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

I agree - I think you just get on with it despite the worry! Having had one pregnancy without cervix, I think you just have to realise that it is a really anxious time.... If it ain't one thing its another! With DD for instance, I had an anterior placenta and as a result felt no kicks or anything until 26 weeks, and then only limited... I was beside myself with worry!!! I think you just have to take the view that, until there is actually something to worry about (i.e. You start getting contraction/ go into labour at 23 weeks or something), there isn't anything to worry about... Just follow the advice given (the doctors have seen it all hundreds of times before) and try to relax.... MUCH easier said than done, I know!

I meant one preg without cervix worries..!

Yes, just to add to my worries, I have an anterior placenta as well :) talk about worry! Although I do think I have felt movement at the sides mainly...

I think lying around resting has given me too much time to think and fret and worry, I will be better once I can be up and around and get back to work xxx

I'm really trying to take that attitude - right now the baby is still inside and I'm still pregnant. Trying to relax and not worry as I do think I've been massively stressed and I'm now wondering what harm that can do to the poor baby when it has stress hormones pumping through it all the time!

I know the majority of you have stitches but does anyone have any advice/views on swimming with a short cervix but no stitch? Wondering whether it's worth going in the pool on holiday.

Alex, I was advised not to go in the pool because of bacteria and the fact there's a foreign body threaded through my cervix. I'm sure if you don't have the stitch you'll be fine, in fact it''ll prob do you good to take the weight off your feet and get some nice gentle exercise.

Where are you going? So jealous!

To Spain! Have a cervix scan tomorrow and Friday, if all looks ok I'm going to print nearest hospital details and head off to Spain on Sat for two weeks it's a friend's villa with a private pool shared by just a few residents and it's by the sea and really relaxing, plus nice sofas and sky tv - perfect for pregnancy and taking a break from the sun!

Maybe this is really shallow/silly but I am having a wax on Sat morning (legs and bikini) so will be hairy for my cervix scans, that doesn't matter right?! Don't want them to think I'm a hairy monster Clearly it's NOT my priority at the scans though!

Good luck at both your scans Alex and enjoy Spain :) sounds great x

Ha ha - Alex, my first cervical scan at 23 weeks (where the short cervix was picked up) was a surprise - I didn't know I was going to be offered it... I was not in the best state down there at all... Not at all pretty! Ended up with an audience of 4 for the scan (male consultant, male registrar, female "chaperone" (auxiliary midwife assistant) and female midwife) because my cervix was so, so awkwardly placed. They did the first scan with the internal ultrasound wand (just consultant and chaperone) - couldn't find my cervix at all. Cue entrance of registrar and midwife for (1) internal "feel" by the consultant with registrar assisting(!); (2) internal manual look using massive lamp (angled by midwife) and clear plastic thing (held by registrar); then, once they'd found it (3) second ultrasound wand to measure... My legs were also hideous. No one blinked an eye. They have now, thankfully, rearranged my cervix so the rigmarole is avoided!!!

OMG Legally, that sounds traumatic! I actually started to have stress dreams at about 16 weeks where I was in the hospital going from one person to another who poked and prodded and then knocked me out and woke me up with another problem! I think from about 11-20 weeks I was going to the hospital at least once a week for one reason or another, it's been bliss since then to 'just' have normal midwife appointments and the occasional prem clinic scan.

Alex, enjoy Spain, sounds wonderful! We're off camping in Shropshire this weekend which will be much less comfortable and I'm really suffering with hayfever so bit worried about it al!

Holly, hope you're feeling better and a bit of confidence in the stitch is coming through!

Piz

Legally, I know just what you mean...when I was admitted last week, I had not done any 'pruning' for a while, during the stitch insertion I was surrounded by people, theatre lights shining on down highlighting my hairy legs and 70's looking bush (ahem) Eeeek!

Oh I'm so glad they see 70s bushes and hairy legs all the time! I wasn't sure whether to flag it up and mention I'm getting a wax on Saturday before my holiday or if that's just ridiculously inappropriate

Hi cervix club, just a quick update on my scan - he said the cervix looks fine and even mentioned he wouldn't be able to tell it apart from a normal cervix looking at the scan today?! It measured around 3.5! I don't get why it's measuring more, again it probably shows how inaccurate these scans are, but either way it's brilliant he doesn't think there's a problem at the moment!

I'm now wondering whether to go to my other consultant on Friday for my second opinion scan. It would be my third scan in a week after going to EPU on Friday. I'm sure the scans don't do damage but you never know. It would be my last scan for three weeks because of my holiday which I now feel confident enough to go on woop!

Alex, would the second consultant do another internal cervical scan? My consultant (I just have the one!) is reluctant to scan or generally "poke" the cervix more than once a fortnight as it aggrevates / stimulates the cervix. Does the second consultant know you had a cervix scan just three days before? I expect it's fine - they all say different things!

