Pregnancy Update: 18 Weeks
For those of you who don’t know why I’ve had such a hard time carrying my babies, it’s because I have an incompetent cervix, also known as cervical insufficiency. In simple terms, my cervix cannot hold the weight of my baby during the second trimester of pregnancy.
I was born without an “imaginary band” that is supposed to sit at the top of the cervix. Its job is to keep the cervix closed until full-term birth, around 37–40 weeks. Unfortunately, my body doesn’t have that natural support.
After losing my son and my twin boys, I had a transabdominal cerclage (TAC) placed. You can watch my TAC surgery on our YouTube channel, GoodwinSZN. My recovery was rough during the first three days and gradually improved by day seven. I was able to walk upright by day four, but my incision burned until about day seven. Thankfully, my incision healed perfectly.
A Brief History of My Past Pregnancies
I am currently 18 weeks pregnant as I write this post. I lost both of my previous pregnancies during my 19th week.
With my first son in 2017, I was told at my 19-week appointment that I only had 1.8 cm of cervix left and that I was funneling. I was given a rescue cerclage and told I had a 50/50 chance.
Last year, with my twin boys, I went in at 18 weeks and was told that I was funneling past my laparoscopic transabdominal cerclage (LapTAC). The funneling caused contractions, and Baby A’s sac ruptured at 19 weeks. A rollercoaster of events followed, which ultimately resulted in the loss of both of my boys. So yes—these upcoming weeks are very scary for me.
For those wondering, I feel fine and am doing well. Some people may assume that I had multiple complications that led to my losses, but the truth is my losses were silent. Incompetent cervix creeps up on you, and by the time it’s discovered, it’s usually too late.
To be very clear: I have smooth, easy pregnancies—no morning sickness, no pain, no warning signs. My losses happened suddenly, and there was no way of knowing or preventing them, even with early or emergency intervention. The bottom line is this: my cervix is very weak.
Thankfully, I’ve been given so much hope and reassurance from my TAC doctor, Dr. Haney. He has kept up with me throughout this pregnancy and constantly reassures me that everything will be alright. With my Dr. Haney TAC in place, my cervix will not move one bit.
I ask that you all continue to pray for me, my husband, and our baby—that we may find peace and calm through these upcoming weeks. I’m happy to say that this time around, my anxiety levels are very low.
My Dr. Haney Transabdominal Cerclage (TAC) Incision
Recent Doctor’s Visit
I’ve been having cervical length checks every two weeks, and these will continue until my 24th week. After that, I’ll have monthly ultrasounds and cervical checks until 36 weeks.
Right now, any sensation I feel near my cervix causes a little panic—but then I remind myself that my God is an awesome God.
Thank you, Jesus.
I recently had my 18-week anatomy scan. The good news: my cervix was still closed and measuring the same as it was two weeks ago. We also got to see our baby again, which was such a blessing.
This mid-pregnancy scan is done to ensure that the baby is growing properly and that there are no organ deformities. Our baby looked healthy and right on track, but we do have to go back in a week because our little one decided to have a field day in my belly and wouldn’t sit still for the sonographer.
All in all, our baby is healthy and growing just as expected.
Won’t He do it!
With love,
Mrs. Goodwin
