I am not familiar with 17P. (but I will look it up after I post.) But, I can share a 
story of three (maybe 5) pregnancies with Irritable Uterus. 

I start to contract at about 12 to 14 weeks. By about 16 weeks, I am on 
Modified Bed Rest. Somewhere in my 20 something week period, I am usually 
hospitalized several times for preterm labor, contractions as frequently as Q 2 
Minutes, with most of my cervical length gone by 20 wks, and dilation 
accompanying the frequent contractions. I usually require COMPLETE bed rest 
after the first serious Preterm Labor Scare, with Meds, hyperhydration, etc. 

ANY breast or nipple or even abdominal stimulation after 12 to 14 wks will start 
a round of serious contractions. (My OB considers "anything less than 8 
contractions an hour normal" for me) I have gone into preterm contractions 
from a simple belly check, so I am virtually not touched for most of the 
pregnancy. My husband and I tried to "Cheat" a few times, with gentle sex, 
and just the pressure of his body on mine was enough (before actual 
intercourse) to throw me into labor. 

Obviously MY body does not become desensitized to Oxytocin at all. I am glad 
my first baby weaned before I became pregnant with my second viable 
pregnancy (she weaned when I miscarried, when she was about 16 m old) My 
third viable pregnancy was eleven years after the third, so she was obviously 
weaned. During this pregnancy, I only had one cervical check after the first 
trimester, the first time I went into Preterm Labor, and then there was a 
standing order, "Do NOT do Cervical Checks." in order not to 'stir things up." I 
truly believe that I simply could not have breastfed during pregnancy. My body 
overreacts to Oxytocin, and I would have not endangered the babies in my 
womb for anything. (suffering two miscarriages, first trimester was bad 
enough, I can't imagine a later loss.) Even small amounts of nipple stimulation 
cause huge, frequent contractions in my body. 

I never required a cerclage, (although I had the great fun of experiencing the 
Trendelenburg Position) but it would have been enough to scare me into some 
major changes, to save the baby in my belly, if I had. 

I was given a "Scared Straight Tour" of the NICU after my 2nd weeks long 
hospitalization with my first baby. I was wheeled around the NICU, looking at 
all the tiny, red, IVed, bone thin, intubated babies. I was looking at one tiny 
little girl, who barely had skin, was bright red, trying to scream around the 
vent, noiselessly, when the Neonatologist said to me, "That is about how big 
your baby is now." I hadn't really realized how serious Preterm Birth was until 
then. (I was just turned 24 and young and a bit naive.) I started to cry, the 
Neo hugged me and then I was then sent home, and became religiously 
dedicated to my bedrest. No more cheating, no more thinking "well, I'll just 
walk down the block. It can't hurt." "Going out to dinner is OK, I'll just sit...." 
ect. With each pregnancy I had to relearn that BED REST meant just that, 
Resting in Bed,  no cheating, and no fooling myself, (The few times my dh and 
I did try a gentle "cheat" I would end up with a round of contractions, hoping 
that this wasn't "it." So, we had to relearn with each pregnancy, and it never 
got better.)  I KNOW it saved my babies from months in the NICU. 

I carried my babies 38, 39 and 36 wks, respectively. No one from the hospital 
could believe I had actually carried my babies as long as I did. ("Wow, we had 
a pool going, We thought you wouldn't make it to 28 wks at the latest." (these 
are people I know, so I wasn't offended. :) ) But, my OB confided that most 
do not take the "recommendations" for Bedrest and Fetal Protection as 
seriously. He said, "Everybody cheats, usually." I knew how awful, painful and 
lonely that NICU would be for my babies, and it would be worse than anything 
myself, my husband, or anyone else in the family could endure. I would have 
done ANYTHING to prevent my babies from ending up in that NICU. ANYTHING. 

This mother needs to make her own choice, but she also needs to have no 
punches pulled, and have people who care for her be honest to her about the 
possible outcome of the cerclage tearing and what might happen to the baby 
in her womb. (Will what might happen to the toddler, if gently weaned, be as 
bad as what might happen to the baby in the womb, if the cerclage tears, and 
she suddenly dilates and the child is born months early, perhaps without any 
medical assistance?) The fetus might be OK, or it might not. I don't know, and 
no one else does, either. 

I know what I would do. But, I am not this woman. 

But, I know that at least in some cases, not all of us become immune to our 
own Oxytocin. The majority do, but there are always exceptions. If you is one 
of those exceptions, pregnancy becomes a minefield, where keeping your 
unborn baby safe until she can be born old enough to breathe, suck and 
swallow is your main priority. 

My prayers will be with this woman and her babies. 

Mary Jozwiak IBCLC, RLC, LLLL
Private Practice 

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