Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Bereavement

Find bereavement help and support from other Mumsnetters. See also your choices after baby loss.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Is it my Cervix? Advice please.

26 replies

cupcake78 · 15/01/2007 12:23

I have had 2m/c in the last year. One at 12 weeks the latest at 17 weeks. The first m/c lasted over three weeks and I was dealt with appallingly. On both occasions I knew something was wrong for at least a week(not sure what, but just knew), but no physical signs, so nobody listened. Both m/c where the same, waters broke, did have periodic spotting but hardly anything and no pain.

Second miscarriage I had to lie and wait for 48 hrs for my son to die inside me which can only be described as horrendous. Before being induced. This has just made me more determined to find the reason.

I am convinced it is my cervix that is the problem. 1st m/c I felt a pop second I literally just sneezed and everything started to decend. But all docs etc keep telling me it is just bad luck. Full tests done after last pgncy after I made such a fuss but all came back clear!! No infections, chromosones all clear, bloods fine. Which is a very good sign for future pregnancies.

I am desperate to be a mum, still grieving terribly for both babies. Have been trying to get pregnant for last 4 mths and nothing. I know it doesn't seems like a long time but on both previous pgncy's I think I just sneezed and it happened.

My GP has been fantastic, but understandably doesn't want to give me false hope so has not commented on my theory.

What do you all think? Have any of you had or know someone that has had a problem with there cervix. Is there a way forward?

OP posts:

NotAnOtter · 15/01/2007 12:25

This must be really hard for you - I am so sorry.

Have you ever had any operations or procedures on your cervix cupcakes?

Original poster

cupcake78 · 15/01/2007 12:28

No had no previous problems. Have been really lucky always been very healthy.

OP posts:

Budababe · 15/01/2007 12:30

Very sad for you.

I do know of someone who had about 8 m/cs. She finally changed doctors and they put a stitch in her cervix and she had a healthy baby and is pg again.

Original poster

cupcake78 · 15/01/2007 12:35

I know it can work and I know there are risks attached but they don't seem to want to listen. Its like until I have had at least another two m/c it is not an option. I know I need to get pgnt first but would like to be prepared so I have some info before I ask for scans etc. I don't even know if they can test for it or how they do test for it.

OP posts:

Ladymuck · 15/01/2007 12:40

Well an incompentent cervix is a common cause for second term miscarriage/premature birth.

It is surprising that they wouldn't have picked this up on an examination during your 2nd m/c - the cervix would have appeared partly dilated.

They can pick this up via ultrasound during the pregnancy - they can monitor the cervix for signs of funnelling/dilating and put a stitch in place to keep the cervix closed.

I had a stitch with both of my pgs and both went to term though I was on bedrets for part of my first pg. However I had been diagnosed with an incompent cervix during a different examination prior to becoming pg.

goingfor3 · 15/01/2007 12:41

I had a misscarriage at 20 weeks. My baby was alive but I started to have contractions. I was really worried about it happening again so the consultant agreed to put in a cervical suture in my next 2 pregnancies. I now have two healthy girls.
Having the sutrue in does give a risk of infection but this is far outwieghed by the benefits. Ask your doctor if you can have this done, usually at about 12-14 weeks.

Good luck!!!!!

foundintranslation · 15/01/2007 12:42

I am so sorry for your mcs.

A friend of mine had two late mcs, and a stitch from (I think) 14 weeks in her successful third pregnancy. She thinks the first mc was not due to her cervix but the second was.

Original poster

cupcake78 · 15/01/2007 12:45

Thank you!! It is so good to have my thoughts confirmed.

When I admitted myself to hospital on both occasions they said my cervix was partially dialated. With this and the way I m/c especially the second time with me being over 4 mths, no bleeding, the popping feeling etc I am so convinced this is what the problem is.

Thank you for telling me how they look for it. At least now I can ask for my cervix to be scanned next time I get preganant.

Do you know if there is anything I can do before I get pregnant?

OP posts:

lulumama · 15/01/2007 12:45

as Budababe has said , a cervical stitch is an option..and a second opinion certainly in order. some women do have an 'incompetent' cervix ( awful word ) that is, the cervix opens too soon in the pregnancy, or starts to thin too soon....and a cervical stitch can allow them to carry a pregnancy to term. i think it is called a cervical cerclage ......

i am so sorry for the loss of your babies and i hope you find a sympathetic gynae, it is certainly worth investigating IMHO and i hope you get some answers.....xxx

lulumama · 15/01/2007 12:45

x posts !

Ladymuck · 15/01/2007 13:22

It might be worth talking to your GP so that when you do fall pg you are sent for a consultant's appt asap (in my last pg I was seen by the consultant even before I was booked in by the mw which caused confusion as I didn't have my pg notes). The best time for the stitch is at the end of the first trimester so ideally if you can get your GP to view this as the right course you will get on the right conveyor belt at the start of your pg.

Original poster

cupcake78 · 17/01/2007 18:57

Well looks like step one is complete. Just found out I am pregnant again.

Everything has never been so crossed!!! Off to GP tomorrow where I will not leave untill she agrees for my cervix to be tested.

