Shortened cervix at 21wks, 25% chance of early delivery. Experiences & reassurance welcome, if possible

[dizzy77]

Had the second scan yesterday at 21+1, and was (very sensitively) advised of the above after a vaginal scan. I am clinging to 75% chance of delivery at term. I've been given progesterone in the hope that stabilises things, but there is to be no action beyond this to save the foetus (distancing myself from "DC2" to help my sanity if the worst happens) until we hit 24wks, when they'll give me steroids.

Does this resonate with anyone? Are there any experts who can help me work out how best to continue over the next few weeks? I'm pretty active, with a toddler, I commute 3 days a week and walk a lot, and usually swim with a club, quite hard, twice a week too. I'm going to take a break from swimming I think as it makes me feel "tight" sometimes, which is a sensation I remember from the last stages of my previous pg id prefer to avoid. Beyond "no lifting", the advice has been "do what you think best" which is not that helpful.

poor you, very shocking news obviously and I hope you can rest as much as you can...

not an expert, but I'd say no swimming or lifting is a good start, I'd even try and walk less.

any chance you can have a chat with your employer to see what's available to you in terms of easing your workload/travel arrangements?

at least till you get to 24 weeks?

the only thing I remembered just now that a friend was 17 weeks pregnant with DS2 when the cervix opened up and the amniotic sack was "poking out" they had to saw in her vagina for rest of pregnancy (!!!!) and was no t allowed to do anything, but managed to carry baby to beyond 8 months.

as they said you have a good chance of carrying baby to term, however scary it is for now

big hugs and prayers that baby will be safe!

Thanks amazingmum (and you have time to MN!). Had a reassuring conversation with a medical friend and also been able to digest things. Lots of anecdotes about from people like your friend who were told something like this then went to term or even had to be induced.

I had an emergency stitch at 21 weeks pregnant with DS3, the year before I lost a DD very suddenly at 21 weeks as it was too late to save her. As I had already had losses, especially late, they monitored me from 16 weeks. My cervix was funelling at 20 weeks and severely at 21 weeks. I was diagnosed with incompetent cervix despite previous 3 full term births. My cervix was always short 2.5ish but it was only with the opening they worried. Without the stitch I would almost certainly have lost DS3 before 23 weeks. Emergency stitches are riskier than earlier ones (25-50% risk of loss i was told) but I carried to term. Are you having follow up scans? I put myself on strictly no walking unless I had to, probiotic drinks, no baths or swimming, reclined as much of the day as possible. Thank fully I got to more or less term. Hopefully your case isn't IC, are they monitoring you further? My advice is to take it as easy as you possibly can until crucially 24 weeks.

Good advice from jellybeans. I lost a baby at 22 weeks due to my incompetent cervix. With DD I was scanned at 15 weeks, my cervix was seen to be thinning and effacing? so went to theatre the next day for a suture.
Wishing you a positive outcome.

Thanks for continuing to post with your experiences. Jellybeans and ripisphere I am sorry for your losses.

I made it past 24wks with at last scan an only slightly shorter cervix - my next fortnightly appointment is tomorrow. I had steroids last weekend and feel slightly more relaxed now in that at least if I do go into labour they will make efforts to save the baby, even though I know at this stage nothing is assured. With more data and time, the consultant was able to explain a lot better at our last appointment what they look for and also what I should worry about, and that the fact my cervix is/was still closed was a stronger indicator of a longer pg.

I'm still nervous about tomorrow's appointment, but have since dropped all discretionary activity, minimising walking etc and reducing my working week from 3 days to 2 still working on loosing a third of my work hmmm which has helped increase the amount of rest I get as DS is in childcare still and cut out a lot of walking and generally dashing about to catch trains, between meetings etc. The consultant said that ethically, she can't recommend further rest as in its current state she has no evidence that will actually be helpful.

When I had my badly behaved cervix, I was told not to bathe, swim or DTD.
The doctor was insistent on the last and seemed impressed that DH would understand.
This all took place in Arabia where men have certain rights and needs and bugger the women's health or that of the baby.
good news OP.

Although that was after the suture so lessening the chances of infection.

Thanks ripisphere - my obstetrician friend told me the DTD info - said the prostaglandins work on the cervix (hence all the advice at term to do so to bring things on). I'm not avoiding baths but did used to swim regularly for fitness and I'm missing it a lot: I think a lot of the tougher measures are saved for if the cervix is actually open. What a horrible phrase, "incompetent cervix".

Isn't it? my DH is a teacher. He threatened to give it lines

We were advised not to do anything that increased pressure on the cervix- the day after we'd been wadi bashing which involves taking your 4WD to the desert and driving off dunes.