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About Me My name is Jenn and I developed this web site in 1999 after having experienced several losses and success with cervical incompetence. I am not a medical professional, I am just a mom who experienced losses at 23 weeks, 13 weeks, and 21 weeks in that order. I have had 5 cerclage experiences and now have 2 healthy living children. You can read my full pregnancy story Why I developed this web site? This web site is not designed to diagnose any problem you may be experiencing, but rather for those who already experienced or have been given a diagnosis of an Incompetent cervix. When I experienced my first loss in my first pregnancy, I remember waking up the next morning trying to make sense of what had happened the day before. I sat in my room consumed with fear, taking in all the information that my medical professionals tried to explain. I thought to myself "Is there anyone else out there who had this happen"? "Am I the only one whose body failed"? "Why can't I find others with a success to share"? These questions consumed me in the days following my first loss. In my second pregnancy went through with a cerclage feeling very isolated in my thoughts never really knowing, speaking or having heard of anyone else who had success with the stitch placement. I had the reassurance of my doctors but not the reassurance I needed, another woman who had success to speak with. After each pregnancy loss the aftermath was always the same, a health care professional sent me home with pamphlets to read, something that would try to make sense of what happened and a resource for finding grieving support groups. I still can recall the title to one of these pamphlets given to me the next day after my first loss "Who Will Hear My Lullabye" Its title still sticks with me today. The title felt like a sharp stick in my heart and instilled panic in me for the future. . More than ever what I really needed was another woman who had the same diagnosis and had a previous cerclage placement. Finding real women out there who lived through this same type of loss, who experienced first hand what it truly feels like to have such a blind sided loss to cervical incompetence. Professional support services were helpful to explain stages of grief but, I never left feeling as though I was speaking others who had a real grasp on "how it felt". The best they could offer were parent neonatal loss groups where experiences were melting pots of complications. The very last thing I needed was to learn about more complications that could result in losing my baby, worrying about one was overwhelming enough. After my losses I longed for someone, out there who could comfort me and share a successful outcome having been through an incompetent cervix loss themselves. Professional services could never give me that kind of network. I wanted anyone who could say "Yes I have been there and yes I had a cerclage and it worked for me." I wanted women to women contact even if for me their stories would not be my same scenario. I longed for a women who could give me hope, a lay person speaking with personal experience. I had to search these women out myself with cerclages and when I did we were able to share our panic, fear and uncertainties for the future that so many of us with this diagnosis have. Regardless of how many times my health care providers tried to be hopeful for me in regards to successful pregnancies with a cerclage treatment, I still wanted concrete real experiences from others who had been through it. It has been my experience that doctors do not offer a contact list of other willing patients who could share or offer phone support. This site has been developed to give women that support and contact with other women. It is a place that draws from personal experience from other women around the world who have been also diagnosed with an Incompetent cervix. In the first year of its development we had over 6,000 visitors, all word of mouth networking through the web. We are now linked with Both Sidelines USA and Sidelines Canada. We are currently going strong in our second year of support and networking. It is my hope that the information, and personal stories here will give you some hope, strength and understanding to make your pregnancy dreams a little less stressful. If there is someone here who you feel their story or experience can help you, just let me know I can always get in touch with them for you. Countless emails from the quiet lurkers express "Thank you" to myself and the women who have shared their stories of loss and success. Many of the emails have the same sentiment "they feel less alone" and express relief for finding others with positive outcomes after a loss. Their feedback have made this project rewarding and successful. May we comfort and support you if you also have an experience to share. Jenn Be sure to review this web site’s disclaimer |
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Copyright © 1999 - 2001, Incompetent Cervix and Pregnancy Support |
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