High risk -cervix length

[ReadyOrNot2016]

Hi

I am looking to find others that have been in or are in a similar position to me.

I was flagged as high risk for assessment for MTC (Maternity team care) by my community midwife at my first booking, due to having had cryotherapy/cryosurgery years ago.

My community midwife told me that it was more precautionary than anything else & may mean that at some-point they may consider inserting a stitch at some-point if my cervical length may cause problems with me carrying the baby to full term.

I didn't actually see the consultant until I was nearly 17 weeks due to a delay in my booking appointment with the hospital midwife.

I am now approaching 23 weeks, I am still seeing the consultant (meant to be a 2 week intervals, although their were some scheduling problems).




I am not feeling a great deal wiser as to what this high risk label actually means to me.



The consultant when I have seen her has been really busy and while has asked if I have questions, not the most informative. She asked me at my recent scan if she had prescribed me injections, the only injection I'm currently scheduled to have is an Anti D. When I asked her about this she said it was progesterone & she didn't want to give me them too soon, The midwife did elaborate a bit more on this.

I also asked the consultant if I need to be being careful.. for instance is it OK to have sex, her answer was vague. I believe she told me that it is OK to have sex I shouldn't necessarily abstain but to be careful until after 28 weeks, am not really sure what to make of this.

From my own reading & subsequent questioning I know that I currently have no funnelling :) however cervical length is shorter than average with my posterior measurement shorter than the anterior so cervix neck like a tube/cylinder with a tip rather than a blunt end.

[angelpuffs]

What is your cervical length...?

[Palomb]

I had a stitch put in at 2.6cm with funnelling. I was 22 weeks. I think generally the funnelling is the thing look out for.

[JustMeAndHim]

Hi,

I can't really help but can commiserate. I've been flagged to see a consultant due to having LLETZ treatment previously. This was carried out at a different hospital so they are getting my pathology from there. They said that I also might require a stitch but they wanted to see my notes first. Thus far I've heard nothing. The consultant told me that if I was going to miscarry it would be likely between 18-24 weeks. I'm currently 20 weeks and completely paranoid. I also didn't get much of an explanation.

It's really tough, very worrying when things aren't explained properly. Have you been told what your cervical length is? Have you managed to do much research yourself on abstaining from sex etc?

[angelpuffs]

I had LLETZ in 2007 and was flagged to see a consultant with my first pregnancy in 2013 and with this one too. Just because you've had LLETZ does not mean you'll have a compromised cervix. Have you been offered cervical scans? I was and carried my first daughter to 40+3 and am currently 35+6 with my 2nd child. Let me know your cervical lengths and hopefully I'll be able to reassure you.

[FraggleRock77]

After having lots of tests/scans post giving birth to a 29 weeker, i was told that my cervical length was only just in normal range.
I'm currently 8 weeks and have been referred already back to the same consultant i saw last time. I'm having a stitch at 14 weeks. I'm also taking progesterone pessaries 3x daily.
There should be some discussion as to which stitch and when. I'm going to be discussing an abdominal stitch V a lower down stitch. Good luck x

[Dixiechick17]

I was monitored and my cervical length shortened to 2.4cm from 3.5 in a week, no funnelling but my cervix was soft, so I was given steroid injections at 24 weeks and progesterone pessaries. I was told to abstain from sex due to bleeding that it had caused previous to that.

I was signed off work at 32 weeks as the baby was engaged and again because my cevix was soft. Rest and continuing with the progesterone got me to 40+4.

The consultant was frustrating at times with information. I used to.write my questions down and ask them after the scans and keep talking if I wasn't understanding anything.

[JustMeAndHim]

They haven't offered me a cervical scan yet, she just wanted to get my pathology but I haven't heard anything since. I think that's what I'm more concerned about! When did you have your cervical scan?

[ReadyOrNot2016]

Last TVS 26.3mm & 15.7

Not really found any advice regarding abstinence from sex one way or the other

[angelpuffs]

Justmeandhim- I had my first cervical scan at 12 weeks, another at 17 weeks and my last one at 20 weeks with dd1. I was worried because it was shorter than I thought normal at 17 weeks (2.9cm) but had then gone up to 3.5cm at 20 weeks and they said they didn't need to measure me again.
With my current pregnancy, I had a scan at 17 weeks which was 3.2cm and one at 23 weeks which was 3.5cm.
With dd1 they told me that they wouldn't do anything unless the measurement was below 2.2cm. If I were you I'd push for a cervical scan to put your mind at rest. It doesn't sound like it's been explained to you at all.

[angelpuffs]

Rradyornot how many weeks were you when you had the 26.3 measurement? And what is the 15.7 for?

[YouAndMeAreGoingToFallOut]

I can sympathise. I had two LLETZ treatments last year: I've been referred for a cervical length scan in two weeks, when I will be 16+4. So anxious about it all!

[ReadyOrNot2016]

Angelpuffs
I had my last TVS on Christmas Eve (21+5) 15.7mm is the posterior measurement think of an empty toilet roll with and angle at one end (triangle cut off external) longer anterior measuement 26.mm (not sure if that description helps)

[ReadyOrNot2016]

YouAndMeAreGoingToFallOut
You can use this thread as inspiration for questions
I'm going to write some down to take with me for my next appointment

I kind of want to take my partner with me as he can be assertive when it comes to question
however on being told that the cervical length presented a possible risk to the delivery of baby on the first TVS he started to feel a little faint & past out & the consultant suggested I not bring him in future (only happened to him twice before once after giving blood & other time when teenager & had his tongue pierced)

[angelpuffs]

Readyornot- 26mm at 21+5 wouldn't have been short enough for my consultant to put a stitch in. They'll probably want to monitor you and I'd abstain from sex if I were you but it's not a terrible measurement by any means. They say as long as it's above 25mm it's ok and the threshold has to be even lower for most consultants to put in a stitch....

