Miscarriage and Stillbirth Forum - external cervix dilating, blood loss and pain

Pregnancy Forum > Miscarriage and Stillbirth Forum > external cervix dilating, blood loss and pain (Page 1)

Q: external cervix dilating, blood loss and pain

asked by: lisa1978 on May 21st, 2008

New User

I am 17 weeks pregnant with my third child. I have been in a lot of pain for over a week, with contraction like pains and when I was examined in hospital I was told I was slightl dilated on the external cervix. I was sent home and told there was a 50 50 chance the pregnancy would end soon.

Well I am still in pain and still bleeding with clots and when I examined myself earlier I could fit two fingers inside my cervix. I was really shocked as I have never had a vaginal birth ro been in labout before as I had two planned c sectins with my girls.

Is this bad? Should I be this dilated and being left to cope alone? I am so scared about the baby being born at home whilst I am alone. I am sure a 17 week gestation baby will be hard to see.

Can I start to close again at this point?

Please please help and advice me.

Lisa

Replies(25)

Mabel

replied on May 21st, 2008

Moderator

Why haven't you had a follow up with your OB? Who told you there was a 50/50 chance your pregnancy would end? Based on what?

A 17 week baby will not be hard to see, you'll have to push it out. If you are bleeding, get OFF THE COMPUTER and get the the ER!

Additionally, stop sticking anything into your cervix.

lisa1978

replied on May 21st, 2008

New User

I have had one follow up appointment where they did bloods and a scan and said baby was alive but no physical change from me. The hospital knows I have been bleeding for 8 days (changing pad every three hours) but they have just said the 'foetus' isnt viable at this stage that there would be nothing more they could do. I asked about a cervial stitch but they said they couldnt whilst I was bleeding and there were no drugs at this stage that would help. I feel very alone and very scared. My husband has been great and I am resting lots, but how much longer can this go on?

Should I be able to fit fingers inside a cervix that should be closed? I knwo I should be having a feel myself, but nobody else seems to be looking ...

I am in the UK so I am not sure if things may be different where you are?

Lisa

Mabel

replied on May 21st, 2008

Moderator

You should keep your fingers out of your cervix, that cannot be helping anything! In fact, it could give you an infection and cause dilation to increase.

No explaination as to why you are dilating? No reason why you are bleeding? You just are?

I'll tell you this, if you were dilating and bleeding in the states, you would not have been sent home from the hospital.

When did they say you should come back? At what point do you get treatment? Are you on strict bedrest?

lisa1978

replied on May 21st, 2008

New User

The NHS in Britain is terrible, their attitude sucks and they just want you to leave to free up a bed.

No reason was given as to why I am bleeding or why i am dilating slightly, they barely gave me painkillers for the pain. I really am so sore. I have been given no firther follow up appointments as of yet, I am not sure if it i because they think I will lose the baby? As for bedrest, they told me to rest but no bedrest as it would increase my chance of blood clots ...

I have never been on a forum like this, but this is how desparate for information I am. I feel very scared and alone and dont knwo what I will do if the baby starts to come - call an ambulance I guess and hope it will be here in time.

Thank you so much much for talking with me, it is so good to have someone to listen

lisa

Mabel

replied on May 21st, 2008

Moderator

You should go back to the hospital.

lisa1978

replied on May 21st, 2008

New User

A&E dont deal wit pregnancy and the maternity ward told me not to go back unless the bleeding got far worse ... I think they would just send me out again. They discharged me last thursday night in this condition. This is why i feel all over the place and wanted to seek some medical facts about how bad all this may be or is it all ok and i am being a baby and should just wait things out?
Lis

Mabel

replied on May 21st, 2008

Moderator

Tell them the bleeding IS worse. I would personally park myself in the hospital until they gave me some answers.

There are plenty of girls here from the UK, maybe one of them will come along and be of more help.

Marianne0558

replied on May 21st, 2008

Supporter

This is NOT normal.
You should not be going through a pad every 3 hours for the last 8 days!!!

Go to the hospital and DEMAND to be treated. Don't leave until you have some answers!!!
Go to every hospital around if you have to.
I would if it were my baby.

lisa1978

replied on May 21st, 2008

New User

You have been of help and I am grateful, thank you.

