The Short Cervix Club

[Pizdets]

Given the high number of threads started in 'pregnancy' on short/incompetent cervixes of late, I thought I'd have a crack at starting a club which we can join to share how we're getting on and pool the information we've been given which hopefully can also reassure or inform other ladies coming on here and worried about the state of their cervixes.

I'll kick off with a bit about my own story:

I'm currently 24+4, due 26th September. I had a scan at the prem clinic at Queen Charlotte's in London who measured my cervix as 2.3/2.4cm and advised a stitch (they do this for anyone who measures under 2.5cm). I had the stitch put in at 15 weeks with a spinal block and so far so good - I'm walking the dog, doing pregnancy yoga, still fairly active and no problems or twinges at all (so far!).

Please feel free to share your experiences, ask questions or update, it's great to hear from other people going through the same worry and so reassuring to know if things are going well!

Piz

Pali pleased the thread has been some help, sounds like you're very focussed and demanding what you need which is fab.

Kelly nothing to report here yet, don't get too excited! Although after finally getting a weekend of 'how's your father' without feeling hugely inhibited and worried, we do seem to have triggered off a lot of bump pains and a little watery bleeding this morning. Hoping we've just got a bit carried away and we didn't go for it too soon, wouldn't want to hurt my poor cervix after everything its been through over the last few months!

Will of course keep you all updated but trying to prepare myself for the fact it could be another 4 weeks until anything happens!

Long cervix thoughts to those who need them (you can have my spares too!)

Piz

Sorry to sound juvenile but I am SO JEALOUS that you have had sex!!!!! Am still such a caton a hot tin roof where that is concerned.

It will be so interesting to see how long now for you.

Just getting my head around the fact that this time next week I will have had my section and will have a REAL BABY. Eeeeeek!

Kelly when is your section booked for? Thinking of you! Just a quick report here - no sign of anything happening this end. Monday I had contractions on and off all day, getting more distinct and regular in the evening but then I woke up yesterday feeling fine and haven't had anything since apart from increasing pelvic pain as I imagine he borrows down. Does make me wonder what filled my body before I was so full of baby.

Fingers crossed he shows up soon, am ready to go now!

Hope all good with everyone else.

Piz

Good luck Piz! I'm sure he will be on his way soon. I'm very nearly 29 weeks now so thats better than 26 when we found the problems. Still on bedrest which is dull but happy to remain if she stays put! legscrossed

Hello hello! Check up today, baby is engaged, which explains this shooting pains in my left bum cheek (treat). Still lots of contractions. Placenta holding up on but baby STILL a tiddler, has just hit the 2 kilo/4 and a quarter pound mark.

Another check Saturday, meeting anaesthesiologist (sp?) Sunday, section at 1.30 Monday. Eek.

Although they are still saying brace yourself as any sign of this baby moving and I am straight in and on the operating table.

TERRIFIED!!!!!!!

Kelly you must feel anxious but excited?! I found my c-section to be very calm and stress free x

Plenty that's so good to hear.

I am exited but scared what with it being a tiddler and needing the extra care. Cannot imagine caring For such a tiny baby.

Also am still struggling to believe I am actually going to be a parent, have no clue about babies or children. For a long time we'd resigned ourselves to the fact that this pregnancy might not happen so i think there was an element of self preservation.

How soon were you up and about and feeling some way towards normal again?

I had him about 5am and was up and about by early afternoon. They took me on my bed to see him though before then. I over did it as i wanted to be there for him so beware! You will be fine and like you i had no idea about babies but i learnt alot with the nurses on the ward which helped my confidence. He was under 4ib when i took him home. we were protective and limited visitors and didnt go out really at all! I expressed milk but didnt get to grips with breast feeding which added to my guilt so try not to put any pressure on yourself. My scar healed fine and I took painkillers for about 5 weeks. I have requested another section which may be agreed if i get further alone x

Eeeeek Kelly! Just been out with my nct friends. One mum had twins at 35 weeks and the girl was 1.9kgs. She's 7 weeks today and now about 3kgs, still tiny but absolutely perfect! Didn't need any special care at birth, they stayed in for about a week to keep a check on them and help get breastfeeding established but that's about it. Sounds like your baby is in a really good position for being healthy!

Still nothing here, yukky pelvic pain and the odd cramps but nothing to make me think he'll be putting in a quick appearance!

ah great feedback ladies, thank you. where i am delivering it is standard to keep you in for 4 nights/5 days so i am actually looking forward to having support and help and learning all i can from the nurses.

fingers crossed that that is all the time the tiddler needs and he/she can come home with us.

please keep us posted piz!

