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

MrsGB good plan. Stick to the 16 week scan too though as that's when changes start to become apparent. I can't believe how hit and miss it can be with following up after cervical procedures! Let us know how you get on.

Koala 42.9mm is very good. Pre-pregnancy length is typically 40-50mm so you're definitely in a good place at 18 weeks. Mine was 35mm do already shorter than average. I got my midwife to write on my notes that I needed a cervical scan at my 20 week scan as the sonographer may not have done otherwise. 🤔

I've mentioned it before but there's a Incompetent Cervix UK Facebook group where there are a great many knowledgeable ladies too for more support xx

42.9mm is really good koala from what I've read online. Hope it stays that way.

Thank for the recommendation blue I'll take a look. Although the name is a bit harsh 'incompetent cervix'

Hi all. I'm 20 weeks and my cervical length is 33mm. It was 31mm 2 weeks ago which I don't really understand but I'm going with it.
I've been discharged.
I have further scans and consultant appointments booked from 28 weeks but I can breathe a bit easier now.

MrsGB Incompetent Cervix may be harsh but it is accurate! There was a debate earlier in the year about changing it to 'weak' or 'relaxed' but the consensus was that it minimised the condition or implied that it could be reversed e.g. you can strengthen a weak muscle but you can't with a cervix. The only other one that I think is acceptable is 'insufficient' but that's more of a US term.

Sellmysoul that's great!

Koala - mine was 2.57 cm at 15 weeks so they put the stitch in the next day - that's a great length! It measured 4.5cm at 10 weeks so had shortened by 2cm in 2 weeks xx

That's great sell my soul! X 👍 Xx

I'm back in hospital I'm afraid. I came in with some brown discharge/blood (not unusual after stitch) but my fFN result is sky high so they are keeping me in for observation. Other test results are fine - cervix closed, no contractions etc so they believe fFN is a blip - it's not accurate during bleeding esp old blood. If it goes down after bleeding stops then they don't believe I'll go into labour imminently. Otherwise I may be transferred to hospital with larger neonatal facilities or be introduced to neonatal here. I'm 23+2 today... just 5 days from V day...

Oh blue, how are you holding up? Do you have anyone with you? It's a good sign that all other tests are ok. Fingers crossed it's a blip! Is it still the case that hospitals won't do anything before 24 weeks? Have they given you any steroid injections? Thinking of you.

Apparently baby has to look like she has a fighting chance before they intervene before 24 weeks so it's at doctors discretion I think. Haven't yet talked about steroids but one of the midwives talked me through how labour can be stopped if contractions start IF the cervix isn't dilating. But this is where I would most likely be transferred to and this is v good news www.standard.co.uk/news/health/london-doctors-perform-groundbreaking-operation-to-save-life-of-baby-born-four-months-prematurely-a3478531.html%3Famp
I'm on my own til visiting time as DH had to go to work but our mums will come then

I used to live not too far from there in SW London and gave heard good things about St George's. It seems the place to be and only a few more days until 24 weeks. When do they retest you?

Hi ladies, im new to mumsnet and hoping to join this thread and hope yoy can all help me put my mind at ease even the slightest! Bit of background, this is my 4th preganacy, got 2 fabulous boys, 2 and 6, and had a mmc between the boys, bleed very badly through all pregnancys but carried the 2 boys to term.
This pregnancy has been a nightmare!! Had 6 very heavy bleeds passing clots! The lot, last bleed i had to be taken to hospital in an ambulance it was that bad, at that last bleed i was 12+5 and baby was fine but i was told my cervix was open and i would prob lose baby, but i didnt and got discharged the next day, everyday since then i have not stopped thinking about my cervix being open! I had phoned my midewife, the hospital and talked to countless midwifes and been fobed off everytime saying that after youve had a baby its normal for your cervix to appear "slighty" open, anyhoo at 18 weeks i went for an ultrasound as i had some spotting and guess what! My cervix was open!!!! I was 3cm dilated with bulging membranes! In a mad rush i was prepped for surgery and had a stitch put in, was discharged after 2 days, im now 21+3 and just got out of hospital again yesterday after having terrible cramps but it seems to of settled just now, i guess im hoping for some sucess stories as none of my doctors seem that hopefull and im sooooo scared, do any of you ladies get cramps that come and go? Thanks in advance x

