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

Muminwaiting,
After having my a Macdonald stitch,I had to stay in hospital in which I was quite happy because although I did not have any contractions but I had terrible pains and also they was kind enough to insert me a Designer bag(a cafter bag how embarrassing),anyway all I can say and suggest is if you can stay in Hospital for a night or two and take a full advantage in having three meals a day and just rest.
It took me full three Weeks for me to have a full recovery,like walk properly,doing all the house chores without any pain and so on.
So each person have different recovery,your body will work according to yourself take care & hope all goes well.xx

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Mine will be a modified shirodkar, don't know if that makes any difference to recovery etc.
I'm really lucky that my aunt who retired as a midwife last year is coming to stay and look after me so my hubby can keep working.
At the moment it seems so far away. Getting through each day of constantly heaving and feeling dizzy and awful is taking it out of me. I'm lucky to work from home. Don't know how this would be possible if I didn't!

Hi ladies, this thread fell off my list for some reason.

amum I had a planned modified shirodkar at st Mary's. I didn't feel much cramping after, was discharged the next day and back to work Soon after. Felt physically fine.

Paranoid today as I ran a few steps for the bus and am feeling a lot of heaviness in lower areas.. Wish I was past the 24 week mark... I'm so jealous of people with normal pregnancies right now...

Hope u r all keeping well anyway!

Hi everyone,
Hope all ladies are doing well,just a briefly hello to all the mum,s and give some updates on my currently weeks.
I am 30+5 so really 31 weeks and start to enjoy my pregnancy for the first time so I thought until this morning.
I woke up this morning with a tiny spot of blood,don,t think its a major thing I am hoping,but I think I have been overdoing a bit because I am start to feel a bit confident regarding the baby going all the way to 36 weeks before they remove my stitches.
But just shows that things can change so fast,now I am panicking a bit and taking easy today & agree with TaytoCrisp regarding been jealous of woman with normal pregnancies.
So how many weeks are you now TaytoCrisp? Hope all the best for all the mums at Cervix Club.
xx

Oh no lolaway! Please let me know if everything is ok. I'm now 31+1 and everything is good. Got consultant appointment next week, hopefully get a date for my stitch removal x

Any experiences of scheduled sutures with twins? I haven't seen the consultant who will be doing the suture since before I found out I was pregnant and when we talked through the future pregnancy plan she said it would be removed at 38 weeks but that's very late with twins isn't it? I hoped I would have seen her by now to discuss it but no such luck.
Still another three and a bit weeks until my suture and have been feeling a lot of pressure and tugging down there. No bleeding though so hope everything's ok. Next scan is Wednesday. Very scary times.

Hi aMuminwaiting,
Yes removing stitches at 38 Weeks with twins sounds rather late but she must be confidant about your situation that you can carry the twins until 38 Weeks.
My cervix only measured 4mm when I had them stitched and my Consultant is planning removing at 36 Weeks and with only one child,well saying that I am schedule to see her in 3 Weeks time when I will be 34 weeks and then she will make a final decision.
So I could may in truly having my stitches removed later.
How many Weeks are you now?
Take care.xx

Only 10. Having the suture just before I turn 14 weeks. I haven't even seen her since I found I was pregnant so I'm sure the plan will need to be altered for a multiple. So far though all I've had are scans and not a consultation with her to talk it through. My cervix gave way completely at almost 22 weeks with my first baby and 17 weeks with my last. She did exploratory surgery on me in January and said my cervix is extremely weak so I'm going to need all the help I can get!

Hi ladies,

Great that iola and lawro are starting to think about removing stitches! Not long now! iola hope u r ok after worry earlier this wk and there was no more spotting. U could certainly do without that.

I'm just 23+2. Very pleased to Have got this far and the 23 mark this week was an important milestone as that was when i had mc1. An emotional day but feeling slightly lighter since which is great! Roll on a few more weeks though. Then we can start thinking about stitch removal and delivery plans (I hope!!).

