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

Hi Lucy and Lena*

So sorry to hear about both your losses. We lost a little girl last year at 18 weeks, not due to IC but I think the procedures I had at the time contributed to the short cervix they found with my pregnancy this year (which resulted in a healthy, full term little boy).

Physically I got my period 30 days after we lost our baby but mentally I found it much harder to deal with. Definitely try to get support from sands or your gp and don't bottle it all up. I got my bfp 4 months after our loss and I think any sooner would have been very hard to deal with.

I found early pregnancy very hard to deal with but as time goes on you do allow yourself to believe. We set ourselves milestones which really helped and by 30 weeks you know your baby will probably be ok if they turn up early which makes the last trimester more bearable.

Lucy if you read back through the thread you'll see Kelly had a very short cervix but had a healthy girl in September at almost full term. It's scary but you'll get there!

Lovely to see the thread still being used and I hope it can reassure you a bit.

Best of luck to you both!

Hello,

I hope this is still an active thread....?

I am currently 22 weeks pg with my 2nd child, I lost my first child at 22+3 weeks. In this pregnancy I had a stitch put in at 17 weeks and today I have one on my regular cervical scans and the measurement was only 2.1. My previous scan have been:

20 weeks 3.8
18 weeks 4.2
16 weeks 4.8

There is no evidence of funnelling or beaking at all but I'm really scared that it seems to be shortening.

My consultant has prescribed me 400mg Cyclogest daily. Has anyone had any experience with Cyclogest? Any success stories of cervix lengthening?

I'm just really worried, any advice would be great.

Sian xxx

Hiya, don't worry it's still a good length. I know what you mean about feeling sad and worried about it. Mine has started off at 1cm long at 12.5 weeks... (I lost triplets at 19+ in May, so had a stitch at 13 weeks this time) I've been on cyclogest since before I was pregnant (during ivf) and am going to be on it the entire time, with no real side effects. I take 400mg twice a day and it's fine. I take it rectally, not vaginally as it's less messy and just as effective. x

Ps I've just recognised your name from sands forum, I'm LucyM!

Hey,

Yes Lucy from Sands! Hello.

Arrgh this cervix stuff is so stressful!!! I'm just worried as the cervix is shortening. I hope it stops shortening.....! I keep trying to tell myself at least it has not opened or funnelled yet.

How are you keeping?
Sian xxx

Hello ladies

Sorry for a delayed response to these posts, have a very active 15 week old baby who takes up an inordinate amount of time!

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss sian and I do know how stressful it is with a a short cervix, and I never lost a baby. My heart goes out to you.

My story, quickly, is that my cervix was just 2 cms and almost zero in places. I had a stitch at 16 weeks and the consultant said there was literally hardly anything to stitch, and to pray. She actually said go home and pray.

I was on 400 mg of cyclogest every day too.

I had a few scares with baby engaging at 24 weeks and is had an irritable uterus too so awful Braxton hicks to the point where I was in premature labour.

BUT the good news is, I delivered a beautiful, perfect 4 pound baby girl by ELCS at 36 weeks. I had IUGR, unrelated to the stitch, and she stopped growing at around 32 weeks, so it was better to get her out.

I understand all too well how terrifying it is, but if they know you have cervical issues they can stitch you or monitor you and there are so many success stories on this board and thread with those of us who had healthy babies.

If you have any more questions do ask, please take comfort in our stories and I wish you all the very best. Happy new year all! X

Thanks Kelly. It's always great to hear success stories! Congratulations to you!

I am currently on hospital bed rest as my cervix has opened all the way to my stitch (elective at 17 weeks) but is closed below the stitch. So I've had the steroids and I'm now 24+3 just trying to bed rest my way as far as I can into this! My consultant is very optimistic and so many MN'ers have told me (and they are right) that consultants are not overtly optimistic unless there really is some optimism to hold onto, so I need to be positive.

Siân x

Oh sian sorry to hears about the bed rest. I had this too at 24 weeks when DDs head was engaged. Terrifying stuff. You are in the best place though.

Every day is a bonus now....inch towards each week.

Fingers crossed for you, I know how awful it is but you will get through this and we are all here for you. Let us know how you are getting on? Thinking of you xx

sian i've been wondering how you are, any news? fingers crossed all is ok.

