cervical fibroids

[1sttimemomma]

Hi, wondering if anyone had any thoughts/advice/experience in this area? I went for my first scan today and they found 6cm and 3.5cm cervical fibroids. They're going to monitor these throughout the pregnancy with extra scans which is good, but although they are aiming for a 'natural birth' still, I may need a C-section. Has this happened to anyone else?

Hi didnt want to leave your post unanswered. I have uterine fibroids found out 6 months before I fell pregnant. I also have a fibroid on my cervics but they havnt mentioned it for a while.
I have been told that fibroids can stop the uterus from contracting properly and can also stop the baby from moving. I guess cervical fibroids could stop the cervics from opening properly.
Ive been told that I could have a C-section aswell, not really sure how I feel about it really, just wish I could be told straight out instead of all this maybe.

I was sent to see a consultant at around 20 weeks, and I shall be seeing one again in 2 weeks time. Im currently 30 weeks. I guess you will be sent to a consultant at some point to monitor the fibroids and to discuss your options.

Sometimes fibroids can stop growing in pregnancy sometimes they carry on growing. Theres a lot to monitor really, but then again I hear all the time that people give birth and then find out they had fibroids all along and never knew.

I will say and I hope it doesnt scare you but I have sufferef from fibroid degeneration, was the most painful thing I have ever expereinced. I hope you dont go through this. Sorry maybe shouldnt have mentioned it.

I've got a fibroid that they found at my 12-week scan. They were/are not really concerned with it, but are keeping an eye on it (or so they say). It's very common, and most of the time they don't cause any problems, esp if they are not growing. They will re-measure at your subsequent scans. So I wouldn't really worry about it! No one has mentioned to me yet that it will in any way affect my birth options.

I probably should have said, I have several uterine fibroids, Ive got so many that the Midwife can never feel the baby during my appointments. Everytime she feels the bump she says oh theres the babies head, and then she looks at me and says oh no thats a fibroid isnt it. So my situation is different as I have so many.

They couldnt see my fibroids at my second scan appointment, and the consultant said as the baby grows it can be hard to find them on them on the scan. So guess have to wait and see what he says next time i see him.

Have you been told if they are on the inside, outside or in the cervic wall?

Thanks for your posts, nice to know it's not just me. It says on my notes "in the cervix", there are two others outside higher up. I suppose the hospital are being careful as they've booked in extra growth scans at 28, 32,36 weeks to monitor this. Just kind of puts a downer on the whole exciting scan today doesn't it when you're told you're 'high risk' . It was lovely to see baby today and know that at least he/she was ok ... Hope that everything goes ok with your pregnancies both of you (fingers crossed) xx

Wow your health care sounds better than mine, if theyve already booked you in for growth scans. Im going to have to kick and scream for mine I just know I am. Nobody seams to bothered but when they talk about what could happen it does scare me a bit.
Im just one of those people who likes to know, I mean Im measuring 4 weeks over my 30 weeks and have been told it could be the fibroids, well if it is can I have a scan to tell me it is? No I have to wait till I see the consultant who really doesnt care.

Sorry just realised Im ranting, Im a bit frustrated this morning.

They did not book me any extra scans because of the fibroids either. I did get an extra growth scan, though, because I was measuring 4 weeks too big for my stage, greenzebra! That's when they checked the fibroid again and measured it, it hadn't grown at all.

1sttimemomma - I guess it depends on their position, maybe cervical fibroids will more likely interfere with the birth? Have you spoken to the midwife/consultant about it? Don't be afraid to ask, that's what they're there for, and it's ultimately your concern.

Interresting, yours hadnt grown I hope mine are the same, the more I think about a C -section the more I dont want one.

Hi Greenzebra. I also have multiple fibroids, which, fortunately, haven't caused me any problems in my pg and I'm due in two days.

In my case, the largest is 12cm and the others are around 6cm and 9cm. All are, I think, intramural. The smallest one is behind the cervix, but at my 36-week scan, the doctor said it shouldn't affect a natural delivery. The only thing everyone (doctors and midwives) advises is that I have a managed third stage delivery because the fibroids can cause severe bleeding when the placenta is delivered. This means I have to go to the labour ward rather than the birth centre, so can't have a water birth. Oh well. I thought early on that I may need to have a c-section bc of the fibroids, but avoiding that would be a big enough plus in my book that I don't mind missing out on the water experience.

