Very Confused

[dayzeeone]

On May 26/08 I gave birt tho my first child at 21 weeks and 5 days.  I was hospitalized 5 days prior due to leaking amniotic fluid or ruptured membranes.  On the 26 after yet another ultrasound I was told that I had a short cervix and because of this the baby had slipped into my vaginal cavity.  I was forced to deliver and my son passes 2 hours later.
So the question / questions;
1. How common is this and was it something i did wrong?
2. How long after this can i become pregnant and can i carry a baby?
3. Why did they not try to save my baby?

Thanks so much in advance. I really feel lost right now and any advice will help.

[chitten]

Im so sorry for your loss.

At 21 weeks a baby is not yet developed enough to be deemed "viable" this means that they would not be able to survive outside the womb at this stage. Many pregnancys encounter problems and 1 in 4 will end in miscariage. This is not something you have done wrong and i would suggest speking to your doctor to see if this is a one off or if you will need special care in your next pregnancy. With regards to falling pregnant again, you can start trying again when you have your next period however due to increased fertility after misscarriage you may fall pregnant before a period. Good luck

[LauraB78]

I just wanted to say I am very very sorry for your loss. I unfortunately have no answers to any of your questions, but at least my comment will bump your thread until someone with more experience/knowledge can answer..

[lazenza]

Hi I suffered a m/c yesterday, im not able to answer your questions but im feeling lost 2, my thoughts are with you and i send lots of love and hope for the future x

[Marcus's Mommy]

Sorry for your loss.  Some times the body can't hold the weight of a child and this can cause early delivery.  I know when I m/c at 11 weeks the doctor was wondering if I had and incompetent cervix.  So with my 3rd pregnancy he saw me ever week from 10 weeks to 30 weeks.  He checked my cervix regularly and did many u/s to ensure the thickness was good.  If there had been any thinning he would have done a stitch to ensure everything stayed closed and then at the end of the pregnancy removed it.  Fortunately I didn't need that, although I did bleed twice a week, every week from 11 to 31 weeks.

When you are blessed with another child make sure your doctors know your history and maybe you should get your cervix stitched.  They usually do it between 13-18 weeks. Make sure they monitor it weekly and via ultrasound.  

One can never know the true cause but one can look for signs to prevent it.

May God bless you and your family. And may your angel watch over you always.

[Michele, Katy, TX]

I just wanted to say how very sorry I am.  I cannot even imagine....I just know that my heart goes out to you and your family.

I myself have not had this problem.  But I have heard of many women who have.  I believe if you have an incomplete cervix, they can stitch your cervix so that this won't happen to you again.  But I would speak more to your doctor about this.

Again, I am so very sorry for your loss.  I know that it hurts......

[LosingMyMindInGA]

1.  you did nothing wrong. These things sometimes just happen and there is no way to know if or when it could happen again.
2.  If your doc doesn't tell you otherwise I would wait a couple of cycles to allow your body to get back to normal before trying again.
3.  So long as you are closely monitored for the short cervix you have a good chance of carrying another pregnancy to term.

I don't know much about having a short cervix but I do know of women who HAVE carried kids to term or close enough to term that they survived with no ill effects.

At 21 weeks gestation there was no saving the baby.  He/she was too small and immature to survive even with medical intervention.

I know right now you have so many mixed emotions...I understand completely, I had a full term stillborn at 37 wks 4 days.  In my case it was cord-related.  There is hope... I have also experienced two first trimester miscarriages... but I also have 3 healthy kids and am 34 weeks pregnant.  

[martikadragoon]

The "stitching of the cervix" is known as Cerclage, it means NO sex during pregnancy while it is in, but it can prevent a woman from having a baby too early, esp. if it's done before the cervix thins out too much.

I'm really sorry for your loss and will pray that you are blessed with a healthy full term pregnancy with your next angel.