24 weeks today!

I woke up this morning to see this!
Along with quite a few messages of support
and love

So we have made it to 24 weeks today! The past four weeks have been full of lots of fears, tears and hospital appointments. I'm really proud of my little family for what we're managed to get through together and how amazing my other half has been driving me to and from the hospital at all times of the day and putting up with these crazy hormonal mood swings. So it's time to reset the countdown and see if this little nugget will be patient enough to reach the 26 week mark.

In babies born preterm, the chance of survival at less than 23 weeks is close to zero, while at 23 weeks it is 15%, at 24 weeks 55% and at 25 weeks about 80% (Tommy's Organisation). For every week that he decides to stay in there cooking his chances look better and better. So I am quite happy to just try and plump him up as much as possible until then, however much his also impatient daddy wants to meet him (I say this whilst eating a Viennese swirl after finishing a bowl of grapes). I am starting to wonder if I am just producing a new improved version of my other half.

One of the things that has bothered me since having my cervical stitch placed was the fact that they kept referring to a 'miscarriage' if anything were to happen. That means that no birth certificate would be given. Now that we have reached 24 weeks my little one is now considered 'viable'. I know these are technical terms and the reasoning behind them but it is comforting to know that his birth will now be recognised. Not all ladies are this lucky. Scrolling through the internet this morning I did find this petition-

https://www.change.org/p/department-of-health-uk-allow-registered-birth-certificates-for-children-born-from-20-weeks

Even though the likelihood of a baby born before 23 weeks surviving is greatly reduced, I think it is important that these births from 20 weeks are acknowledged. Especially with babies born much earlier than 24 weeks surviving. During week 24, according to the baby center, the little ones taste buds are forming and the brain is growing quickly. So that means whatever I'm eating, those chemicals and theoretically tastes are being passed to the amniotic fluid for the little nugget to take in. Now if my other half figures this out I feel he'll be force feeding me chicken so he can have a food buddy and also an excuse to bring home buckets of chicken wings.

Last night I visited the ladies two or three times... I believe my bladder is now the size of a walnut!

First Premature Clinic Appointment

Today I am 21 weeks and 4 days! It has been 9 days since the emergency cervical stitch was placed and I just had my first appointment with the premature clinic. I am really happy to say that the funnelling has decreased and the stitch placement is looking good! It has definitely started the week off on a high.

I was extremely lucky to have my sister, mum and partner all there for support this morning. It is really amazing how reassuring and comforting it is to have family around at these worrying times. I didn't quite know what to expect today but everything does feel a lot tighter and plugged up down there since the stitch and the progesterone (cyclogest) tablets. They really have worked wonders and I now have 15mm of cervix below the stitch and 21mm above the stitch.

Trans-vaginal scan 21 weeks + 4 days

I was quite confused though as the doctor had previously told me when scanning the morning after the operation that there was 24mm below the stitch. This had been done with an abdominal scan, which I know aren't as accurate, and it could have been the whole length of the cervix. I was still quite shell shocked by everything at that point and I can't find his measurements within my notes.

Nevertheless, I am now very proud to say I have a cervix of 36mm overall, which is the ideal length! I just hope it now stays that way. There were lots of thoughts that had gone through my mind with having the stitch and short cervix- the main being infection. Infection can cause premature labour but with a longer cervix it should be more difficult for bacteria to enter.

During the appointment the doctor did the usual check and update on how I have been doing. It was quite crowded with the doctor, midwife, student and my entourage in the room! They also didn't have curtains for you to get changed behind, considering the past couple of weeks I feel there's not much left to hide. My lovely partner kindly came to the rescue and helped cover me with a towel before the trans-vaginal scan began.

Now baby has been doing cartwheels in there since yesterday and he also decided to move feet first. He often takes joy trying to kick his way out through my cervix. So his placement did make it harder to see the degree of funnelling but I felt better that his head wasn't getting ready to pop out. He also thought it would be fun to kick as they tried to do the measurements which did make me laugh. Every sonographer has always remarked on how active he is... hyperactive just like his daddy.

What made me laugh even harder was the doctor broaching the topic of no sex when there's a stitch in there. We had discussed how to prevent infection; don't use soap when cleaning down there, don't try to clean within the vagina and only have showers. When the doctor looked at my caring partner who was just helping me put my shoes back on and muttered the 'no sex' statement. I did have to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing. My partner seems convinced my mum has trained my chihuahua to go for his man area so I don't think that will be an issue.

Face of a little angel!

I still don't think I will be completely content until we do get to the 24 week mark and I have my next premature clinic appointment in two weeks time. I know that my EDS (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome) plays a factor which is often not really considered by doctors but I am feeling a lot more confident in my little nugget.