In a few hours my girlfriend and I will arrive at the Ottawa General Hospital so she can undergo a procedure to have the cerclage removed.
The cerclage is used when women have an “incompetent cervix” — which, basically, means the cervix is incapable of holding the foetus inside. It’s a stitch around the cervix. It can be very painful, and for a lot of reasons it has been very painful for my girlfriend.
So, because she’s well into the thirty-fourth week of the pregnancy, the doctor decided it would be okay to take it out and see what happens.
It’s a surgical procedure, so there are risks. Her cervix is flat, with the cerclage is really the only thing holding the kid inside. His head is also just too big to slide through the cervix, so the genetics of the gigantic Scottish head are on his side. The baby is also extremely low, and the sac is resting against the cerclage. So any missteps means the water breaks and we have a delivery.
The doctor, who made it a point to say he’s been working with pregnant women for 35 years, believes it’s highly unlikely there’ll be any surprises.
Because Little Victor’s head is where it is, anytime he moved — which he does a lot of — it meant his ginormous Scottish head being pushed hard into his mother’s cervix, and against the cerclage. Occasionally, and I’ve seen him do this on the ultrasound, his spine curls like a spring, and he launches himself downwards. Which meant a tearing feeling which leaves my girlfriend doubled over trying not to scream.
She has put up with a lot of pain over the past four months. Granted, a great deal of it was her own doing by ignoring the doctor’s advice regarding driving and walking, but the pain is very real.
So we leave at 6:30am, the surgery prep is at 8am, the surgery is scheduled for 10am, which means we should be out mid-afternoonish. I asked her if she wanted to keep the cerclage as a souvenir — the little string like thing has pretty much ruled our lives, and saved Little Victor’s life, so it makes sense to me. But she said no.
She also wants me in the operating room with her… I think she knows that means I’ll have my camera with me.
The day they put the cerclage in we were there for more than twelve hours altogether… hopefully this is a little quicker.
It feels like we’re losing our safety net… hopefully she’s still pregnant when we leave the hospital. We’re so freaking close to a full term baby…
The song is “Open Up Baby” by Big Sugar, from their 1996 release ‘Hemi-Vision’… because my son is learning how to play the harmonica.
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...salted lithium. 
You just have no idea how much love a child brings into your life.
When I had my first child, I instantly got a feeling of love like I’d never felt before from anyone.
It was so magical and beautiful. I hope this happens to you.
So good to hear Baby Victor is at a safe gestational period in case he comes early.
And I’m looking forward to seeing some of those sweet baby photos.
Just remember to breathe in case the little dude decides to say hi today. 🙂
My daughters are the best thing to ever happen to me. Took awhile to get to that place, but I’m there now and it’s great. I can’t wait to hear about you falling for the little dude.
But Vic? Give yourself a few more weeks to cook.
Congrats on making it to nearly normal (37 weeks) term limits!
You,LV and mommy to be will be in my thoughts today. Good luck!
Thinking of you and Victor. Stay, Victor, Stay.
Holy Canoli! WOW is it safe to assume we maybe seeing pics of Victor soon, like real soon? Man I am so excited for you! Try and breathe today. 🙂
Having a kid will change your life in ways you can’t even imagine. Most of them are good 🙂
Hope all goes/went well x
Any news? Inquiring minds want to know.
Thoughts and prayers for safe journeys for all.
We’re home, the baby is still inside, everyone’s healthy… I have to sleep.
I reccommend sleep for the whole day! Trust me when I say you need it now. 😉
Great! Sweet dreams…
Best of luck, thoughts are with you xx
This is a great blog you have here. I have a blog myself which provides inspiration and guidance to people all around the world. I’d like to exchange links with you so we can spread some traffic around. We both deserve it.
Jason
TheWISDOMWALL.com