My IC Miracles

By Mindi

I was 18 when I found out I was pregnant for the first time. I was so excited. I had always wanted to have a big family. As soon as I discovered I was pregnant I wanted a girl. My husband of course wanted a boy. Life was just about perfect. I spent all my time dreaming of the wonderful joys of motherhood. I had an easy pregnancy with very little morning sickness. I was going to the health department for regular check ups because we live in a small town and the closest ob/gyn was 45 miles away. The nurses at the health department assured me that I didn't need to go to an ob until I was in my 3rd trimester. When I was about 24 weeks my mom insisted that I go to an ob. She said that with it being my first pregnancy I should be under a doctor's care. I thought she was silly and over protective. I was young and healthy, what could possibly be wrong. Well mom knew best. When the Dr. did a pelvic he discovered that I was 80% effaced. I had no idea what that meant. He told me that I had an incompetent cervix and that a stitch was too risky at that point in my pregnancy so I would have to be on bedrest for the remainder of my pregnancy. He also told me that if I was ever pregnant again I would have to have a cerclage at 12 weeks. At that appointment I also found out that I was having a girl! So home to bed I went. My mother in law came over to clean my house and keep me company every day. She was also excited about a girl as she had had 4 boys and always wanted a girl. Things had started to settle into a routine when at 28 weeks I started having contractions. I rushed to the hospital and was given shots of brethine. My contractions stopped and I was sent home with a prescription to take brethine 3 times a day. If I thought bedrest was bad; bedrest and brethine were worse. I was so sick and had the shakes so bad I couldn't hold a book. Just as things were settling down again, at 32 weeks I lost my mucus plug and was having more contractions. I went to the hospital again and found out that I was dilated 1 to 2 centimeters. My contractions were stopped and I was sent home and ordered to take even more brethine. I stayed in bed and only took 3 showers a week. I was really scared now. I had always thought that when you dilated you went right into labor. Well 4 weeks later at 36 weeks my water broke and there was no stopping her this time. After 4 hours of labor, Victoria Elizabeth Christina made her appearance weighing in at 4lbs 13 oz. She was breathing well and went home the next day.

When Victoria was 16 mos old I discovered that I was pregnant again. I had always wanted a big family , but I was scared of going through another nightmare pregnancy.  I went to my ob right away and at 12 weeks I had my cerclage and my pregnancy progressed normally. I was never on bedrest or brethine. At 39 weeks my Dr cut the stitch and my cervix popped open to 3 cm. I went into labor and 4 hours later without any drugs at all, David Michael Alexander was born a healthy 7lbs 5 oz. What a chunk!

 My husband and I divorced a year later and I figured my baby days were over.  I was wrong. Five years later I was dating a nice guy when my birth control failed.  He wanted to get married but I was not ready for that so I moved in with mom and got my cerclage at 12 weeks. Once again I had an uneventful pregnancy and got my stitch cut at 39 weeks. As soon as the stitch came out, my water broke. Once again after only 4 hours I was presented with a son, Daniel Mateo Javier.  He was 6lbs 8oz.

When Danny was 6 mos old I met the greatest man in the world. We were married 2 months later. He had no kids of his own and being an adopted child he wanted a biological child of his own. He loves my kids and is the daddy they never had, but I could understand his desire to have one of his own, so I sat him down and explained IC to him. He agreed to do more than his share of housework and even all of it if necessary so we began trying in May.  On June 4th (4 days before his birthday) the pregnancy test came back positive. This pregnancy has been a bit rocky. I got my stitch at 12 weeks, but in my 25th week I developed a bladder infection that triggered some mild contractions. So back to bedrest and brethine. (I forgot how nasty that stuff is) The infection would not go away so in my 28th week I was put in the hospital for 4 days to get IV antibiotics. The infection is gone now and I am off bedrest. I am 30 weeks. Only 9 weeks left as my Dr will cut the stitch at 39 weeks. I am hoping for a valentines baby. We know she is a girl. Her name is Sierra Autumn Dawn. I always wanted a big family and God has granted me this in spite of IC. My husband would like one more in a few years (a total of 5 kids!) and the Dr says we can so I am hoping to have another miracle in a few years. But only one more. After that I am done with having babies--for real this time. I hope my story will inspire those that are scared but want to have a family. I say go for it. Get the stitch, take it easy and good luck!

 If anyone wants to ask questions or needs support they can email me at kidmindi@yahoo.com

Copyright © 1999 - 2001, Incompetent Cervix and Pregnancy Support
 Incompetent Cervix and Pregnancy support web site is owned, designed and maintained by Jenn