u/ProudDivide5193

How are folks navigating birth prep classes and other birth prep things (pelvic floor therapy, pre-labor exercise) with IC / a cerclage?

Against my dr’s rec, I put myself on modified bed rest. In terms of birth prep, I don’t want to do anything that could negatively impact my cervix so I haven’t done anything at all, but I’m realizing there may be safe things I can do to get a little more prepared for labor. Thinking online birth prep classes, but would love others’ thoughts on additional things I could be doing.

I know there’s been other posts about this, but would still love others’ thoughts. I got an emergency Shirodkar cerclage placed at 20 weeks, with less than a cm of cervix left. I’m now 26 weeks and my length is 2.9 cm (down from 3.3 at its highest post cerclage).

We had written off the idea of having a baby shower when we found out about the cervical incompetence but are now rethinking whether we can do one. We were planning for one at 32.5 weeks but found out that my two sister in laws (we don’t have other siblings and are very close with the SILs) and one of my closest 4 friends wouldn’t be available that weekend, but could join the weekend we would be 34.5 weeks.

What would you do in this situation? Would especially love input from women who previously had an emergency cerclage - did you go into labor before 34 weeks? Even if you didn’t go into labor, were you much more physically uncomfortable at 34.5 v 32.5 weeks? I recognize the privilege of even thinking about having a shower, and also recognize I could very well go into labor any day, but am trying to stay optimistic and maybe have a day of experiencing pure celebration in an otherwise very stressful pregnancy!