Thank you all so much

OP posts:

lulumama · 17/01/2007 19:02

best of luck and congratulations x

DimpledThighs · 17/01/2007 19:17

Hi cupcake

firstly congratulations on your wonderful news. I wish you all the best. I would also say I was sorry to read about your miscarriages.

I lost a son at 20weeks - thi was undoubtably due to an incompetent cervix. I have had two subsequent pregancies, both with a stitch (McDonald Suture) put in at 12weeks 4days. On the second operation they said my cervix was already starting to open. I now have two divine children.

One of the factors taht led them to believe I have an incompetent cervix was the fact that my son was born alive. Everything else was normal apart from the cervix not holding the baby in and as it grew bigger the pressure caused my cervix to start to dilate. They also examined me when I went into hospital when I lost the first baby to see if they could put a stitch in and close the cervix, but it was already dilated and teh membranes were bulging through.

Ask me anything if you want.

DimpledThighs · 17/01/2007 19:18

btw not sure they can 'test' for an incompetent cervix, but they can monitor it through scans to see if it is thickening.

goingfor3 · 17/01/2007 20:16

Congrats on the pregnancy like DimpledThighs said there is no test for an incompetent cervix, I would ask to to a consultant as soon as possible and requesy a cervical suture. Good luck!

DimpledThighs - It sounds as if we went through the same trauma.

DimpledThighs · 18/01/2007 10:25

goingfor3 (((((((((((((()))))))))))

It is a lonely thing to go through as you can never describe it and people can never understand unless they have had the misfortune to go through it too.

goingfor3 · 18/01/2007 10:29

I agree. A couple of days before it happened a friend of mine who was due the same day as me was admitted to hospital because she was bleeding, I was talikng to a friend about it and I asked what would happen to the baby if it was born early would it be incinarated, I really had no idea what a trauma it would be until I found out first hand a couple of days later. My friend had a heathly full term baby.

ska · 18/01/2007 10:35

had two m/c. with the second at 16 1/2 weeks the baby was cremated at a service arranged by the hospital. it was lovely although awful too but it really helped me. we also got to hold our little baby and spend time with him before w 'let him go'. still makes me cry though.
there are lots of really helpful books on m/c and i also was helped by my HV who knew me from my successful pregnancy the previous year. so i have one child from 3 pregnanncies. we scattered huis ashes round our favourite tree and we all go there from time to time espacially on the anniversary.
good luck, i really hope it works out for you

goingfor3 · 18/01/2007 10:46

My hospital arrange a funeral, they would buy a grave plot and seperate it into sections, though it in the literature it sounded as if they were just chucking baboes into a mass grave - they said they were changing the wording after I got really upset reading it. I didn't really get much help afterwards, I called SANDS and they just posted me a few leaflets which wasn't very helpful as I felt I needed to talk to someone who had shared a similar experince.

DimpledThighs · 18/01/2007 11:37

I know it would be hard for people to think about this when they are pregnant.

I was given a large dose of pethedine when I went into labour at 20weeks - I think the idea was to calm me through a traumatic experience. I was so out of it I have a very blurry recollection of the awful event. I only saw my son between my legs after I gave birth to him as he struggled for life. My dp asked them to take him away as soon as possible - he didn't want me to see him and get upset. I never held him, we never had a funeral - he was incinerated. I have to live with that.

A kind midwife took a photo and did his hand and footprints for me and told me that it was there whenever I wanted to pick it up. I went back about a week later and I am so lucky I have something to remember him by.

goingfor3 · 18/01/2007 14:28

Sorry I hope I didn't hurt your feelings when I said incinarated I was thinking about them chucking the babies in with medical waste I didn't mean having them cremated. I wasn't given that option and I really don't know what I would have chosen if I had been, sometimes it's easier not to have to make the decision.

I also have handprints and footprints and a couple of polaroids too. The midwife left the baby between my legs for a while to die. I asked to hold him I remember looking at him in absolute amazement because he was so perfect, and then it hit me that he was a dying baby. I had been given morphine but at that point it hard pretty much warn off so I remeber it all vividly. I asked him to be taken away for a few minutes as I found it too upsetting.

DimpledThighs · 18/01/2007 14:54

for you and me.

simoncowellsunderpants · 25/01/2007 12:42

My friend has an incompetent cervix first pg was a prem at 26 weeks this time she was scanned internally from 14 weeks and at 23 weeks changes were occuring in the cervix. She spent till 28 weeks on bed rest in hospital and has a stitch in place she is also on pesaries but is now at home still on bed rest and the stitch if she carries that far will be removed at 36 weeks. In your next pg ask for internal scanning if they suspect a problem with your cervix this is the protocol anyway.
In all honesty a m/c at 12 weeks does not point to an incompetent cervix as this is too early usually you will carry well into the second trimester although it is unusual without intervention to last as long as my friend did 26weeks. An incompetent cervix is unusual and a major risk factor is treatment to the cervical area in the past such as cone biopsy etc.

simoncowellsunderpants · 25/01/2007 12:46

Another thing though no consolation i'm sure I read somewhere that the chances of having 2 m/c following each other is 1 in 36 so hopefully you will of just had bad luck and all will be well.

Flip

1 2