It would be internal but dildocam so nothing too invasive (as I can barely feel it when they do that). At the same time, that's a good point, it is something being around the cervix. The Friday scan consultant doesn't know I'm seeing someone else (affair-like!), the only reason I am is because he originally told me to get a stitch and I wanted a second opinion.

Alex, that sounds great! You must be so pleased :)

I can't imagine you would need another scan after 3 days, can't you rearrange for when you come back from holiday?

Have a fab time xx

Oh Alex, that's good news, you can feel much more relaxed off on holiday now! Can't advise on Friday, depends how confident you feel in the consultant you saw already I suppose?

I've got another 2 days of work until a long weekend and can't WAIT. We've canned camping after a dreadful weather forecast and think we've found a cottage to rent, which is a relief for me because I was a bit worried about everyone setting off on nice long walks and me having to choose between going and slowing them down or staying at the tent alone!

Thinking of you all.

Piz

Alex - only comment I would make is if your Friday consultant is your NHS one (I assume as they don't know about each other, the Tues consultant is private, rather the second NHS opinion you are legally obliged to if you want it?), he may want to see you for other reasons? My consultant (NHS) is always combined with urine, blood pressure, growth scan in the twins (appreciate that frequent growth scans isn't normal with a singleton!). Not sure, but although you are obviously mostly concerned with your cervix, the NHS consultant might need to check other aspects?

So jealous of your holiday!!! And yours Piz!!!

Hi ladies - feel for you all with this problem - I had it with my first two but not at all for the next two and hopefully not for this one - I'm19 weeks :)

I had premature contractions with the first two and worked myself into a total frenzy :( which I'm sure just made the whole thing worse. DC1 was 3 weeks early born as soon as I came off the tablets and had sex again :) :) With DC2 I had steroid injections for lung development as from about 30 weeks my doc said she could arrive any day :( I came off the tablets at 37 weeks and she didn't come and she didn't come and she didn't come - she was born at 39+5 in a very fast labour. We moved house and I changed doctors when I told my new doc about my previous problems he examined me and said - you're having a completely normal pregnancy - It was one of the most wonderful things anyone has ever said to me! Had none of the problems with 3 and 4 - in fact they were both late!

Hang in there everybody!

Oh Animol, Congrats on the new pregnancy and thanks for posting! It's very reassuring to think it isn't necessarily going to be like this every time (or I hope just 'both times' for me!) and good to hear your first two did well. It's scary but there are some good stories out there which is reassuring.

Legallyblond, not sure a long weekend in rainy Herefordshire is much to be jealous of, but I work for myself and am wrapping up a project and handing over to the client tomorrow so I'll be able to completely relax which I'm really looking forward to!

Ladies, I need some reassurance if possible....

I had to go to my midwife today which obviously involved getting up, a short drive etc.

Since then, I seem to have an increase in discharge, quite watery. Am completely paranoid that I am leaking amniotic fluid.

Any advice? Is there a smell or something I can check for? Am really worried :(

holly I know our situations are different but I had watery discharge on the weekend. I'm hoping it's normal. I then had my cervix scan on tues and looked ok so hopefully nothing to worry about. Let me know if you find out anything about it. Big hugs.

legally they are both NHS, just a complicated situation. Would be purely a cervix scan on Friday. Am now wondering about the watery discharge again and whether I should be reading more into that.

piz thanks, I will try and relax, I manage for a couple of days and then get worried again!

Oh and enjoy your relaxing break piz I think the cottage was a VERY good shout!

Ok... This is a tmi question that I am too embarrassed to ask in RL!

Like most who have had a stitch, I have been told no sex at all until it is out. I wasn't given reasons, but I assume there are two: aggrevation to the base of the cervix plus the prostaglandin in the sperm that causes contractions/ can provoke labour. But... What about just getting aroused?

Obviously, I and DH will totally abstain if that's best, but, as I gather is common (I was like this last time too!), although I had zero interest in the first trimester and the end of the final trimester, during the second / early third, my hormones went / are going crazy! Is getting aroused ok, or is the whole thing totally off the cards!

Ok... This is a tmi question that I am too embarrassed to ask in RL!

Like most who have had a stitch, I have been told no sex at all until it is out. I wasn't given reasons, but I assume there are two: aggrevation to the base of the cervix plus the prostaglandin in the sperm that causes contractions/ can provoke labour. But... What about just getting aroused?

Obviously, I and DH will totally abstain if that's best, but, as I gather is common (I was like this last time too!), although I had zero interest in the first trimester and the end of the final trimester, during the second / early third, my hormones went / are going crazy! Is getting aroused ok, or is the whole thing totally off the cards!

Oh god, why did that have to post twice!!!???