Hi Mummy, I'm sorry to say that the only time I had cramps in my first pregnancy, it was actually labour pains (I didn't know!). So please so take cramps seriously. It's great that you've got a stitch in place. Has your cervix been checked/measured recently? There are lots and lots of success stories with stitches, they are largely successful. I'm am waiting to see if I fall into that category...

Thanks so much blueroses for replying, the cramps are like period pains and are there is no pattern to them like labour pains, i fot my cervix checked via speclum at the hospital the other night and it was tightly closed but they didnt measure it, im in for a scan in the morning and hopeing they will measure it then, im 2 weeks and 5 days away from viability and hopeing to god i get there, im so scared and paranoid and these cramps are just a constant reminder, how bad were your cramps?, so sorry your going through this too x

My cramps weren't bad at all, I thought they were related to constipation that's why I called GP rather than midwife. But still I was in labour. I didn't time them or check how far apart they were. By the time I got to hospital my waters had broken too spot was too late

The good news is that your cervix is now closed and you are being monitored.

Posted too soon...

Do they have any idea about what the cramps mean? Let us know how you get on tomorrow xx

Oh my goodness, Blue, what an ordeal you're living at the moment. I'm sure every day must seem like a lifetime but it looks like you're in a very good place and as always I'm sending all the luck in the world xx

Bless you mummy to monkeys, what a stressful time for you, I think a lot of us can relate to the anxiety around not knowing what your body is doing. That's so good they caught the cervix opening and put an emergency stitch in, I was too late for a stitch with my daughter and lost her, but I've had a preventative one put in with this pregnancy and I did have mild cramps for the first 3-4 days and light bleeding, and a follow up a week or so after they put it in. I assume they're going to keep a close eye on you now which should help. Thinking of you, the things is mummies (and daddies) have to go through xx

Definitely push for a cervical length scan tomorrow mummy2monkeys so that you have a full idea of the picture xx

Aw thanks so much ladies for replying it means a lot, and so sorry to hear about what you's have been through too, life can be very cruel. they wouldnt really give me any awnsers about cramps, just dont think they want to give me any false hope, im definatley going to ask for a cervical length scan tommorow and hopefully they will agree, i feel so grateful ive got my boys, just hopeing i can manage to hold on to this one, i will post with an update tomorrow and thanks again girlies xx

Hi again so im bk from hospital, babys doing great!, cervical length is measuring 34mm, do you think thats good?, doc seemed happy with it, said to keep and eye on the cramps and if they get any worse he can give me some medicine to try and calm the womb, so i feel a bit better after the appiontment, hope you are all ok today xx

Hi that's a good length for someone with cervix issues. I'm about a week behind you with a preventative stitch and my cervix was around 3.5cm, 2cm above and 1.5cm below stitch. Did they happen to tell you the measurements below or above the stitch? Regardless 3.4cm is v good considering your recent history. Lots of luck x

Aw thanks for replying April, youve made me feel lots better, they didnt yell me measurments above or below unfortunately, i thought they would of got me in sooner for a check though as im not bk now till im 27 weeks, which is just over 5 weeks away x

Agree with April, 34mm is great at your gestation. I don't know measurements above and below either. If you still have cramps or any other worries, you might persuade them to measure your cervix again (or at least check it's closed), you don't have to wait for scheduled appointments as things can change in between. But you're in a really good place and I were you, I'd start to relax xx

Thanks for that message blueroses, so glad i joined here you all seem lovely, and great to talk to people going through a simular thing, hope your doing ok, are you out of hospital? Xx

How are you today, Blue? Xx