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 ladies,
I am currently 21 weeks and absolutely petrified as I find out on my last scan that my cervix dropped 2.4cm in two weeks to 1.5cm. My last baby was born 10 weeks early weighting 3 Pounds 7 ounces but did not have any problems at all and we was able to take her home within 4 weeks. I did ask what caused the early birth but he just said it one of those things.
So 8 years later, with this pregnancy I find out I have short cervix and put on I was on 200 mg of cyclogest every day too. I keep reading everyone stories and its really comforting to know some really successful and happy endings. To my surprise my consultant did not advise bed rest or anything in which is so frustrating as I've been having so much pressure on my pelvis.
Dizzy77 posted lovely reassurance comments back in June 2013,it would be nice if anyone could share any comments with me that is in similar weeks of pregnancy.
Thanx

Hi ladies, hope I can join you here. I'm currently 22+4 with a cervical length of 2.5 and funnelling (started at 5.8 at 12wks) my last baby was born at 24wks, he survived but was extremely poorly. I've been told to rest and been put on cyclogest 200g. I've taken myself to bed as this is such a critical time, my initial goal is 24wks where they will give me steroids. I also have 2 boys at home aged 4 and 5. I have another scan next week to remeasure.

Hi Lawro,
I am sure you will be fine,i am 22 weeks gone &yesterday after another remeasure they find out i was 5mm. I was so scared and just had time to call my husband and let him know they was going to send me to theatre as a emergency to have my cervix stitched. So far everything went well and i will be staying in hospital until Monday. Really,really sore but at least with some reassurance this will work. I am surprised that since you had before a baby at 24 weeks they did not offer u a cerclage?
Try to get second opinion or just speak to your consultant about this as i was told they should offer me cerclage at 17 weeks due to my baby been born at 30 weeks.
Hope all goes well with u and keep posted.

Hi Lowro,just to say i was also in cyclogest 200gr as well for the past 2 weeks but did not work much for me.

Lolaway32, oh my goodness what a shock for you! Hope you feel better soon and that the stitch does the trick. I wasn't sure if I was too late for a stitch at this point but maybe they should have given me one much earlier. I think my consultants view is to "deal with it when something happens! Hopefully my next scan will show no change or improvement. Xxx sending you positive thoughts xxx

gosh lawro what a scary time for you. rest up. i was on 400 mg of progesterone a day...my cervix measured almost zero in places, 1.5 at the widest.

my baby stayed in until 36 weeks, she actually had to come out then because of IUGR. stay strong, every day and week is a bonus. i know how terrifying it is.

THanks Kelly, did you get a cerclage? 36 weeks is great! At what point in you pregnancy were you zero? Xx

Lowro, yes I had my cerclage at 17 weeks...one year ago next week.

My cervix has been almost zero for years due to numerous lletz procedures. I had always been told that if I ever had children I would need the stitch...but it always seemed so far off in the future.

Luckily I live overseas and had an amazing consultant who specialises in stitches, most docs would not have been able to do it. Even she was doubtful immediately afterwards and there was literally hardly anything to stitch. But it held!

Also the stitch was never up for discussion...I see so many people on this thread and others who have to just 'wait and see' in the uk.

Hi Everyone,
Just posting some news since came back from hospital,I am now 22+5 and so far so good after the cerclage.I am at completely bed rest at home but by my own choice as Doctors said it was no a problem to carry on as normal as long was nothing tenuous.I will have a scan this Friday to check everything is ok with the stitches.
I will let you know what happen on Friday.
x

Hi Lawro
Just hope everything goes well for you today,also sweeetheart21 just wonder how many weeks are you now and if everything is well.
Just had my appoint,today at Hospital to be checked if the cerclage is working and for far its fine but they said to me it will just delay on baby come early,so mine target is 28 weeks anything over that will be a bonus.
xx

Hi! I'm back home after having the suture on Friday. It went well but did kick off some contractions so got sent to delivery suite. It settled down and now I just have a small amount of bleeding. I found it very traumatic having the procedure wide awake as I was so concerned for baby but hopefully things might go a little more smoothly now! I will be 24 weeks on Tuesday and I had my steroids in hospital too which is a relief xxx

Really glad Lawro,and I am sure things will get better now specially with after they started with steroids.So far the Doctors did not offered me any steroids Injection & have a appointment in 3 weeks time when I will be 26 weeks,I am hoping to get there without any problems.
Take care
XX

Lowro, I do not realise you had your stitch whilst wide awake, you are incredibly brave and strong, am so in awe of you! Great news that you had steroids. I had them at 24/25 weeks and when my daughter was born she had zero problems breathing, they had thought she might.

This exact time last year it was the night before my stitch. I can't believe it when I look at my healthy little girl.

Stay strong ladies, I am proof that the stitches are literally life savers. And please keep us updated, you are all in my thoughts.

Hi, Thankyou Kelly! Taking it one day at a time, wish I could fast forward 10 weeks!! Bedrest is such hard work, so isolating. I'm now 24+3!