[Dixiechick17]

Yep, my consultant would only do a stitch at 1.8 I think. It was just a case of regular monitoring, resting when home and progesterone. It's good that you are seeinf the consultant every two weeks. It's your choice whether you take your DP, if you would feel better with him there despite the fainting then take him. I took my Mum to one of my appointments, being my other birthing partner she was good with asking questions too.

[Missingcaffeine]

I had loop excision treatment a few years before my first pregnancy and was referred to a consultant, who didn't even look at my cervix and said I could be seen put under midwife led care. My baby arrived by normal delivery at 39 weeks.

[strangerjo]

My cervical measurements:
4.2cm at 17wks
2.4cm at 20wks (had the stitch put in that week)
3.5cm at 24wks (weirdly increased)
2.3cm at 29wks.

I'm now 31wks and questioning whether I needed the stitch (I had possible risk factor for shortening due to a collagen condition). I was advised by a private obstetrician to get a third opinion from Prof Nikolaides at the fetal medicine centre on Harley St which I would have done but I was 20wks at that point and the nhs offered me an 'urgent' appointment for the stitch placement and I was worried about the risks of delaying the procedure.

I wouldn't have the procedure again without consulting Prof Nikolaides because I've had infections and bleeding as a result (this seems unusual though and might just be my rubbish body).

[Palomb]

Stitches are certainly not without their risks.
As I said I had mine and 22w after being diagnosed with a short and funnelling cervix due to repeated lletz procedures. The procedure ruptured my waters and almost led to me losing my ds. It's certainly not something to go in to without fully appreciating the risks.

[ReadyOrNot2016]

OK so I had another appointment yesterday & am waiting on another one being scheduled in in 2 weeks time.

I took my husband, the consultant was not pleased to see him & kind of suggested that he sit outside however I said he'd be fine & had him come in anyway, he helped with question asking, she seem a little careful about what she said though

Still have no funnelling :)

My cervical measurements:
33mm at 16+5 wks (posterior 20mm)
26.3mm at 21+5 wks (posterior 15.7mm)
24.6mm at 24+2 wks (posterior 10mm)

She mentioned the injections again but has said she doesn't want to insert a stitch in my case due the shortened posterior length of the neck of the cervix & the potential to cause complications

after questioning said to avoid exertion & doing pelvic floor exercises (I told her have been attending a pilates class)

[ReadyOrNot2016]

Have had another appointment today
(although only found out about it yesterday when I called chasing possible cancellation slots, on advice from my community midwife after being given appointment on 11th Feb & told it was the soonest possible)

I have been started on progesterone injections, which the consultant apologised for, however I feel a little reassured that the injections have now been started, as from everything she's said & I've read it should help

The anterior measurement of my cervix seemed to be holding
24.5mm -26 weeks +6 days
-however for the posterior my notes simply say very short

There were still no signs of funnelling which again is good but I had experienced some small incidents of active bleeding from the vagina when going to the toilet (passing faeces now taking 2 fybogel a day) also started bleeding when the swab was taken

[ReadyOrNot2016]

by the way, thank you to everyone who has posted about their experiences

[Sophiehfz2805]

Hi everyone i was googling about cervical lengths and saw this post up. I was wondering if anyone could help re-assure me or opinions on my cervical lengths. Im currently 21w2 pregnant. My last pregnancy ended in miscarriage at 19w1 due to PPROM. (There was two answers it was either infection which caused my waters to go then cervix opened, or my cervix opened then infection broke my waters). I found out i had BV which was likely the cause to my late miscarriage rather than cervix being an issue as this pregnancy i've had weekly scans since 16 weeks on my cervix. (I will list the measurements below) they stopped measuring me at20w2 and have started doing it fortnightly so im yet waiting for my next appointment in a weeks time. I keep worrying myself thinking what can happen in a 2 week gap. My consultant didnt seem concerned one bit so i was happy with that but reading on google that cervical measurements should he between 4-5cm freaks me out. As mine have been below 4. Anyone else had this problem im just worried even though i know theres no need to be yet as the case is i probably dont have IC as my previous loss wasn't caused by that otherwise it would've shortened earlier this pregnancy like the last. Can anyone help please 😭 -
16w2 - 25mm
17w2 - 26mm
18w2- 32mm
19w2 -28mm
20w2- 36mm

[annlee3817]

Hi Sophie,

Consultant told me that 35 wasn't a concern, mine shortened from 36 to 24 in just one week, I was then put on progesterone pessaries and then had steroid injections, I popped at 40+5. My experience is above under my old mn name dixiechick. Once I had the steroid injections I had a follow up appointment a week later and my cervix hadn't shortened any further, so I was then moved to fortnightly appointments until 34 weeks when I was signed back to midwife led care and listed as low risk. Sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear, but everyone is different.

[Sophiehfz2805]

Hi, thank you for the reply! I keep thinking ahh im so used to having weekly scans that this two week one has been a long wait and ive still got a week to wait aswell. But since my last measurement was around 36mm a two week wait is alright isn't it? Like i worry constantly thats the worst thing with me i cant help it 😭 And feeling baby kicking my cervix aswell doesnt help lol but i just worry i feel like im worrying for no reason considering my cervix probably isnt the issue but i just wanted to hear thoughts on my measurements

[Sophiehfz2805]

And also did you have any symptoms of your cervix shortening was one of them when you mentioned bleeding?