Our Little Miracle

By Vicki

I remember sitting in my gynecologist’s private office waiting to discuss my PAP results.  This was routine for me.  It was my sixth appointment in as many months.  I had been fighting off cervical cancer since my early twenties.  I was now 29 and beginning to wonder if children would be in my future.   The precancerous cells are discovered by PAP smears, and they must be removed to prevent them from progressing.  I had already endured numerous colposcopys, biopsies, and subsequent procedures to remove the precancerous cells.   I had several LEEPS and one conization, laser surgeries removing the damaged cells from the cervix.  Removing tissue from the cervix weakens the muscle and may cause it to become incompetent during pregnancy.  The shape of the cervix is also forever changed.  These factors often result in late term miscarriages. 

My most recent paps were showing an area which could not be removed without laser surgery despite the doctors numerous attempts to biopsy the area and hope a repeat PAP would save me from yet more potential damage to my cervix.  My doctor and I had recently discussed my desire to have children.  Paul and I had been dating seriously for some time.  Marriage seemed to be in our future. Although we both agreed that we were not positive we wanted children now, you never want to be told it is not an option. 

I went ahead with the LEEP procedure on September 14, 1998.  I believe this was my third or fourth in the past eight years.  A pregnancy test is required prior to the procedure. I remember how I felt when the nurse was completing the test.  I knew I wasn’t pregnant, but it was a painful reminder of future possibilities.  The procedure appeared to be successful.  A few hours of cramps and a few days of pelvic rest to recover as usual.  My doctor encouraged me to think about planning a family quickly.  A hysterectomy was likely in my future. 

Two weeks later something miraculous and completely unexpected happened.  What I had thought was the stomach flu suddenly had me wondering if I might be pregnant. Paul and I distinctly remember me going to bed the night of the LEEP procedure crampy and a bit depressed by the day’s events.  I remember noticing that I missed my pill the night before, and was even more depressed.  What did it matter we thought? I was on pelvic rest anyway.  It seemed impossible to me that I could have conceived with all the trauma to my body.  I was embarrassed to call the doctor now,  but I hadn’t gotten my period.   The nurse sounded as if she felt sorry for me on the phone.  She reminded me I had just had a pregnancy test not two weeks before, but I insisted on being seen.  They offered to see me the next day.  To everyone’s surprise, I was pregnant.  We must have conceived before the LEEP, but were only a few hours pregnant at the time of my exam.  This, of course, scared me to death.  I was sure the pregnancy was doomed due to the LEEP procedure.  My doctor tried to reassure me, and scheduled an appointment with a perinatologist.  She strongly suggested a preventative cerclage to ensure the prior damage to my cervix would not cause me to lose the pregnancy. 

The appointment with the specialist included our first sonogram of our son at 11 weeks.  At the moment we saw him, I knew we were both committed to doing whatever possible to save this pregnancy.  I had managed to complicate matters in the week prior to this appointment by tearing a small portion of the placenta by lifting something too heavy.  A cerclage was suggested due to the size and shape of my cervix.  A McDonald cerclage was placed during a short procedure in the hospital under an epidural anesthesia at 13 weeks.  We were home the same night.  I was required to complete the pregnancy on modified bedrest, which meant complete pelvic rest, no exercise, and trying to stay off my feet as much as possible.  Walking was for necessity only.  This seemed extreme to me at first, since the procedure was done to prevent possible diagnosis of incompetent cervix. Still, I followed doctor’s orders.  Our possible elopement turned into a quiet wedding at Paul’s parent’s home over the holidays.   During my regime of two-week appointments in January and February, which included measuring any change in my cervix, I saw how the length of my cervix began to change as the pregnancy progressed.  This change occurred while I was completely inactive.  I began to see the importance of my cerclage and the bedrest.

Although my cervix did dialate prematurely to 2 cm in my last month of pregnancy with the stitch still in, the cerclage held successfully.  I had virtually had no other complications involving my cervix. The cerclage was removed in my OB’s office at 37 weeks with only a pinch.  Now we waited for labor to begin.  I remained at 2 cm until John Matthew, “Jack” was born on May 30^th.   Scare tissue likely developed around my cervix and the cerclage during the pregnancy.  The result was me being one week overdue.  Who would have thought this baby who always threatened to come too early would be overdue?

Our son did give us one last scare during his birth.  After months of cautiously awaiting this baby, we didn’t expect any further problems after my successful cerclage. Jack’s umbilical cord was too short and wrapped around his belly. During labor his heart stopped beating, and he was delivered by emergency c-section due to the cord incident.  He is a beautiful healthy baby and truly a little miracle from conception to his birth. 

I sincerely hope that any woman facing similar circumstances will seek more information on preventative cerclage.  You do not have to endure the painful loss of a child and subsequent positive diagnosis of incompetent cervix to have a cerclage.  Seek information from your health care provider and insist on speaking to a specialist about high-risk pregnancy and the types of cerclages available for you and your baby.  Best wishes to you all.

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