Sorry amum I have no experience of multiples. Hope ur doing ok, just a few more wks til the stitch.

Keep well ladies!

Hi everyone,
Thanks for the support TaytoCrisp,yes so far nothing more regarding any bleeding Thank God for that.
23+3 its lovely news because I remember exactly like you, every week especially after the 23 Weeks it was a milestone & wonderful news.

amumwaiting,Yes not long now til the stitche & I am sure you will be fine as the earlier you have you stitches the better is for your cervix.
I did not see my consultant until I was 16 Weeks gone which was a nerve racking,once I had the consultation everything moved pretty quickly.
I am glad you already got a date for the stitche,do you know what kind of sutures you having?
A Macdonald,Shirodkar or Abdonimal,I had the macdonald & when I read more about on the net they said it was not the most efficient one compare to the Shirodkar & abdonimal but so far so good the one my consultant choose,although it may varies in each case.
Take care & please keep posted.
xx

Hi just checking in. I did a rubbish name change from plentyofsoap. Dd is now nearly 8 months and doing so well. Appears to like 3am to 4am though
Good to see the advice on here is still positive as it was such a worrying time. Bed rest was so hard, but it was worth it.
Think my cervix is still rubbish so we will stop at 2, two prems is enough. They offered a scan after as they also think I have an abnormal uterus but think I have cost the nhs enough!
Hope everyone had a good weekend.

Hi ladies,
Hope everyone is well and enjoying the last few days of glorious days,I am starting feeling like a wale and walking like a penguin so today decided to treat myself and having a full french pedicure done.

Plentyofshoes,I had to read your journal after your last post,although I was not yet part of the Short Cervix Club when you was going a such scaring time,I must admitted I felt like I was there as you describe your pain and struggles regularly,it was really comforting to read your posts because we are going through all does emotions now.Many Congratulations on the birth of your daughter and I was surprised how big she was compare to the weeks you was in when she was born.
To top up you mention that they did not stitched you because you was 26 Weeks by the time they find out,I am really,really Impresse you went all the way to 33+ weeks.
Hope we keeping hearing from you in the future and one of the Mums that been really good with her postings & reassurances although been she graduate long time ago ( KELLY).
I am 31+4 days at the moment and really looking forward to get pass the 32 Weeks this Friday.
Take care everyone
xx

Well my suture is still scheduled for the 30th but it will be to keep one baby alive now. Had scan on Wednesday and one of the twins has died. They think it will reabsorb as the hormones from the living twin should keep me stable. I had to get more antibiotics yesterday for bladder pain. Feel really sore and emotionally drained today.

Oh muminwaiting what a sad and difficult moment you must be going through,even though is good news that one of twins is doing well you must be feeling really sad about the other one.
I full understand your pain as I myself been through of losing a baby in pregnancy,but at least some comforting is that you have one of twins to keep fighting and looking forward to the future and birth.
I am sure the antibiotics will work and help & In no time you will be at hospital having your stitches done and looking forward to graduate from the Short Cervix Club.
Take care.xx

Thanks Iolaway. I spent most of yesterday in bed and trying to drink lots of lemon barely water as my GP suggested but it just made me sick. Felt twinges and light cramps, still feel heavy and sore today so really worried but not enough to sit at A&E all day just to be sent home and told to go back Monday. I've done this enough to know the drill. I wish we could see in there every day to know what's going on.

Really sorry to hear ur news amum. Sounds very tough for you right now. Thinking of you and hope your little one is doing ok..

All fine here - nearly 25 wks and can hardly believe it. On hols but will start thinking about delivery options soon after my return!!

Hope everyone else is doing well.

