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

For Holly

How long did you get told to rest for after the op?

Just a few days. I was in overnight Thursday/Friday and have quite a physical job so also took Monday/Tuesday off. If I had been in an office or something I would have felt fine to be back by Monday.

When could you drive again?

Wasn't told anything about driving, and I drove six days afterwards. Although I probably would have been able to two-three days later.

How long did the spotting last? (I have had a bit after the op and a bit more this morning, it had started going brown til they did an internal scan and now had a bit more)

I had bright red flow the first time I stood up after the op, but this had faded by the next day. I then had slight brown discharge for maybe a week at the most. Not even enough to need a pad for, and certainly less than I expected.

How achy and paint did you feel in the days afterwards?

The first two days were fairly uncomfortable, but not painful or anything and I didn't feel like I needed any painkillers. This went away within a week though and I have not noticed to stitch at all since.

What advice were you given about activity afterwards?

No heavy lifting at all, nothing heavier than a full kettle. Basically avoid anything that puts strain on your pelvic floor. No sex. No immersion in water (due to increased infection risk) so no baths, no swimming etc. Regular rests. My consultant also said that full bed rest would do no good at all, so try to carry on as normal as you can but taking sensible precautions.

Alex does your EPU work at the weekend? Could someone maybe take you up there tomorrow?

Alex x-post! Glad you are being seen. Hope they can put your mind at rest xx

Basically I felt very full in the pelvis a bit like when you have a full bladder and really need the toilet. A heavy feeling that seemed more noticeable when I was on my feet. Does that help a little? X

So funny to hear how we've al had different advice! Holly, I was told to 'take it easy' and 'listen to my body' but not given much of a steer on what that meant. I don't drive much (live in London) but would have felt fine to within a few days.

I didn't have much pain 'down below' at all - mostly I had back pain from the injection, which eased off after about 3 days and was tender (like a bruise) rather than agony. I think I only took one paracetamol after the op, and that was for my back.

Bleeding, similar to Rainbox, I had red blood for a day or so, then brown/watery blood for about 4/5 days afterwards. I remember it felt like ages to be bleeding at the time but in retrospect it wasn't bad at all.

Alex, huge fingers crossed for you. I hope they can help and/or put your mind at rest. Keep us updated.

Long cervix vibes to all the other ladies on here!

Piz

Thanks for the replies- the doctors all say slightly different things and are unclear about details!

I feel ok today a bit achy and uncomfortable but nothing unbearable.

One last question (possibly!!) - how quickly would any infection or leak show?

Alex- I am glad you are going to be seen, fingers crossed its nothing to worry about x

Oh forgot to say that had a scan today and cervix currently 3.4 and closed - will have a cervix check on 2nd July.... Fingers crossed and positive cervix thoughts to everyone else :) x

Thanks all, was finally seen after a long and boring wait at EPU and the sonographer did an external over the belly scan and said she couldn't see funnelling and the cervix looked fine to her. So no idea what the feeling down below is but am now forcing myself to relax! I do think I did the right thing, better to be safe than sorry and am hoping they can tell enough from an over the belly scan. Baby looked well, heart beating and moving, yay!

holly 3.4 and closed sounds good :)

Hi Alex, yes agree with legallyblond. Your mat notes should have a number for the labour ward. That's where I went this morning at 7am to be checked out. You have to call them first, explain symptoms and say you'd really like to be checked out. They have been really lovely to me both times and didn't make me feel stupid at all. Anyway, had the once over again by midwife then a doctor and they think I could have the beginnings of SPD... Eeek. Really don't want to be crippled with that for next 3 months. She didnt look at my cervix as she said repeated examinations run the risk of stimulating it or causing infection. The pressure symptom has eased but the period type pain and sore groin/pubic area is constant. Apparently it can get so bad you end up in a wheelchair.... great!!! Blimey this pregnancy is beating the crap out of me... Really feeling quite depressed and anxious over it all.

Sorry I keep being very annoying and posting late... Glad all well with your scan Alex - defo better to get it checked out. EPU is always a nightmare wait but I'd rather that than labour ward which is full of screaming women! It's scary!!!

Glad you're ok Alex. My "pressure" started at about 16 weeks and was the beginnings of SPD. I was pretty pissed off to have that along with diabetes, cervix etc etc. was really scared I'd end up on crutches. But it hasn't really gotten any worse (yet!) I saw a physio a couple of times and given a support belt and some exercises and stretches. I don't like the belt but do try to keep up with the exercises. I really notice the pressure if I've been on my feet too long.

Other SPD symptoms to watch out for - sore inner thighs, pain when opening legs, hip/bum aches, bruised/achey/heavy vagina feeling (lovely!).

I highly recommend pushing for a physio appointment if you do suspect SPD so you can get stretching and strengthen the muscles.

So glad your ok Alex! And got to see baba again :)

This whole pregnancy has certainly not followed the rosy picture I had imagined I have to say!

It's going to be worth it when I get to meet my Smudge (fingers crossed)

Sw- glad its not the cervix but sorry it might be SPD :(

Have finally been released and am home on the sofa watching CSI, am delighted to be back with my hubby and cats :)

Will all totally be worth it when our babies are here

I'm a cat person too, have a lovely little one. What will you do about the cats and baby when it's born? Will you bother with cat nets so the cats can't sleep with and risk smothering the baby? Or do you think it will be fine?

I was talking about this with my husband the other day, and we can't decide what to do!

Hopefully they will not like the crying and keep away, we are going to start by keeping them out of the baby room and keeping doors shut- has anyone else ever had experienced cats and babies - any tips for us?!