Hi Kelly,

I'm still here! I'm 27 weeks today, still in hospital on bed rest but so far all is good and my little one seems to be doing well. I had a growth scan at 26+1 and all looked good. EFW is 1011g so hopefully little one will keep growing well! My consultant is excited about getting to 28 weeks when I can have my second lot of steroids and I will have reached my first milestone. It's tough but in just 1 week I'm hoping to feel lots better!

I think I'll get more of a plan next week for when stitch will be removed etc. Originally the plan was 34 weeks for it to be removed, to allow cervix to prepare..... But as it's already open to the stitch who knows?! I need to get there first!

I'm trying to keep the optimism.

Thanks for asking Kelly, hope things are well with you?

Sian xx

Sian I'm so glad to hear this! Sounds like your LO is gaining weight well too?

Mine was just 2250 gms at birth, I'm taking her for her four month check up tomorrow so will report back, she was almost 5 kilos at the last check. She may have been small and early but she made up for it when born, lots of good weight gain.

When I was put on bed rest at 24 weeks my consultant said that literally every day after that was a bonus, so 27 is brilliant. I'm sure it feels like an age, but as it creeps by your baby will keep growing.

I hope you have lots of boxed sets and bbc iplayer to entertain you! Xx

Sian how are you doing, are you at 30 weeks now?

Took DD for her 4 month check up and she is now a chunky 13 pounds......a huge gain from the tiny 4 that she was at birth....apparently babies born early catch up really fast, they are super pleased with her.

Hope all is going well with you, thinking of you.

Hey Kelly,

Well I'm at 29 weeks today! I had my growth scan at 28+1 and EFW was 1410g so 400g in 2 weeks, good growth! Still feel like I have so far to go though!

Great news about your daughter! Yay her! You must be so pleased!

Can I ask... Did she need yo spend any time in NICU or SCBU when she was born? My consultant has told me that my stitch needs to come out at 34 weeks (trying to ensure no long term damage to my cervix) so in all likelihood my baby will be delivered at 34 weeks and will need a little NICU time. He assures me this will be fine and it will probably just be to help him or her with temp and feeding but it just feels like another thing to be worried about.

Thanks for checking up on me!
Sian xx

Wow 29 weeks, that's such great news.

My DD was born at 36 weeks by ELCS due to IUGR.....she was taken straight to NCU because of her low weight..2250 grams.

She only stayed overnight as she had to be able to regulate her temperature and blood sugar and was back with me the next lunchtime.

She had zero breathing issues as I'd had the steroids.

I won't lie, it was a bit of a head fxxk having a baby, then her being taken away, but as so many times we'd worried that she was coming early and would spend maybe months in NICU, one night was like winning the lottery!

She suffered no ill effects and is just lovely now.

It sounds like your little one is gainng weight well, so I'm sure will be just fine at 34 weeks. Also sounds like they are taking really good care of you.

Please keep us posted! X

Thanks Kelly. I know you are right, I have been terrified about losing this baby at almost every stage. Worrying has become like 2nd nature!!

Xx

I am 28 weeks and was diagnosed of a short cervix 2.2cm.the doc advised bed rest.can the short cervix lengthen and if so how many weeks does it take? Really worried. Previous history not gud.delivered our first child at 29 weeks ,had gall stones that time.the second one was miscarried at 12 weeks.and this is our third.....any advise / suggestion much appreciated...
On prg shots since wk 16.

Hello! I just wanted to come back on this thread as I don't think I updated you all - piz, kelly etc, I hope you're still around. I had my baby girl back in December, she went two weeks overdue and they ended up speeding things up with a drip even though my waters had broken, as I was 42 weeks. So despite no stitch and all the worry about my cervix length after my LLETZ, it turns out it wasn't incompetent at all in this pregnancy which I'm so grateful about. I've had a quick scan back over posts and think I can see some measurements similar to mine so thought I'd let you know that often it's so hard to predict how a cervix will hold up and also it's hard for them to scan accurately.

I'm really sorry to those who've suffered losses and really hope things work out well, and the stitches hold up for people who are advised to get them.

