If you read my other blog, I went into detail regarding the surgery I had to even get pregnant. Anyway, because my cervix was actually cut at that time, it was possible that it was weakened and would be unable to withstand the weight of a baby. A weakened cervix can lead to a condition called incompetent cervix or cervical incompetence which is a fancy way of saying the cervix is unable to stay closed. As you can imagine, this condition can cause preterm labor and miscarriage. Women that have had cervical surgery have the option of getting stitches surgically placed around the cervix to hold it closed. This procedure is called a cerclage. It can done as an elective procedure (at around 13-14 weeks) or in emergent cases (20+ weeks). Emergent cases do not have nearly the success rate that elective ones do. I chose to have an elective McDonald cerclage placed during week 13. I was in the hospital for four days. Before the procedure, I was so freaked out that I had to see/hear the baby's heartbeat. The nurses were unable to find it with a Doppler, so my doctor (angel that she is) had them bring over the ultrasound machine so I could see the baby.
The cerclage was removed in the office during my 32nd week by Dr. Kwon at Severance. Let's just say this: "OUCH!"
The ongoing story of an American mommy and Kiwi daddy experiencing parenthood for the first time in Korea.
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