Good luck kelly!! And piz - are your nct friends nice? I start NCT soon and am really hoping for a nice bunch so we'll stay in touch.

plenty glad you're doing well on bed rest. Your not far behind me in timing as I turned 29 weeks on Thurs.

You're I mean!

Glad everyone is doing well. I didn't join nct last time, but they do a bumps and babies group near me which i will try and go to. I made the most of surestart playgroups with my ds especially when he was a toddler and have made a couple of good friends by going too. I had to go to hospital this morning ad I had some brown discharge but cervix is shut and doc could not see any blood. I have the consultant on thurs for another scan. 29 weeks is ok though, still aiming for 32!

Am i right in thinking we're expecting no less than 3 short cervix babies in the next couple of days??? Will betthinking of you Kelly and legally tomorrow and Tuesday and look forward to hearing how it goes!

Alex nct girls are lovely and we meet weekly now, you will enjoy it!

Not much to report here, cramps and back pains in the night never come to much. Had some pains and felt sick in waitrose earlier but looks like that free shopping for life has eluded me and back on the sofa feeling sorry for myself! Come on crappy cervix, do your crappy thing!

Piz

Hi everyone. Just checking in to say hi and a heartfelt thanks for all your kind words of support, they have really made such a huge difference during the most stressful period of my whole life!

Met with anaesthetist today, possibly the coolest man alive (Dutch?) who said he has a 'huge list' of post operative drugs for me to get involved in so not to worry about any pain.

Updates to follow and good luck everyone! Thinking of you all

Hello hello! My c section was last Tuesday! Just been too crazy to update.... Hugo and Valentina arrived at as planned at 37+3 weighing 6lb2 and 5lb3. Because I'd had steroids, neither needed any help with breathing and didn't go to NICU or SCBU! Yay!!

They removed the cervical stitch at the end if the c section operation. The CS was weird and the pain for the first 36 hours was not good, but all felt MUCH better within 48 hours and I was up and about fine. The first wee then shower wasn't good but Kelly, bear in mind that that time tomorrow, you'll be fine.

Breastfeeding going mostly fine, but the little girl has ebm top ups after each feed from a sippy cup till she's gaining weight again.

Good luck Kelly!!

Oh my goodness legally where has the time gone? So sorry I lost track! Love love love Hugo and Valentina as names (in fact Hugh was top of my list but vetoed by my husband). Great weights for twins at 37 weeks too, sounds like you're doing an amazing job.

So exciting to welcome more healthy short cervix babies into the world. Kelly your anaesthatist sounds like a legend, good to hear he'll take care of you.

Piz

Congratulations Legally!! Two babies to cuddle, wow. Go Kelly and Piz!! Xxxxx

Hi everyone

Baby Aya was born yesterday at 4.9 pounds. She's the most gorgeous little thing I have ever seen! She's been in NICU overnight whilst they keep an eye on her and see if she can regulate her temperature on her own. Hopefully she will come back up to my room today and stay with us today.

In hospital until Friday and taking full advantage of the nurses support and fussing, they are wonderful.

C section was surreal but great. She came out so fast it was unbelievable, and she came out screaming which must be the best sound in the world!

It all feels like a crazy but wonderful dream, I still can't believe it!

Ah kelly my hormones must be crazy this morning as you brought a tear to my eye and struggling to hold it back on the train! Congrats, love the name too xxx

Brilliant news Kelly, congratulations! Sounds like it all went as well as possible and 4.9lbs is a fantastic weight. Enjoy the rest of the week (and all those lovely painkillers from your Dutch friend!).

Am so jealous now, my bloody cervix seems to be working too well, hurry up baby pizdets!

Piz

God you never know where you stand with a cervix hey piz Lots of luck!! Have my 30 week midwife app this morning, another milestone and all becoming very exciting and real!

Thats fantastic news! She is a good weight and sounds like she is doing really well. Lovely name too Make sure you get some rest as well x

Still nothing doing here. An important lesson to anyone with an 'incompetent' cervix...don't assume you''ll get your baby earlier as it makes the last few weeks a killer!

Having some good old cramps and pains still but not leading anywhere so far. Also got a huge breakout on my chin which I'm assuming is hormone-related as my skin is usually pretty good, cross fingers he comes some time in the next week!

Hope the new babies are settling in well and that everyone else is doing well too.

Piz

Are you trying any old wives tales tricks to speed things up piz?

My consultant said at my last scan that I will probably now go over ironically after all the worry. I laughed but said I won't complain when I get there if that's the case after all the anxiety bet I do complain though

Was just getting worried about bumpy as I accidentally whacked by bump with my work laptop earlier and it really hurt, so I got scared I'd damaged the baby's face/head. Haven't felt it move since but I think I just felt a little flicker movement. Trying not to get obsessive and worried about that now!