The Procedure

Last Friday I had to undergo a minor surgery at Pantai Medical Centre to stitch up my cervics to help strengthen the pregnancy.

I must apologise to most of my friends whom I did not inform and were shocked to hear of it either after or on the day of the surgery. I didnt want to make a big deal out of a mole-hill, so I didnt tell many people.

However, since the day of the surgery coincided with my wedding anniversary, many were surprised when they got the news.

Alhamdulillah the procedure went well. But the recovery period was quite bad this time round. After the procedure I had contractions and had to be put on drips and be given painkillers. I couldnt eat or drink for almost 2 days either.

Alhamdulillah, I am much better now and resting at home.

For those of you who are curious to know what the procedure is all about, why I had to do it and the risks I would be facing if I didnt do the procedure, have a quick read below...

Cervical incompetence
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cervical incompetence is a medical condition in which a pregnant woman's cervix begins to dilate (widen) and efface (thin) before her pregnancy has reached term. Cervical incompetence may cause miscarriage or preterm birth during the second and third trimesters.

In a woman with cervical incompetence, dilation and effacement of the cervix occur without pain or uterine contractions. In a normal pregnancy, dilation and effacement occurs in response to uterine contractions. Cervical incompetence occurs because of weakness of the cervix, which is made to open by the growing pressure in the uterus as pregnancy progresses. If the responses are not halted, rupture of the membranes and birth of a premature baby can result.

According to some statistics, cervical incompetence is relatively rare in the United States, occurring in only 1—2% of all pregnancies, but it is thought to cause as many as 20—25% of miscarriages in the second trimester.

Risk Factors

Risk factors for premature birth or stillbirth due to cervical incompetence include:
• diagnosis of cervical incompetence in a previous pregnancy,
• previous preterm premature rupture of membranes,
• history of conization (cervical biopsy),
• diethylstilbestrol exposure, which can cause anatomical defects, and
• uterine anomalies.

Repeated procedures (such as mechanical dilation, especially during late pregnancy) appear to create a risk. Additionally, any significant trauma to the cervix can weaken the tissues involved.

Treatment

Cervical incompetence is not generally treated except when it appears to threaten a pregnancy. Cervical incompetence can be treated using cervical cerclage, a surgical technique that reinforces the cervical muscle by placing sutures above the opening of the cervix to narrow the cervical canal.

Cerclage procedures usually entail closing the cervix through the vagina with the aid of a speculum. Another approach involves performing the cerclage through an abdominal incision. Transabdominal cerclage of the cervix makes it possible to place the stitch exactly at the level that is needed. It can be carried out when the cervix is very short, effaced or totally distorted. The complications described in the literature have been rare: hemorrhage from damage to the veins at the time of the procedure; and fetal death due to uterine vessels occlusion.

... Thank you to the persons who came to see me at the hospital..
... Thank you to those who prayed for me and were concerned about my recovery..
... Thank you to the nurses who took really good care of me at the hospital..
... but most of all
... Thank you my dearest for taking care of me at the hospital and at home.