The Scar Tissue Issue

found here

Don't bother trying to find Cervical Scar Tissue in any medical journals or ACOG (American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologist) journals. It's not there. Many more women, at a much earlier age, are having procedures performed on their cervix.  One consequence is scar tissue.  That sounds logical. When have we gotten a skinned knee and not gotten a scar to go along with it?  When I got a simple biopsy on my breast boy did I get scar tissue! But getting scar tissue on your cervix? Big deal. So one would've thought. Who thinks about these things? Who would give it a whole (as in whole pie vs. piece of pie) blog? Me.

Warning: Some of the links below show photos of real cervix (not drawings). Proceed at your own risk.

It's come to my attention that women who have had a LEEP, cone or cryo procedure or a D&C or IUD (Intrauterine Device) put in, or any other procedure of that type may have scar tissue.  This scar tissue sometimes interferes with the birth process.  This scar tissue can make the cervix so strong that it will not dilate, will not open to the 10 centimeters that most baby's like to slip their heads through. This is often called FTP (failure to progress) in a women's medical chart and the consequence is her baby is born by Cesarean Section. Funny thing is that most OBGYN's have not made the connection. They do the work, cutting out precancerous or cancerous cells and then wonder why this same woman will not dilate, cannot birth vaginally.  The good news is that with a little effort and patience this scar tissue can be massaged and the unyielding tissue made soft enough to open (dilate) and babies come down the birth canal and are born just fine. Yay! Yes, they are really happy! Babies don't want to be afraid, stuck or pulled out. Do you? That's just not the way it was designed. A good design is a joy!

The tables have turned, the medical community is learning more and more from their patients! Scratching my head, "In fact how would a doctor ever learn anything if it wasn't for the patient?"  When it comes to cervical scar tissue they are learning something from my friend Doula Dawn.  Dawn is passionate about birth, about women's reproductive rights.  As a birth doula she's been called the VBAC Queen. For the last ten years she has assisted families in finding medical care and a safe place to have a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). Why? Because that is what women want and the data shows it is safer than repeat surgeries.   Dawn herself had three Cesarean's before having a VBAC at home. Yes, she experiences cervical scar tissue. I am helping her to spread the good news that 1)it's really an issue and 2) it can be resolved.  I am here today to tell you that you might want to read about this scar tissue issue. If you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant, it would be good to rack your memory and remember if you've had any procedures done to your cervix.  If you have had a procedure, ask your care provider, OB or Midwife, if they have experience with cervical scar tissue and then read this and sign up for Dawn's online class.  If you have any questions don't hesitate to call Dawn or me or someone who understands.  Ask your doula to help you learn more. She may not yet know about this issue and you will learn together.

I have said for many years that I trust birth and I trust in women's ability to birth and then scratched my head when I was foiled.  Now I know the reason.  Cervical Scar Tissue.  Sure there are other mysterious physiological and psychological reasons that birth is slow or non-emergency cesareans happen. There's no wrong way to give birth. Every time it's a miracle! If you gave birth by cesarean section you will most likely spend some time wondering or fretting if maybe this had been your issue. I hope you won't fret too much. Please pass this information along and maybe someone else will be helped. But you can bet, just as this cervical scar issue has now seen the light of day and we now know it can be resolved, there will be a new issue tomorrow. I have seen and heard about many improvements in birth practices over the last ten years but these improvements are slow to be adopted by doctors in hospitals.  Sadly, the 2010 United Nations data showed that the United States had slipped from 41st to 50th place, with a higher maternal mortality ratio than 49 other countries. So hold on! You are going to see much more information here about safe birthing!1

I don't know how all the countries that have a much lower cesarean rate than the USA are dealing with the issue of cervical scar tissue but the USA isn't. Period.  We, the consumers, must step up and stand up and speak up for ourselves, our bodies, our births.  Tell your doctor that your body works, your contractions are rocking strong and your baby is ready to come..."my labor is just taking longer because I have some scar tissue on my cervix and it'd be lovely if you could find it and rub it out, break up that scar tissue. Then we can proceed, get on with the show!" It can work like magic.

It can happen this fast - Open Sesame!

The lotus flower is an exotic treasure that has many purposes.

I have pictured them in this blog as an example of the

opening of a woman's cervix during childbirth.

How tragic it would be if someone manipulated this flower

and it could not bloom as it was designed.

Think about your favorite flower.  Does it have a sweet scent?

Did you know that many flowers are edible?

Look at the opening of the lotus flower here 

and imagine your cervix doing the same.

1. Stay at home. Hire a midwife.

Liam's Birth

I joined Kris in the last hours of her three day labor. She embraced and never questioned the process. She was so confident that her body knew how to birth her baby. She was so smart! And I'll just bet this confidence and faith in birth and in her body has followed her into motherhood! The birth story I presented to Kris at our postpartum visit is linked above. It is posted on Liza Janda's Bradley Childbirth webpage.

There is always a reason labors and births go this way or that. Little Liam had his hand up by his face (nuchal hand) which doesn't allow for complete pressure on the cervix and sometimes causes "uncoordinated" albeit strong contractions. Although, doulas and midwives may recognize this type of labor and suggest various positions that may reposition baby into a "favorable position", in this situation gets baby's hand out of the way, there are no guarantees and this is not an emergency or abnormality. Baby will be born just fine and in perfect time.

the term "favorable" is used by medical people for various reasons. But for this baby it was favorable for him to keep his hand by his face...maybe he was a thumb sucker in utero. Maybe it was comforting for him. All these 9 months he's played with his hand and now WE want him to 'move it!'. Who do we think we are?!

Women your bodies are smart, your babies are smart. Don't doubt it for a second.

I am thankful for to be able to say this confidently! Thank you to the birthing women that have taught me this and so much more about life, love, death, living, birth, spirituality, my body (is okay), faith....

And thank you to the babies that teach us all. -Rosie

Alexander

Welcome Alexander! Naturally, born at 12:59PM on Saturday, May 16, 2009 weighing 7lbs.11oz.

Your's was a sweet, sweet birth Alexander. Your mama and papa checked into their hospital room around 8AM. Your mama was 7-8 centimeters dilated. She labored so calmly we hardly knew when she was having contractions! She was texting at 9 centimeters and then settled into a comfortable position to arrive at complete and push you into the world and into the arms of your loving family, mother, father two big sisters and big brother.

All I can say is, "all is well with my soul! Praise the Lord!" Your mama's dry sense of humor was salve to this doula's soul. She renewed my faith yet again in women's amazing beautiful power and strength, as she birthed you so gracefully and gently, so normally, so undramatic...ho hum, what's for lunch.

That being said, We know that life is precious, that your's is ordained, that the God of the universe is alive and living in the spirits of those that invite Him. I think this faith helps your parents and others like them to keep things, like the miracle of your birthday, in perspective. All the Glory and Honor and Power to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit!


As a side note: Alexander's mama felt like she was in labor for many weeks. baby was very low, mama was contracting daily, dilating even! and still...no active labor! Was this smart mama tired? Yes. Frustrated? Yes. Her three older children were excited daily (and we all know what that means!), expecting to meet their baby. But mama was patient. Mama knew that it would serve her body, her baby and utimately her family better to wait. And she was right!

This was indeed a slow birth of sorts. So, in reframing this sweet birth story remember to put the frame of days and weeks of practice labor and pre-labor around it. Yes the work of active labor is tremendous but do not underestimate or discount the weeks and days surrounding the birth of your baby. Both the prenatal and postpartum days are important, are what you make them, are part of your birth story. Much love, Rosie