Like 1sttimemomma, I had extra scans at 28, 32 and 36 weeks to monitor things, so you should be able to get the same. Of course, every situation is different and the docs can't predict how your fibroids will change over the course of your pregnancy. If they're blocking your cervix, then you may need to have a c-section, but if they're not, you may be fine having a vaginal delivery. Good luck!

I have two small fibroids - about the size of golfballs. I was offered a managed third stage - which I needed as I lost a lot of blood. I don't know if it was the fibroids or the fact that I tore. Te consultants weren't worried pre birth - I assume because it wasn't too serious?

Greenzebra - you rant as much as you like!We all seem to be in the same boat. I've never had to have an operation before (luckily) and the thought of a c-section scares me too..esp when they mention the 'possibility of haemorraging'. I know that ultimately its whats best for baby I'll go with but you can't help but worry.

Jbird the midwife and consultant were both very nice and explained the 'possibilities' clearly. I guess I must be a control freak as its annoying that there's nothing I can do to sort this out myself. Looks like I'm going to have to wait and see if they grow/shrink/degenerate/etc the hard way like everyone else.

edeluna thanks for your input - will you let us know how you get on? I think its too early to see if mine are blocking the cervix hence the growth scans planned for the future. I only know they're there as they were picked up on my first ultrasound yesterday. Good luck with the little bump!! xx

thanks 1sttimemomma sometimes I feel that all I do talk about is the fibroids. Im a bit obsessed, but I think thats coz its an unknown. It is nice to hear others stories.
It is annoying though when your midwife seams alittle concerned and wonders why the consultant hasnt referred you for more scans. And the Consultant doesnt seam to care a jot. But both times I have been for the 12 week and 20 weeks scan the sonographer was surprised at the fibroids and how many I had considering Im only 30. I just want more information, Im gunning myself up for the next consultant appointment, I need some questions answered and if I dont then Im going to ask my midwife to refer me to another consultant.

I hope yours is good news and they are not blocking your cervix.

C-section didnt used to scare me, my mum had one for my little brother,it was an emergency one but she said it was the best birthing experince she had! But as the due date gets closer I get more and more nervous about it. I suppose I just want to know either way, then I can prepare properly.

How many weeks do you have to wait till your next scan?

My next scan is at 20 weeks so 7 weeks away. Just waiting for my.. gulp.. results of the nuchal fold test. I'm 36 so thought might be wise. That's my first hurdle.

If its any consolation the midwife said yesterday that she'd seen someone last week in her early 20s who had loads, and that she was surprised I'd 'caught' in the first place. Only took 4 months?? Let's hope we're the exceptions to the rule eh?

Nice to meet someone who's as obsessed about all this as I am.... Perhaps my husband won't tell me I'm so neurotic now!

I know what you mean about wanting to know...but I guess it's just guess work for them too...? Sounds like it might be an idea to use everyone's experiences with extra scans to push for your own?

I feel the same way finding someone else whose going thru it and is a little obsessed, makes me feel a whole lot better.

Im sure the nuchal fold test is fine, remember if you dont hear anything then all is good! I didnt hear anything for ages, turned out they had misplaced my results, my midwife was furious. But everything was fine.
I loved my second scan, seeing the baby properly and it looked more like a baby, it was magical and seeing the little tear my DH had down his cheek.

I had a baby last summer and in my 12 weeks scan they found a fibroid measuring 10x9x8cm and blocking the cervix.
They were quite suprised I didnt know about it before.
It stayed there all through my pregnancy and only got smaller by 1 cm.

I was told throughout my pregnancy that I would probably end up having a c-section. So completely prepared myself for this, even to the extent of missing my pain relief/labour antenatal class!
I was offered a 36 week scan and during this they saw it had moved and I now had to have a vaginal birth.
Everything was fine but as was mentioned before, I did loose alot of blood (1ltr) which is quite common with women with large fibroids.

During my pregnancy I did suffer from fibroid degeneration which lasted 2 weeks. It was painful but I put off going to the hospital for a week. Wish I hadnt though because as soon as I had their painkillers I felt a million times better!
The Drs said that if this is going to happen its more likely during weeks 20-28 of your pregnancy.
Hope that doesnt scare you but just go to the hospital if you get any pain!

Afterwards the Drs said they wouldnt do anything about the fibroid as it had never caused me any problems before and it wasnt difficult for me to conceive

Thanks for that Hazbo that's really helpful to know that. Hearing other people's stories helps to reassure and put things into context as opposed to the 'possibility' of things happening...or not. Congratulations on the birth of your baby