Cervical cerclage is a surgical procedure performed on pregnant women with a weakened cervix, which increases the risk of preterm delivery. The procedure involves stitching the cervix closed to help it hold the baby in place until it is time for delivery. After cervical cerclage, it is essential to take certain precautions to ensure a successful pregnancy and delivery. This article will discuss on 6 important things not to do after cervical cerclage.
1. Don’t engage in strenuous physical activity
Strenuous physical exercises are the one of the most important things not to do after cervical cerclage. This may include avoiding strenuous physical activity, such as heavy lifting, exercising, standing for long periods, etc.
Suppose you continue to do strenuous physical activities. In that case, it can cause pressure on the cervix and lead to complications such as bleeding or premature labour. You should have adequate rest soon after the cervical cerclage. After that, you can continue your daily life without much interruption.
However, some of you may ask to avoid light exercise too in extreme conditions. In such instances, you are recommended to have bed rest.
What exercise can you do after a cervical cerclage?
As mentioned earlier, your gynecologist would have to decide your exercise tolerance. Because the level of tolerance would vary each other. However, most ladies can tolerate light exercise. Additionally, breathing exercises are also recommended after a cervical cerclage.
Can you do Yoga after a cervical cerclage?
Yoga is a collection of exercise to different parts of your body. Some are light while others are strenuous in nature. However I don’t recommend any strenuous yoga exercise during pregnancy.
So in situation like post cervical cerclage, you need to consult your gynecologist and the yoga instructor before selecting the list of exercises.
2. Don’t have sex
It is essential to avoid having sex for at least two weeks after cervical cerclage. This allows the cervix to heal correctly and reduces the risk of infection. You should also avoid sexual activity that may cause pressure on the cervix, such as deep penetration or multiple orgasms.
Is It Safe To Have Sex After A Cervical Cerclage?
We know sexual intercourse, even during pregnancy, may keep you alive. However, in some cases, your doctor may not recommend you to have sex. In such situations, strict abstinence is necessary.
3. Don’t use tampons
We know some of you use tampons instead of sanitary pads during your menstrual cycles. However, using tampons is another important thing you should avoid after cervical cerclage.
Using tampons can also increase the risk of infection after cervical cerclage. It is recommended that you use sanitary pads instead.
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any abnormal bleeding or discharge.
4. Don’t ignore warning signs.
After cervical cerclage paying attention to your body and any warning signs that may indicate a problem is essential. If you experience any of the following symptoms, contact your healthcare provider immediately:
- Heavy bleeding
- Severe cramping or abdominal pain
- Fluid leaking from the vagina
- Fever or chills
5. Don’t skip follow-up appointments.
Some people don’t attend the follow up clinics after any surgeries. But this is one of the most important things not to do after cervical cerclage. Attending all follow-up appointments with your healthcare provider after cervical cerclage is essential. This is to ensure that the cervix is healing correctly and that there are no complications.
Your healthcare provider may also recommend additional tests or procedures to monitor your pregnancy.
6. Don’t wait till it ruptures.
One of the issues with cervical cerclage is the rupture of the cerclage prior to the delivery. This is mostly due to avoiding instructions or premature delivery.
Usually, you need to remove your cerclage prior to starting the delivery. However, in rare instances, there is a chance of early contractions and rupture of the sutures.
If you rupture the cervical cerclage, there are risk of many complications. Therefore it is necessary to have the removal of cerclage prior to the begging of the contractions.