Oh god, we have 2 massive cats and a dog! I was a bit worried at first but I'm now thinking we'll just have to middle along together. None of them sleep in our room every night (cats do at the weekend as a 'treat', although not sure who it's a treat for!) So I'm just thinking I'll keep doors closed and manage animal movements around the house more carefully. Very keen to get advice from someone who knows better, though!

Ok just asked a friend with cats, she has one toddler and a new baby, she says she bought a net but has never used it. They just control where the cats can go and the cats tend not to come near the noisy baby anyway! I'm thinking it's only at night the baby would be at risk when I'm asleep so we'll need to put a lock on our door or heavy doorstop (our cat can push our doors open herself otherwise!) Then when the baby moves to the nursery, we can cross that bridge, would def rather have the nursery door open. Maybe we should post on the main pregnancy page about this? I bet our cat will take one look at the noisy baby and think "what is THAT doing in our nice quiet home?!"

I have been lying around and sleeping all day, no pain and tiny bit of brown discharge.

I have loads of meds! Oral antibiotics, antibiotic cream to insert vaginally, progesterone pessaries for the backside, and pills to relax any womb contractions!

I will need to use the prog pessaries for the rest of my pregnancy apparently-

I had an unexpected treat yesterday when I asked the cervix sonographer to have a quick look at baby to make sure ok, she was nice and had a look, Smudge was having a little wriggle, and sucking thumb - so cute :)

I feel guilty today, as if I am letting Smudge down by having such a dodgy cervix :(

Xxx

How cute re thumb sucking! And I'm glad you're on the mend Holly. Just goes to show the different approaches though..., I am on zero meds post my stitch - no antibiotics, no progesterone etc!

Just to say - not all short cervix pregnancies are so stressful as this. Like I said, I carried DD with no complications at all to 42 weeks. Generally though, I hound having a newborn a LOT less sttressfull / worrying / anxiety inducing that being pregnant! Having a newborn is actually quite easy! On the breast or asleep pretty much!!!

Sounds good holly, pleased you got a good view of smudge happily in there! Please don't feel guilty, if it's not one thing it's another and I'm learning that very few people have the 'easy ride' pregnancies I'd always imagined. Once you're over the op you''ll feel much better.

Legallyblond, LOVE the idea that having a newborn will be less stressful - yes please!

All seems fine here, I was a bit naughty and bought a bouncy chair in the sale then carried it home and felt it in the bump but took it easy and felt fine again since. I actually see people running or being active now and feel sad about it, I'm usually a pretty active person and not doing stuff drives me a bit mad! But itcsb

Stupid phone, sorry. Meant to say it's for a good cause and only 11.5 weeks until the stitch comes out (eeeek!).
Long, closed cervix thoughts all round!

Piz

Can I ask a question about the progesterone pessaries? I have been having some headaches since I started taking them or I suppose it could be after effects of op?

As you can see worrying about everything here...

Thanks in advance x

Hi again Holly. I had mild headaches for about a fortnight after starting the progesterone, but they did go away. I mentioned them to my consultant and she said this was not unusual, and they should stop. She did offer to put me on a lower dose if I wanted and the headaches were too much to cope with!

Another pet household here, two cats and a dog. We planned just to be really vigilant and see what happened! Both DH and I brought up in houses full of animals so in theory it should be possible :)

3 1/2 weeks for me now til stitch comes out. eeek!

Ah Rainbow - that's great! Only 3 and a half weeks to go, how wonderful :)

Thanks for the reply, I guessed it was the extra hormones xxx

hello all, been a little while since i checked in on this, so good to hear everyone's progress.holly, very glad to hear you are feeling better.

i've been on progesterone since week 7 and no side effects that i've noticed.

my answers to questions asked in case they help anyone else:

How long did you get told to rest for after the op?
i was signed off for 2 weeks, i could have been back at work after a week but i took advantage of this and rested.

When could you drive again?
i don't drive but would have felt fine to do this after a few days.

How long did the spotting last?
i had hardly any bleeding at all, maybe one or two days of a little bit of brown gunge, that was it. was expecting much worse.

How achy and paint did you feel in the days afterwards?
not really at all to behonest, i honestly was expecting mayhem and it was almost pain free and back to normal within a day or two. now i completely forget the stitch is there!

What advice were you given about activity afterwards?
very restricted (my cervix was shorter than they at first thought when they actually went in to do the sticth)

no standing or walking for more than 20 mins, no sex, no orgasms (!) no pregnancy yoga, no swimming (i have been in the pool a few times, i live in a country where is is currently 47 degrees!) and as much time with my feet up as possible. i am still working.

Thanks Kelly, I am trying to put together all the advice given and come up with a plan for myself. It surprises me that there's nothing consistent even different doctors said wildly different things while I was at the hospital!

I am finding it difficult to lay around, I am normally pottering around, up and down stairs, shopping, driving, housework, cooking so this is hard for me.

I am trying to stay positive and start looking forward to the next scan (on the 28th) when we will get to see Smudge again.

How do you all stay positive? Should I just think week by week?

Holly, I think you just get on with things! Slowly you realise that the stitch is in now and I 'got over it' a bit and the fear has taken more of a backseat. I think normal life just reasserts itself (or it did for me at least) also like you I'm a pretty active person so can't be doing with too much sitting around.

Rainbox, I can't believe you only have 3.5 weeks left! Time seems to be flying. We're all going to be on here expecting hourly updates from you as to how it all goes once the stitch is out!