Hi everybody! I just found this club after much google searching on the subject of shortened cervix issues and cerclage. I am so relieved to find so many of us going through similar situations with so many positive outcomes! I lost my first LO at 19 weeks in September last year, the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with in my life! I fell pregnant pretty quickly this time around and found out at my 19 week scan that I have an incompetent cervix (which it turns out was the cause of my first loss) measuring just 13mm with severe funneling. My OB decided an emergency cerclage was necessary after consulting with a foetal medicine specialist and also put me on 200mg progesterone pessaries daily. I have been put on strict bed rest until at least 26 weeks. It has been a roller coaster of a ride to say the least as I flip out at the smallest twinges not knowing whether they are surgery or just normal pregnancy related! Just had some good news yesterday after a follow up scan from the surgery (which went very well) that my cervix had lengthened! A nice bit of positivity to get me through for a while! I am now 22+3 and taking it one day at a time, fingers crossed that bub will stay safely tucked away until at least 36 weeks. Are any of you at a similar stage to me or similar treatment?

Hi ya15ha77,
Gosh what a scary time for you rest up,I am 25 weeks tomorrow and had my cervix stitched up at 22 weeks when they was only measuring 4mm,since then I had a follow up scan and they went up to 12mm also I am on 200gm progesterone pessaries daily.Like yourself each time I have a twinge I panic because I do not know whether is the surgery or any problem.
I have another appointment next week to check if everything is okay or if my stitches are holding.
keep us posted and I am sure everything will be fine & we will sharing lovely stories about our pregnancy,s in a few months.
xx

Hi Lawro how are you doing? I am 25 weeks today and very happy as every week is a milestone to get to the 36 weeks and having the stitches out.
Next Wednesday i will have another scan appointment to check if the cervix are still 12mm.
Hope you have a nice weekend and I am sure you are happy nearly 26 weeks pregnant.
xx

Hi! I'm fine, still very bored on mostly bedrest! Got an appointment weds with my consultant. Hoping for a measurement scan but not sure I'll get one?? I'll be 26 weeks on Tuesday so very happy about that. I seriously can't wait to get to 29/30 weeks as I think I will relax a lot more then. Love to everyone here x

Hello,yes I feel the same regarding getting to the 29/30 weeks and start to relax a bit more. I did mention early that I also have a appointment this Wednesday for another measurement scan I will be 25+5,lets hope everything goes well.
I will let you know the outcome after Wednesday.
xx

Hi Ladies,

Please can i ask your advice?

I am scheduled for a TVC at 13 weeks and the consultant has advised i have the Harmony test before, 'just in case'.

My previous pregnancy last year (which ended in pprom at 18 weeks) showed we were very low risk with just the standard NT testing.

If i do the harmony, which we can't really afford, the results will only be back the day before my OP. Unfortunately, my NHS booking in with the midwife isn't until i am 12 weeks, and the scan scheduled for the day AFTER my op....so the NHS is no help either.

I'm despairing a bit...i don't know what to do?

Hi beetling about, it's a tricky one. I don't know what gestation you are but could you go for a comprehensive nuchal scan n bloods privately. They would also take a look for all soft markers and the heart, brain to give the best idea on babies risk for trisomies etc. You could get this done just after 11 weeks with results same day if you used a hospital based facility. Just an idea? Best wishes xx

Hi Lawro,

Thanks for replying. I am 10+6 today, so time is really tight. I have emailed my consultant as i just want someone to tell me what to do! Hopefully he has all the answers

hi ladies! i do like to check in here from time to time as a 'short cervix graduate' to see how you are all getting on!

lawro and lola, 26 and 25 weeks - well done! this is great news!

i know how dull bedrest is lawro, hope you are not going too crazy.

beetling - such a stressful time, i know. i do always take comfort from people knowing early on that they need a stitch and being prepared for it, seems so much better that 'they' recognise this. too many stories of people being left until the last minute, or being told to 'wait and see'.

good luck everyone. please keep us posted with all news :)

Oh lovely message from you Kelly,
You always so thoughtful in sending messages to everyone despite you been a graduate.
I have been discharge from any more further appointments at Hospital for cervix measurements,I was told that my cervix are doing well and and went up to 19 mm.Also no more pessaries!!!
Although I am thrilled to bits with news,also scared because I am only 26 weeks pregnant.
Anyway I guess I just have to take easy and hoping to get to 30 weeks plus week.
Hope you and your baby girl are doing well.
xx

Just to update everyone...I am currently 32 weeks and 2 days..they aren't checking my cervix any longer last it was checked was 29 weeks I was 2.4 cms the bed rest helped...they said they wouldng stop labor if it happened now...i see my obgyn every week and im now going for biophysicals /ultrasounds weekly because the baby is showing small....he was 3.7 lbs last week......but ive gotten this far so im ecstatic...im still off work and dont over do it...hoping I go full term but the nice weather is making it hard to not do much especially with a 4 year old....cant wait for my son to arrive and thd stress to be over with:)