later, but it was stick straight, instead of curly like we expected (he was multiracial). This is my fave pic of him, since he just looks like he's asleep and smirking (the breathing tube messed up his lip a little).
Please let me know if you find anything out about hormones/IC. There's got to be a link - otherwise, how would your cervix know when to open full-term?
As I already said in the PM, thanks for all of your support. You've been a godsend. With this pregnancy, have you had any PTL issues? After my rescue cerclage, I was on Indocin for two weeks, and I went into labor right after it was out of my system. I'm not sure whether an infection caused it, or it was actually PTL. As you said, there are lots of unanswered questions! I need to find a high-risk OB, then I'll have to ask about preventing PTL.
I'm nervous about getting pregnant again (we're waiting at least until after Rivi's due date, maybe longer). It took 8 years to get pregnant with Rivi, but low-carbing/weight loss and healthy living got us there. I think my body will figure it all out again eventually...but it's so scary. How did you find the strength to go through another pregnancy? BTW, DH and I are both praying for you - we're living vicariously through your pregnancy!
__________________ Dominici was born May 2006!
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Miracle Baby Boy Rivelino, born too early to live on October 6, 2004 at 24 weeks and 6 days. Never to be forgotten, always to be remembered, forever my source of inspiration.
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Viv,
Subsequent pregnancy is not easy! We are grieving and being constantly reminded of the precious baby we lost by the joy that we feel inside us. There is a constant need for a feeling of security and certainty. I hope it's easier for you, of course! I'll bet that your healthy lifestyle changes will give you another chance as soon as you are ready. That's what did it for me, as well as so many others around here. We'll be around here for you when the time comes, too!
About Rivi's hair: I complemented a gorgeous fluffy head of hair on a beautiful little black baby at my OB's office the other day, and her mom said that it had been strait as pins for a long time! I would guess she might have been six months old. So he might have changed over time. I think multi-racial kids are gorgeous, so I wish you even more luck for the future!
Take care,
Sheri
__________________ Metformin 1500mg, Yasmin, managing IR/pcos with lower carbs
First pregnancy ended at 23 weeks due to incompetent cervix.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Mary Catherine will be in our hearts forever, November 28, 2003.
Second loss March 9, 2004 at five weeks
Third pregnancy, Cerclage at 13w
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Fourth pregnancy, Cerclage at 13w
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I think its very likely that an infection could have caused your PTL and PROM, that is what happened to me with Isaac. Preventative cerclages are much less likely to get infected than rescue cerclages.
I don't really know how to answer your question about trying again. Pregnancy after a loss is very hard. I think I had to find the strength because the alternative of not having children seemed even worse to me. Trying again was what gave me some hope to carry on and to feel like life could keep moving forward. Its only been a short time since your loss though. Give it time, you'll know when you are ready to try for a brother or sister for Rivi.
Aviva
__________________ Erica -38, To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. DH Sandy-38
Dx PCOS/IR since I was 18, on 2000mg metformin XR.
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Okay, so I went hunting through the WWW, and I found several PTL studies being done around the country by NIH. Of course, none of them are in my area, but one that REALLY caught my eye is about progesterone supplementation being used to prevent PTL in women with a history.
Since we're all hormonally, um, challenged, I figure there's got to be a link, right? I'm hoping that NIH will expand their studies to IC. They're doing one on the effectiveness of cerclage at different gestational periods, but that's it. I know the IC has to be linked to hormone levels, too.
But, obviously SOMEONE there is realizing a hormonal link, which gives me hope for the future. Here's the link to one of the PTL studies (this is actually the last study with results, the others are ongoing, but promising):
Anyway, they used 8% progesterone vaginally (100 mg/day). The placebo group had a preterm birth rate of 18.5%, while the progesterone group had a preterm birth rate of only 2.7%. All of these women had a prior history of preterm labor. So, they've proven that progesterone helps - the new study is just larger, but already shows similar results.
I know IC was an issue for me, and the cerclage should have me covered there. I still don't know exactly what was going on with the PTL/PROM, but just in case it wasn't an infection, I'm going to show the articles I found to the high-risk OB when I finally get around to a pre-conception meeting. Maybe s/he'll go for extending the progesterone past the first trimester.
I really, really wish I could go back in time and tell myself exactly what to do to save Rivi! It sucks that I'm learning so much so late.
__________________ Dominici was born May 2006!
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Miracle Baby Boy Rivelino, born too early to live on October 6, 2004 at 24 weeks and 6 days. Never to be forgotten, always to be remembered, forever my source of inspiration.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. (My blog)
IC ? - Searching for answers... 
