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

Mummy - my cervical length checks were scheduled every five weeks as well, which didn't fill me with a lot of reassurance, but that length of time means they aren't concerned. My anxiety wasn't good so then bereavement midwives brought my appointments forward for me, so I'm sure if you have concerns then they could bring a check up forward for you xx

Things are not going well for me. I'm going to update my blog rather than here just to keep the negativity away from this thread.

Love to all xx

I'm so, so sorry blue. Thinking of you and hoping for a little miracle. Xxx

Thanks for your message jomh1982 :-)
Blueroses you are in my thoughts and i truly hope everything turns out ok xx

Thanks for the kind thoughts, it really means a lot to have lovely people rooting for us. Hope everyone is enjoying the Easter break xx

Hope everything turns out ok Blue x

How is everyone today? Xx

I'm hanging on in there. Another day down. How are you Jess? How's everyone else?

Hi all, glad to hear everyone's doing ok. I'm 21 weeks. My 'feet up' period (mainly self enforced) begins next week. Not doing much now at all but having some help with my toddler after nursery from next week and I plan to pretty much put myself on house arrest. Strangely looking forward to just getting on with it and crossing the days off! Roll on the end of June! X

Hi everyone, so glad we baby still holding on for you blueroses 😊 hope everyone has had a lovely easter, im 22 weeks today and still on bedrest which im sure a lot of you know is very boring but worth it if it gets baby here safe x

April - that's great you've got some help booked in to help with your toddler, they really are such bundles of energy and it's difficult to rest when they want to play bless them 😊 Wishing you an uneventful bed rest period! Xx

Glad to hear you're still resting up mummyto2monkeys2, I'm sure it's not easy and the stress is always there, but you're doing everything you can to keep those days ticking by!

I'm ok, have had a very busy Easter with my daughter's 5th birthday on Saturday and then with the chaos of Easter it's definitely feet up day today! Since November I haven't walked more than ten minutes in a day and have taken it easy, but have found being off over the school Easter break very tiring. I'm 36 weeks today and have a routine midwife check up today and last consultant appointment next week. I count myself very very very lucky to have reached this stage but now feeling very anxious about baby's arrival as with all the trauma of our losses over the last theee years we never thought it would happen, and have been in self-preservation mode all through this pregnancy in case something bad happens, so trying to switch my focus on enjoying what has been an emotional marathon of a pregnancy (I'm sure you can all relate to this!!!!!!!) for the remaining weeks so that I don't have any issues with bonding. We can't decide on names, probably for this reason, so hopefully all will be well.

Hope everyone else is keeping well xx

Ok girl's im a little worried and need soke advice, sorry if tmi btw!, this morning when i went to the loo there was what seemed to be quite a lot of yellow coloured discharge!, just been to the toilet again and its still there, it deosnt smell at all, and i know that increased discharge can be normal after a stitch but yellow? Im panicking it may be an infection, has anyone had or got the same? Tried midwife but she not awnsering her phone so thought i would ask here, thanks so much to anyone with advice :-) x

When I had an infection it was green but there was a lot of it and it smelt revolting, so I think if it doesn't smell then you should be ok but probably worth speaking with your midwife or adau unit if you're worried. Sometimes stitches can create extra discharge, and mine can be a light yellow sometimes, but always worth seeking medical advice if you're really concerned xx

Thanks so much jomh1982 for your reply, much appreciated

Morning,

How is everyone today?

Mummyto2monkeys2 - how are you today? I hope your discharge has settled down, my midwife said increased discharge with a stitch is normal aslong as this are no distinctive odours.

Q - is it normal to have no follow up appointment after a stitch to ensure it is working? I have my 21 week scan 5th May and will ask them then, just wondering that's all :-)

Hi Haskell, fine here thanks. Almost 22 weeks so am now entering my self imposed house arrest period! Just want it to start so it can finish! Know these next weeks will drag.

In terms of follow up appointments it is very much dependent on your doc/nhs trust etc. some docs are of the view that once you're stitched up then you're sorted! I think it's worth getting checked post stitch tho. Even if it's an external (not as good as internal but can give you an idea). Push for as much as you can. X

Not sure about the process at all hospitals as may differ as April said, but I had one two weeks after the stitch was put in and then cervical length checks 3-5 weeks thereafter. If you have any concerns then please ask for peace of mind xx

Bit emotional today, had stabbing pains "down there" last night accompanied by some v v light pink spotting. All checked out last night and fine and probably a sign things might happen soon, which is fine as I'm very lucky at 36+2 today, but has just completely brought back all the anxiety of the whole pregnancy caused by trauma of our late loss and protracted early losses. Trying to keep calm but still so nervous that something may still go wrong even at this late stage xx

Sorry to hear about your scare Jomh, it's totally normal to feel like you do. Even when I got passed the magic 30 week mark with my rainbow I couldn't stop thinking about everything else that would go wrong. I think mainly as I'd been exposed to so many people who had lost babies at different stages for so many different reasons. Even tho 'normal' pregnant people are vaguely aware of these things, we are exposed to them so much more plus know that things can and do go wrong. That said I try to remind myself that once I'm passed 30 weeks I'm at no higher risk of anything bad happening. Ultimately tho I don't think we relax until bubs is here and healthy. Great you're 36 weeks tho, sooooooo looking forward to that stage (I hope). X