AyaMiyaki

replied on May 21st, 2008

Especially eHealthy

I'm curious if that hospital is setting itself up for a lawsuit by refusing to treat a patient who obviously needs help?

Call an ambulance. Have them bring you to the hospital. If they try to make you leave, start demanding medical treatment or else you're contacting an ATTORNEY. You have a right to treatment! It is not normal nor healthy to bleed and dilate this early in pregnancy, and their refusal to either take you seriously or attempt to treat you in any way is nothing short of negligence, if not malpractice.

Zanny

replied on May 21st, 2008

Supporter

Does your hospital have an early pregnancy/foetal assessment unit?

Go back to hospital & demand to be kept in there. It's where you need to be in this condition.. I don't care how rubbish the NHS is. If they tell you to go home, go to a different hospital.

lisa1978

replied on May 21st, 2008

New User

I seem to be in a blurred area because they put me on a gynae ward who are meant to deal with early pregnancy problems (up to 12 weeks) and when I said I was 16 weeks (this was last week) they said maternity wouldnt take me until 22 weeks ... I dont get it!

Everyone keeps telling me to wait and see what happens but I am just not good at waiting, especially when I am in pain and this baby means the world to us.

Thanks for your responses
Lisa

AyaMiyaki

replied on May 21st, 2008

Especially eHealthy

If you're dilating at 17 weeks, that's not something you wait out. Don't let anyone try to convince you otherwise.

You need medical treatment. You don't need it tomorrow or next week, you need it RIGHT NOW. You needed it last week when they turned you away.

I'm surprised you're still here. Please close the window and call an ambulance. Unless they threaten to remove you by bodily force, DO NOT LEAVE until you're seen! And I would strongly suggest having your husband contact an attorney while you're waiting to be seen. You won't have time to do this yourself, since you'll be either in the ambulance or at the hospital.

Stand up, walk away from the computer, and call your local emergency services. 911 or whatever you have over in the UK. Don't wait another 10 minutes. Do it now.

lisa1978

replied on May 21st, 2008

New User

I guess I am suprised by all of your reactions to this, they have made me feel like I have no options and need to stay at home. I dont feel like I need to call an ambulance, but agree I do need treatment and not to be left alone in pain. The Americas system seems so much better. I am laying in bed on a laptop by the way, I am not up and about.

Thanks for your advice, I am going to ring my midwife now and try and push for more answers / appointments.
lisa

Marianne0558

replied on May 21st, 2008

Supporter

Appointments take time sweetie. This is a time bomb ticking away. Do you really want to risk your baby's life and possibly yours because you "don't feel you need an ambulance?"
Get UP and GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

AyaMiyaki

replied on May 21st, 2008

Especially eHealthy

Do what you feel you must. You've heard our advice, and it's your choice whether to follow it or not.

Good luck.

Mabel

replied on May 21st, 2008

Moderator

lisa1978 wrote:

If a google search led you hear, a google search would tell you that bleeding for a week and dilating when you are 17 weeks pregnant are not good situations to be in. They REQUIRE medical care.

I am honestly amazed that no one bothered to say why you are bleeding. There was just no answer to it? No placenta previa? No abruption? Just dilating and bleeding with pain? Sounds like a diagnosis they'd give at 7 weeks pregnant, not 17 weeks.

lisa1978

replied on May 21st, 2008

New User

Hi guys, thanks again for all of your advice. My husband has spoken to midwife and she is phoning the antinatal ward to see if they will see me...

A scan showed no placental problems, placenta is posterior and not particularly low and wa well attached to wall. They did say bleeding was coming from cervix. I am not sure if they are being nice not keeping me there as they said hospitals are full of infection and it would not benefit me or baby to be there ... They said there is no medication that could stop labout at this stage and a cervical stitch which would help could not be done until bleeding stops ...

I am so grateful to you all for listening and I hae taken on board how ad you think this is. I guess i am in denial a little.

I will stay in bed until the midwife phones back with more information.

Thanks, lisa

Marianne0558

replied on May 21st, 2008

Supporter

Quite to the contrary, the hospital would be the BEST place to be in this situation.
That way, if something serious happened suddenly, you could get help right away

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