And thanks again piz and the others who supported me when I was at a very anxious stage and going out of my mind with worry , it really helped

Hi ladies
I've just spent a few hours reading back from the beginning of this thread! Wow! Congrats to all the new mums! Such a positive thread and it's made me feel so much better. Thank you so much.
I had LLETZ in 2008 (after I'd had 2 full term babies) and was told they'd taken away most of my cervix. All gynos said my cervix was strong enough to carry a baby after. Hmph. Fast forward 6 years and I'm now 17+4 with baby #3. I pushed for a cervical length scan at 15 weeks. It was 17mm. I had the stitch put in the following week under spinal and it was actually 1cm and the surgeon struggled quite a lot. My posterior cervical lip was fused to the vaginal wall and she almost didn't manage to get it in but eventually did (after a long 45 mins!).
Just waiting for my scan on thur to see what's been happening over the past 2 weeks. I'm on progesterone pessaries which are vile but I do think they help as prior to having them I was already having strong BHs which I don't now.
Would love to talk to other ladies in the same situation as no one seems to understand how awful it really feels to have a crap cervix :(

Hey flower girl

How are you? I've read through all the threads and yours too I'm really sorry about your long procedure but lucky you pushed for the scan.

I had a previous miscarriage last year May on my husbands birthday at 19 weeks due to an incompetent cervix. So I waited to 6months to get pregnant again and now I'm 16 weeks and 2 days.. With my new doctor she took had me have a stitch done at 12weeks I had it done under general anesthetic.. I've had it in 4 weeks now and I'm experiencing slight pains in the abdomen.

I wanted to ask were u put on bed rest after your procedure. I was out on strict bed rest because when I was having the stitch out in the doctor said my cervix was open already which she hadn't anticipated.. I'm curious about your aftercare because your further along.

I've been constantly worried about any pain or cramping. I've had sex once since the procedure(tmi sorry) But very gentle. Nothing too hectic and quick too.

I'd like to her more about your experience after the procedure. Are you still working. How far along are you now and when did your dr suggest taking the stitch out.?

I look forward to hearing from you..
Xxx

Hey Ladies,

I'm 34+1 today! Wow! Never thought I'd get this far!! Stitch comes out on Thursday when I will be 34+3. Consultant is worried about longer term damage to my cervix from the stitch as my cervix is trying to open and he does not want a tear for future pregnancies so taking it out a bit early. So anyway........ What happens when stitch comes out? Should I expect to be in labour shortly afterwards?

X

My wife was diagonised with a short cervix 2.2 at 28 weeks. After a week she was checked again and it remained stable.
The gynae wont do any more US as it can stimulate shortening.so she is on bed rest( from the 24hr- walks for an hour,sitting-2 hrs a day and rst of the time is just lying down).Is this enough bed rest or she needs to cut down on walking and sitting ? The docs just say to take it easy but no concrete replies.Please share experience / suggestions.much appreciated!

Hi Rad, no hard and fast rules on bed rest I'm afraid. Here in the UK lots of consultants don't agree it helps significantly, where as in the US they prescribe it at the drop of a hat! Your wife's cervix is short but what really matters is what the cervix is doing. Lots of women have short cervix but as it's not funnelling or shortening further that's a really good sign.

I have been on bed rest for 10 weeks in hospital as my cervix is opening to my stitch. My strict instructions from my consultant were bed all day, can have a 15 minute shower and I can go out as long as I'm in a wheelchair so no weight on my cervix. But I stress this is because my cervix is misbehaving. So far your wife's isn't.

Good luck.

I was just told my cervix was 2.7 and I was 23 weeks 3 days...I had a cold knife bioosy 3 years ago...she said no lifting..nothing heavy took me off work permanently. She said no sweeping or mopping and no grocery shopping and yo take it easy I have a 4 year old....she checking me again at 25 weeks..this Tuesday...ive cut back 95% but with a 4 year old its hard...has anyone experienced this ??? I'm hoping its stable when I go back in

Hi ladies

I hope you don't mind me gatecrashing your thread to ask a question. DD was born at 34 weeks in 2012 for no apparent reason (though I did have a cervical cauterisation some years ago so wonder if that might be the reason). I am now about to start TTCing DC2 and would like to get my cervix checked/scanned, privately if necessary to see if there is a cervix issue.

My question is, is there any benefit to getting this check done before getting pregnant? For example are there any extra tests they can do pre pregnancy which would not be safe once pg. Or should I just wait until I am pg and try to get a scan then?

Thanks

... and PS for those who are pg, I hope you all have healthy babies and your cervixes behave themselves!