Symptoms of Incompetent Cervix?

[DivaSkyChick]

How can you find out if you have an Incompetent Cervix? My midwife told me that they won't give me an internal exam until I'm in labor.

Are there any symptoms? I've read that an abortion can increase your risk. I told my midwife that I'd had two when I was young and he suggested we don't mention it because 'people can be judgemental' which I appreciated at the time. Now I'm wondering if they might be more apt to check me if they knew?

Thoughts?

[Mrsjaffabiffa]

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[DimpledThighs]

I have an incompetent cervix - I found out by going into very early labour and losing a baby.

BUT - it is actually very rare - it is over diagnosed and my doctor said I was one of the few definite diagnosis he'd seen. They can scan you during pregnancy to see if your cervix is shortening and they can put in a suture at this stage.

as I said very rare.

Abortion as a risk factor is an uncertain area.

I went on to have two perfectly naughty children with cervical sutures.

Any questions feel free to ask - I will answer anything I can.

Is the abortions the only reasons you are worried? I know loads and loads of people who had abortions but did not have incompetent cervix.

[DivaSkyChick]

lol Love your screenname, dimples! I could be dimpledknees...

That's the only reason I'm worried. Thanks for the help.

[berolina]

Agree with DimpledThighs and Fio.

A close friend lost a baby to an incompetent cervix. Despite having had another late mc previously (due to a different reason ) nobody could have reliably disgnosed it until it happened. True IC is pretty rare.

I have looked into this a bit as I have had 2 D&Cs for mc since having ds and am 15 weeks pg again now. Surgical procedures (such as TOP or D&C) used to be implicated in IC in the past, but these days much more careful and gentle procedures are used and they are very unlikely to be a risk factor.