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Pregnancy after Trachelectomy

7352
0 Recommendations

Well the good news for everyone out there is that I got pregnant right away after my trachelectomy. They gave us to go ahead start trying 3 weeks after my surgery and poof, just like that, I am pregnant. I am just starting my 7th week. The oncologist said the first trimester risks are the same as anyone else, but after that I become "high risk" and have to go to a special hospital etc.

Anyone who has had pregnancy after Trachelectomy, I would love some advice on what to expect.: I've been warned by all the doctors that bedrest is in my future!

Explore topics in this discussion:

Cancer Surgery Hysterectomy Miscarriage Pregnancy Cervical cancer

28 replies

flowershoplady

congratulations on becoming pregnant, and best wishes for a healthy pregnancy for both you and your baby!

michellelwhitlock

Congratulations! I too had a trachelectomy in 2002. I wasn't married then or ready for children. Two years later the same week my husband proposed we found out the cancer was back. I wish you much success in your journey!

islandgirl

I'm very happy that you've been able to become pregnant. I hope it goes well and that you are happy and healthy during the 9, not really almost 10 months of pregnancy.

Susan

PJ2

Congratulations!!! That is so amazing and I am sure this gives hope to women on this board who were told it may not be possible. Although I didn't have a trach, I did have a LEEP that removed the majority of my cervix and I had a few issues during pregnancy.

Mainly, I had to have ultrasounds every two weeks for my entire pregnancy beginning at 8 weeks. I went to a fetal specialist that watched my cervix to make sure it stayed closed. I didn't need a cerclage to stitch my cervix closed because I had lots of scar tissue keeping it closed, but I know a few women who did and they had to go on bedrest. I had bedrest with my second son and it wasn't too bad as long as I watched what I ate!!! :-)

One thing during both my pregnancies, I was told no sexual intercourse for obvious reasons, but you just have to get creative in other ways! The other issue is that I haven't been able to deliver vaginally because I do not have the ability to dilate. Even after several doses (3) of pitocin to help with labor, they ended up stoping me because I never dilated - at all! I had c-sections both times, but it wasn't the end of the world because I never thought I would have the two amazing boys I have, so to me, it was fine I didn't get to push them out! So that might be something to talk over with the doctor. Sometimes it happens after removing your cervix, and in my case it did. Doesn't mean you won't be able to!

All in all, it went well. Just be sure that your OBGYN sends you on to see a fetal specialist or that they monitor you VERY closely to be sure your uterus doesn't open prematurely.

All the best in the world to you and your family through the next several months. Congratulations!!

-PJ

Liz1

So good to hear, my daughter aged 23 has just had a trachelectomy as she wanted to preserve her fertility, so great to hear of your success.

esmrelda

sorry to be so personal, but any difficulties getting pregnant? was it natural or did you see a fertility specialist.

i'm totally on the fence about this. my MD says getting pregnant naturally goes against biology and isn't often the case. now b/c of this, i've seen a fert. specialist who says the same thing. i have seen her for 6 months now, doing IUI's and nothing. let me tell you, there is NOTHING i'd like more than to never have to return to that place. talk about invasion of privacy. it's all just too much for me. taking something relatively simply and blowing it out of proportion x50.

every once in a while she throws in a 'some patients get pregnant on their own'

so, that's the background to my question ....
thanks,
Es

rjw

Hi everyone, have been reading all your posts, and think you are all so brave. Im 26 and have recently been diagnosed with cervical cancer, I had a trachelectomy and lymph node removal last week, so am still recovering.

Through everything my main worry is being able to have a baby. I am so so so lucky that i already have a beautiful little boy, and thank god everyday that I got pregnant on the pill!!!

I hope that this chat page will help me stay focused, as am sure we all feel scared and even angry, but be able to support each other

xxx

7352

sorry I didn't respond before i just saw all these replies that I thought were being redirected to my in box.

i got pregnant completely naturally, right away.

I also had to have vaginal ultrasounds every two weeks through most of the pregnancy. I was told from the getgo that I would have to have c sections. i had labour pains three days before my scheduled section so I had an emergency section but everything was fine. my obgyn said next time she is scheduling me for 36 weeks instead of 37.

our little boy is now 9 months. I get a colposcopy every 4 months, so far everything is good. we are going to start trying for a second in the sumer. I would rather risk having two kids really close than wait a couple years and maybe have problems. (miscarry, trouble conceiving or get the cancer back and have to go for the hysterectomy).