Thanks Tayto. I saw my GP yesterday and she put me on two days bed rest. That should get me to my next scan at least so we'll see how things go. I feel like I'm dragging myself to the suture date. I really wish they'd gone for the 12 or 13 week option rather than leave it to 14 weeks.
Nearly 25 weeks, wow. Seems like a lifetime away. And on holiday, you lucky duck. I'm hoping to successfully get to August and then take my hubby away for a night but that's as far as we could stretch what with the house falling apart and not being able to work at the moment.
Good luck to all.

amuminwaiting,you will just fine you got your little baby that is showing that he,she is strong enough to get through this.
One of the times before having my stitches done when I was just turn 20 weeks,I start to feel such a pressure below and mild contractions that i decided to go to the Hospital & you now what? Nobody was interested in seeing me or helping much because I was under 24 weeks,but my baby prevail and I will be 33 weeks this Week. Do not think its a long way because before you know it you will be 25 Weeks and starting to Count Down.
Bed rest is very good & just under 2 Weeks you will be having the Suture done.
Take carexx

Hi Lawro how are you doing?
Gosh you must be thrilled to be 33 Weeks today,is buba behaving?
Have you got the date for the removal of the stitches yet?
Hopefully baby will be bang on School holiday & will give you like me time just to chillax at home.
Speak to you soon.xx

I am new to this thread. I hope its ok if I join?
I am 20 weeks pregnant and have a 30mm cervix. But it started at 43mm at 16 weeks, then dropped to 31mm at 18 weeks and is now 30mm. It has dropped quite a lot and I can't see it staying above the 25mm by 24 weeks, so suspect I'll need a stitch. Anyone had any experience of their cervix stabilising, or is this quite unlikey?
I have actually had a stitich in the past when I was pregnant with twins. It was done at 23 weeks and I lasted until 38 weeks in the end. But that doens't stop me from being terrified of having another!!

May I ask how does one qualify for a cervix check/measurement? Does it show on a scan or is it based on history?

DC1 was 40+5, now at 24 weeks with DC2 and I've never heard of cervix measurement. Should I be worried?

Only if you've had previous miscarriages. Mine was only found in my last miscarriage at 16 weeks when I just started bleeding after nothing at all. I was found to be funnelling and my cervix was 2cm. I had an emergency stitch but by then it was too late for me. After that they said they're sure it was why I lost my first too but they never scanned my cervical length that time. If you've had no problems in the past or needed one in the past then they won't check it. I'd never heard of it either until last time.
I know it's terrifying choc. The closer my date gets the more nervous I become but I also can't wait to get it done so m baby has a chance of surviving. Without it there is 0%. Where are you having yours done?

Hi amuminwaiting. I live in Oxfordshire. Where are you? How many weeks are you now? Are you going to be having a stitch? Argh! I hate constantly thinking about my cervix! Its so exausting!

I know. I wish everything worked properly on its own! I'm in Kent but having the stitch at St Marys in Paddington as they don't do the shirodkar at my local hospital. I'm 12 weeks today. Off for my nuchal later on. Very nervous.

Congrats on 33 weeks iola! I will be very pleased to get to that point. Even if baby comes soon things should be ok.

Welcome chocmuffin. Wow - great to have gotten so far with a stitch and twins in your last pregnancy! Inspiring. Hope they are keeping a close eye on you again this time. I was never told anything about cervical length so can't really help. Apparently one side of my cervix is "absent" following traumatic delivery of DD1. I don't really understand it to be honest, but am trying to focus on this pregnancy now rather than going back over all that right now.

Hope the nuchal test was ok amum. I had that and blood tests. I ended up with a 1:77 risk that baby will have downs but trying not to think about it. It's still only 6% chance I guess. A good bit higher than average due to my age (40) and blood test results - nuchal was ok I think.

I'm 25 wks now which is great. And have started to think that this pregnancy might really work out! But I feel slightly itchy around the cervix area today which is worrying me! No terrible discharge so I don't think it's thrush, and no watery discharge but I don't like the itchy feeling. It's only been this morn really, but I guess I can phone the midwife if it doesn't go away. Worried about a possible infection that might cause havoc, though no fever so hopefully it will just go away..

Hope all are well!