Hi everyone!
Haskell17, my discharge has disappeared! Thank goddness, so must of been relatively normal i suppose :-) i did have a follow up appiontment 3 weeks after my stitch was put in, and have another one when im 27 wks (just over 4 wks away) but like the other girls say every doctor/hospital have different procedures i guess but i felt better knowing i was going to get checked so theres no harm in asking
JOMH1982 so sorry you had a scare like that, glad everything ok, its the most scary time being pregnant, what it must be like to be one of those lucky ladies that sail through pregnancy without batting an eyelid eh!, great that youve made it so far on, get your feet up as much as you can xx

Hello ladies,
I hope you don't mind me joining the group. After two LETZ proceduces, I think this club is for me. I am seeking advise on your thoughts about bedrest.

I'm currently 23 weeks pregnant with my second child. I was given an early Shirodkar cerclage at 12 weeks.

My first pregnancy I had experienced a failed rescue cerclage at 24weeks and delivered a 25weeker, who now is doing well.

Both pregnancy I was not recommended bedrest. Still to this day I can't help but blame myself for my water for breaking as I run up the stairs to catch a train the night before.. Yet the medical professionals don't entertain that reason and blame it purely on an inflection. A cervix swab was conducted immediately after my waters broke and after days of culture an infection was detected.

Also anyone out there have experience with an early Shirodkar cerclage? I just hope to make 30 weeks!!

Many thanks in advance for your advice.

Xx

Hi Ddfresh, I currently have my second Shirodkar in place, both this and my previous one were placed at 12 weeks. My first baby I had a failed rescue cerclage (completely out of the blue, absolutely no cervix related history). I had him at 25 weeks and we lost him when he was two weeks old after he got an infection in the NICU. My second baby I had the Shirodkar and had him at 35 weeks, the stitch held v well and it may be other reasons I had him slightly early. I am now 22 weeks with my second stitch.

I am about to enter into self enforced rest period. Not bed rest but I finished work at 12 weeks, have not exercised or done anything since then and now will have my feet up as much as possible until 30 weeks with the occasional trip in the car to a restaurant (not driving). It's not been advised as such but I need psychologically to do everything I feel I can. I even will have some
Help with my toddler which I'm dreading as I want to look after him but again, I feel I have to.

I think particularly from your stage to 28 weeks I would take it v v easy. It's only 6 weeks in the grand scheme I guess (keep telling myself that). But it means the world if it does make a difference. I'm petrified of the NICU too. I also figure if I have an early baby it'll be more of an effect on my toddler as I'll be consumed by being at the NICU.

There's no real research re bed rest and some potential negatives too. I don't do strict bedrest and cook for myself (easy meals) and potter around the flat x

Thank April for your invaluable advise. We are in a very similar position as I also have a very active 2 year old. I am really finding it difficult to "take it easy" as I am her full time carer. I myself is an pretty active person, always out and about.

I really need to take a leaf out of your book, you're totally right - it's not really long in the grand scheme of things. Don't think I can cope with another seat on NICU roller coaster especially with a toddler.

At the moment fortunately (some may say unfortunately) we're living with my in laws while our house is under renovations so perhaps I'll ask them to get move involved. l will also look into half day at a nursery near by.

May I ask what was the cause of your delivery at 35 weeks?

Im very apprehensive about my apointment at the cervical clinic on Monday. Just hope there is a closed cervix to measure 😬.

Thanks again for your insight and I wish you the very best with your journey!

Xx

Yeah it's so tough to take it easy with a little one. I've put my toddler in full days at nursery and have someone bringing him home as of Monday.

I'm not sure what happened re having my second at 35 weeks. The docs were surprised and my stitch actually held v v well. I was in active labour and my cervix was totally shut and went straight to 5cm when they took
It out. I had contractions that morning and they got strong quickly. Whether it was PRe term labour for different reasons I wont know. My surgeon said my cervix was long this time when he placed it. Last time i had my stitch only about 5 months after giving birth to my first so very soon.

I'm constantly stressed at the mo. Having lightening crotch type pains on and off today too so getting extra stressed! X

I get pains in the same area and I'm not sure if that's due to cervix related issues or just normal pregnancy pains.. is very stressful!!!

Also when I have an active day I notice I get far morw discharged. So I wonder if that's because the baby is putting pressure on my cerclage??

Thanks again for your advise!
Xx

Hello all. I've posted here a few times so won't go into my history again. Sorry to see this thread so active with lots of worry. I also have an odd question. I haven't as yet had a stitch and I'm currently 22 wks. Next scan Wed. I have this on and off sensation of being able to feel my cervix. Does anyone else have this feeling? Kind of like it rubbing on the inside and a feeling of being very heavy as well. It's just adding to my fear of going into early labour yet again!! Xx