We scheduled a routine cervical cerclage with the doctors who cared for us during the end of my pregnancy with Isobel and for all of my pregnancy with Caden. I had had a cerclage and partial bed-rest with Caden and expected this pregnancy to proceed along a similar path.
My cerclage took place on Tuesday June 1st, and despite some anesthesia issues, everything seemed to go fine. My doctor informed me afterward that though she had been successful in placing the cerclage, I had already dilated a centimeter, and as a result I was to begin partial--or modified--bedrest immediately.
While I was in the recovery room, I felt a slightly painful "pop." We called the nurse and she examined me and was unable to immediately determine what had caused that sensation. We were taken to another part of the hospital to wait for two hours and then repeat the test. When I was examined a second time, it was clear that I was leaking amniotic fluid, and the popping sensation had been my water breaking. Scott and I were devastated. Isobel's death had been under slightly different circumstances, but the feeling of helpless acceleration toward some terrible outcome was identical. It is possible to carry a baby to term with a ruptured membrane, but it's not always successful, and I was only 14 weeks pregnant.
I was admitted to the hospital and made to lie flat on my back for 48 hours until the doctors could decide what to do with us. Standard medical procedure would be to remove the cerclage because it is safer for the mother (less risk of infection.) But because of my history, we know it's impossible for me to carry a baby to term without a cerclage, so removing it would be to absolutely condemn this baby to death. Fortunately, because of my history of GBS, I had been prescribed antibiotics before the surgery, and had also been given antibiotics during the surgery.
After two days my doctors decided that since the rupture had happened immediately after a sterile procedure and I had not developed an infection, we would cautiously proceed with the cerclage in place in the hope the membranes would reseal. I was given IV antibiotics, and after four more days in the hospital I was released to go home with a prescription of oral antibiotics and on complete bed-rest.
Complete bedrest means I can get up to go to the bathroom and take a brief shower and that's about it. Otherwise I'm confined to a recliner or bed.
We still don't know what exactly caused the rupture. We think it had something to do with the cerclage, and if so, that's surprisingly good news. If the rupture was "mechanical" in nature, it means that there's a greater likelihood of reseal. And in fact, it currently appears as though that may have happened. If it can be determined that a reseal has in fact occurred (and this is a little bit of a guessing game), I will be treated as though this is a "normal" cerclage pregnancy. If I am still leaking by August 5, I will be admitted to the hospital again and will remain there until the baby is born, which could be as late as November. During this time I would receive steroid shots to help the baby's lungs develop, in case he or she is born preterm.
Regardless of the path this pregnancy takes, we will be taking each day as it comes, and we will continue to pray that this baby will be born healthy. God has been gracious to us in many ways throughout this journey. On the morning of the cerclage, my daily Bible reading included the following verse:
- Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.
- --Exodus 23:25-26.
We've been clinging to this verse as hope from the Lord for this pregnancy.
Thank you for your prayers and your love. Please continue to intercede on our behalf. As I said before this journey will be day by day, sometimes minute by minute, and we are upheld by you. Blessings, Heather
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