30 weeks, 1 cm. dilated, betamethasone?

LilPeanut, MSN, RN, NP · Jun 3, 2005

Just as a personal curiosity issue - Why did they decide to put in a cerclage for you? I wasn't eligible - I had PTL, not i/c.

Jolie: I think it would be very difficult actually, to weed out all the confounding factors, because people deliver early for different reasons and the issues I may have had that affected my kids aren't the same that a HELLP or i/c mom might have had. So many drugs, u/s and treatments make it difficult to sort out what is causing what.

Has your friend been receiving progesterone injections? Those have been a very promising treatment for PTL in the last year or so.

wannabeL&D73 · Jun 3, 2005

I forgot to ask my friend about progesterone, but I know I will have that next time myself.

Re: cerclage...my cervix didn't really start to change until 23-24 weeks with my first pg., so it wasn't classic textbook IC, but after lots of research and talking to several different OBs and peris, I opted for the cerclage. It seemed like every single incidence that I read about where they chose wait and see resulted in an emergency rescue cerclage that was not effective, and a very early preemie or even a loss. After careful consideration, together with my drs. I decided that the benefits of an early preventative cerclage far outweighed the risks.

As it turned out, it was a good thing I got the cerclage, because I think I said above that by 26 weeks the only thing, literally, holding the baby in was the stitch. It was amazing to see on u/s. Yes I did end up with an infection, which I know is one of the risks of cerclage...but out of the hundreds of cerclage stories I have read, I only know of one other person who delivered early due to infection.

So if and when we get pg. again, I will have a cerclage and will plan on bedrest starting at around 20 weeks...just to be on the safe side.

Shannon

NICUFaithRN · Jun 4, 2005

if you were 30 weeks pg. and already 1 cm., on strict bedrest, can you think of any reason a dr. would not order steroids? what would you do if it were your baby?
shannon

font=tahoma]i wouldn't expect the doc to prescribe beta or any other steroid at that point. unless delivery is imminent within several days i don't think the steroids would make a huge difference. if there are no contractions happening or no cervical changes apparent, i would expect (from my experience with 3 preterm labors!) for my doc to continue (or start) tocolytics - terb, ritodrine, something.... and to remain on bedrest.... increasing fluids as well... most of the time my contractions were a result of dehydration and iv fluid helped to stop them.... sorry, straying off topic....

anyway, if it were my baby... i'd stay in bed, monitor contractions (if any) and keep my doc appts to check for cervical changes... if changes] are apparent and it seems the baby is coming soon.. then and only then would i ask for the beta (which the doc would probably suggest at that point anyhow!!) jmo....