I hope my story comforts anyone who gets this diagnosis. it really has turned out very well for us. good luck to all!!!

rjw

I would love to start trying straight away, but am determind to finish my degree first, im a student midwife, and hoping that next year while on my gyne placement will have the chance to work along side my consultant and watch a trachelectomy!!!!

BAR32

7352, I am so glad that it worked out for you, and that you have a healthy little guy. Were you on bed rest at all?

tumblewd

Hi 7532,

My question is pretty specific since you went into labor before your scheduled date. My wife had a radical trachelectomy a little over two years ago and we are expecting (scheduled for a 37 week delivery) in just two weeks!

As you can imagine we are excited, a little nervous, but feeling very fortunate. I hope one more success story in the making(fingers crossed) will give others hope.

My question is what should we look for and expect if my wife goes into early labor. There is plenty of info on signs of labor, but not much specific to post-trach labor.

thanks and good luck with your second try

christiecsr

It is so nice to hear these stories. I am 27 and have just been diagnosed with cervical cancer. I have seen two doctors who both recommend the hysterectomy (I am stage 1b1) and I really feel like that is an overreaction. I am getting married in 5 weeks and do not have any children yet. We both really want kids and I don't want to give up on that yet.

I am talking with a doctor this week that does the trachelectomy surgery and am hopeful. My biggest worry right now is whether I am going to have surgery next week or wait until after my wedding.

I am also very scared about having surgery. I have never had to go to the hospital for anything and am so scared. I also (in the past) refused to see a male doctor and now the only ones that do this are male.

Hopefully my story will have a happy ending like many of you.

7352

wait until after the wedding to do the surgery (they probably can't schedule you that quick anyway). it is major surgery, you will not be able to do all the preparations for a wedding while recovering, even if it is reasonable to assume you will be in ok shape to walk down the aisle 4 weeks later, wouldn't you be in perfect shape? INSIST on the trachelectomy, search high and low for a dr that can/will do it. my cancer was 2B and I'm fine now: just got back from a 2 yr checkup and everything is perfect, we are going to start trying for baby #2.

BAR32

I hope you get good news this week. If you are eligible for the trachelectomy, I would ask how quickly they can do the procedure, and also how they plan to do it. Mine was done abdominally and the recovery was really rough for the first 2 to 3 weeks. I was instructed not to even drive for 4 weeks. But if it is performed in a less invasive way, the recovery is alot easier, and you might be able to have it before the wedding. For me, i couldn't get the surgery scheduled any earlier than 3 weeks after my initial consulation, so after the wedding may be your only option anyway. good luck to you. don't be scared -- this is just something you have to do. You will do it, and get through it, and pretty soon you will be on the other side of it and feeling better. hang in there.

californiaGirl

Hi,
I had trachelectomy almost 5 years ago and most of my cervix is gone. I want to try to get pregnant and my doctor told me I'll need a stitch at the bottom of my uterus otherwise I'll miscarry. Did anyone who got pregnant after the surgery had to do that?
To 7352: I would not recommend doing surgery before the wedding as you won't feel good for a few weeks and you'll be bleeding and sex was painful for a long time for me.

7352

I had the stitch put in durint the same surgery they did the trachelectomy.
i had a vaginal ultrasound (not fun) every 2 weeks from 12 weeks to 28 weeks of pregnancy to check that the stitch was holding. i don't think you can carry a baby without the stitch.

sapphkat

This gives me hope.. I am insisting on one.. my doctor is trying to convince me that a hysterectomy is a better choice. I am adamant that I need to try everything before going that route though.

I do worry that it is not like I will be able to go and have kids right away and in the mean time the AIS might come back... I have kept myself removed from intimate relationships since my initial diagnosis of AIS 2 years ago. My gyne-oncologist is pretty sure that the AIS is in my entire cervix, so worries about leaving what is required for the stitch.

californiaGirl

Did you feel anything unusual with the stitch?

7352

Not that I can think of... everything feels completely normal, if I didn't have to go for the follow up colposcopies regularly then I would even forget that I ever had both the cancer and the surgery.

GORKE

7352 your story is an inspiration to me...I'm so happy that you were able to conceive natuaraly and deliver a healthy baby! My husband and I are going to start trying as soon as I feel healthy and healed from my trachelectomy surgery. I've been warned of miscarriage in the 2nd trimester and premature delivery. I'm scared about either scenario, but its worth the risk to bring another little on into the world to complete our family. Best of luck to you on #2!!

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