My Incompetent Cervix Symptoms

Considering this is my first pregnancy I didn't really know what to expect in terms of all the changes that were happening. As the Bump website states there aren't many symptoms with an incompetent cervix. I did however question some of these changes- mainly that I did feel a lot of pressure pushing down on my cervix and I did have a lot of very sticky clear discharge which I felt was quite unusual. I had read lots of websites that this type of discharge was completely normal and that you would expect to have an increase in the amount of discharge over the course of pregnancy. Since having the cervical stitch there has been very little of this clear sticky mucous compared to before when it was very noticeable. I didn't experience any bleeding, cramping or back pain.

Date nights have been replaced by giving my pregnancy pillow some serious TLC

The causes of cervical weakness can be put down to having an abnormal smear, cervical trauma with a previous pregnancy, previous operations that require a D&C or congenital conditions. Thankfully none of these apply to me besides the last category. The Mayo Clinic includes a really good connection between genetic conditions and cervical incompetence 'genetic disorders affecting a fibrous type of protein that makes up your body's connective tissues (collagen) might cause an incompetent cervix' which I feel having read a number of websites none really address. Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is a condition that affects the production of collagen. It is also the condition my family suffers from.

Some facts about EDS...

I do alternate between feeling quite confident in the stitch to quite angry that my cervical length wasn't monitored as soon as I mentioned my EDS. During my first midwife's appointment it didn't take long before it was decided I needed to see a consultant. To be fair when seeing the consultant they were too preoccupied worrying about a heart condition developing, issues with my kidneys and a history of gestational diabetes in my family. I did raise my concerns of my cervix due to my EDS with the consultant, she said she would liaise with the premature clinic and it wasn't something to worry about until after 6 months. It has now been 17 days since my cervical stitch and I am 22 weeks + 4 days today.

22 weeks + 4 days today!

Feeling very loved!

I'm 22 weeks + 1 day! It is now two weeks since the emergency cervical stitch and another two weeks until we reach our 24 weeks aim. With my colleagues insisting on me resting and not even being allowed to ask about work (one of my colleagues already has given me my first strike for too many work related questions) and with the Easter holidays starting today there's not much to really do. I may be a slight workaholic so not doing anything related to lesson planning or college in general is a strange concept.

So far my days have included watching lots of netflix and Supernatural. There is only so much sitting around not really doing anything that you can take especially if you used to be enjoy being outside of the house so much before. It doesn't help that the sun keeps coming out and shining through the window- I can just about manage a 10/15min walk before it starts to hurt and I start getting really tired.

When the doorbell rang today and I had a pile of Amazon packages waiting for me I was really surprised. My friends and amazing work colleague sent me lots of presents to help me pass the time. Very much feeling loved and so unbelievably grateful for their thoughts and presents to help keep me busy. Now I just need to decide what to start on first...

So grateful for such lovely people in my life