Do I have an incompetant cervix?

[apples82]

Some advice please ladies...

I'm 13+3 with DC1. A few years ago I had diathermy loop treatment where a portion of my cervix was taken for biopsy.

My MW has already said that in the later stages of pregnancy I may need to have my cervix stitched as my cervix may not take the weight of the pregnancy.

But i've been reading more and more recently about women losing babies in earlyish pregnancy (14-18 weeks) because of an incompetant cervix.

Does the fact that I had this biopsy done, does mean that I now have an incompetant cervix?

Should I be asking the MW for stitches earlier on to prevent possible MC?

They don't diagnose an incompetant cervix until you have had a loss sadly. I have a loop and was monitored very well throughout my pregnancy, had my cervix measured and swabs taken, and steroids for babies lungs (didn't need a stitch in my case) I made it to 39+1. The only thing I do have which some may see as a bonus is once I labour I progress quickly.

You will be seen by a consultant I am sure who will give you all the advice you need, mine was around 16 weeks.

Hope everything goes well in your pregnancy.

If I were you I'd raise this with my GP and ask him to flag it to your consultant.

I've had two cervical sutures and I had both of mine at around 14 weeks iirc.

Where are you geographically?

Congratulations on your pregnancy by the way. :)

I was accidently booked in for a scan to measure the length of my cervix last week (when what I was really meant to be booked for was an endo-anal scan). When they were booking the cervix scan (I was desperately trying to explain it was the wrong scan!), they seemed to think that I needed to have the scan within the next few weeks (i.e. by around 15 weeks preg....). If your midwife is a bit slow arranging things, I would say either visit your gp this week if you can, or could you call your day assessment unit or obs & gyn unit (call the same number your would call to book your 20week scan, or visit the same hospital dept you visit to book 20wk scan, I know it works differently around the country) and ask for them to book a scan for you....I'm on pregnancy no.3 now, and have learnt that you sometimes have to take your care into your own hands in order to get stuff done & sorted. The woman who shouts loudest is the woman who gets heard & treated first!! GOod luck, and dont worry about making a fuss about anything during pregnancy....babe comes first!!

Others are right if she didn't mention a Consultant I would get her to refer you, my cervical scan was done just before my 16 week appointment so he had everything he needed when he saw me.

I was given the impression the suture depends on how much of the cervix was taken, which is recorded at the biopsy so you may well like me not require a suture but you will be monitored throughout, if that offers any reasurrance at all.

It not strictly true that they don't diagnose IC untill after a loss. I have IC due to LLETZ procedures and have never had a late loss but both of my DC were premature.

I had a failed stitch at 22 weeks with my DS. Stitches are better done earlier.

LOTS of people have LLETZ procedures and dont end up having losses or premature babies, the vast vast majority infact, but it it something that most definately needs to be kept an eye on. You ought to be having cervical length scans between 14 and 22 ish weeks.

Sorry, I did mean to write loss or premature birth

Thank you all, I think I shall talk to the MD at my 16 week appointment. I don't want to get far down the line and realise I could have done something to prevent problems.

Thank you all.

Oh and don't google I googled like mad and pooped, don't do it.

I don't think it's much of a risk if you have only had one procedure, but it depends on how much was removed, and how long your cervix was to begin with. I had a Loop recently and really had to nag to get a cervical scan done. They can measure and then decide if you need a stitch, but AFAIK the stitch needs to be done quite early on as it can carry its own risk being put in later. My was just about long enough (by 3mm!) so I didn't need the stitch, but it really put my mind at rest.

I have been warned however that it could cause a very quick labour, or could prevent my cervix from dilating and I will need a c-sec. These are things that I won't know until I am in labour though.

I'm 37 weeks now.

Wow 37 weeks now FanilliaFudge, do let us know how you go!

I shall ask at my MW to arrange a scan for me at the hospital, I just don't want to run the risk by not knowing.

Yes do, I found I was panicking over the slightest twinge until I knew for sure everything was OK 'down there'! I really did have to nag though, in the end I contacted the hospital directly.

Hi apples, I was just mentioning this to another lady. I have an IC and have had stitches put in place (I am 17+4 weeks pregnant). I have to admit this was only discovered after I went to see a private Dr after having 3 MC's, the NHS didn't offer me any tests and were frankly very insensitive. But when I first met my midwife for my booking appt I told her I have been diagnosed with an IC and she moved very quickly to get me seen by the necessary Drs. I now have weekly internal scans on my cervix to measure the length. And the stitches seem to be working! If I were you TELL don't ask your midwife or Dr that you would like to have weekly cervical scans because you are understandably anxious. That way if there is any change in your cervical length it can be picked up quickly and the necessary things done. I had my stitches put in place around 14 weeks, as they had noticed a change in length. Goodluck!

My experience might reassure you. During 2009 I had two biopsies and then LLETZ to remove my whole transformation zone on the cervix. I conceived DS a few months later. At my first cervical scan I was measuring borderline short (2.6) and there was talk of cervical stitches and steroids etc, but by the next scan my cervix had lengthened and few mm and it lengthened even more by the next scan. They said he could well come 2-3wks early though and theres a chance I wouldn't dilate fully due to scar tissue,but ds only came 3 days early, which as dd was born before treatment and was a week early is pretty much term for me, labour was identiocle to dds aswell, normal dilation etc. I worried so much about every twinge (sheer panic at 23 wks when I was leaking clear fliuid and had pains in my cervix, I was sure my waters were leaking and labour had started - turns out it was just an infection). But everything was fine despite all the worry! Hope it all goes well for you too,odds are it will be fine.

Thanks LittleB, that's what i'm thinking, every twinge is a question mark for me.

Because i'm an impatient sod, I've just rung my MW to ask about it. She told me (by coincidence) that she sent the letter off yesterday requesting an appointment for me. So she seems to be on the ball .

Phew, she said I should hear in about ten days when my appointment is going to be.

Thats great news apples! You have a much better MW than me! Hope everything goes well for you

Is LLETZ different to a diathermy loop treatment? Or are they the same thing?

I had LLETZ in Sept last year, and found out I was pregnant in December (unplanned) - a couple of people have told me that it can make you conceive quicker. Not sure if thats true or not.

I told my MW about the LLETZ during our first appt and she said to wait for a letter to see the consultant at around 20 weeks. I'm now 21 weeks and nothing.

Everytime I've been to the hospital for scans etc they book me in with a Dr to discuss it...yet everytime I go it's a different doc who obviously doesnt have a clue why I'm there, so I explain about the LLETZ - and then all they do is book me in for another appointment which I turn up for, and then it's a different doc again. I've been 4 times so far, and each one has said that they will request notes from the hospital where I had the treatment, and then they will look at the cervical length during my next visit.

I'm finding them worse than useless and I'm a bit worried because I read on this thread that if I was to need stitches, that they are best done earlier. Problem is, I have no idea how much of the cervix they took away.

I really, really want a homebirth - do you think this would hinder my chances? Hope not.

ct148 I wonder if its worth trying to get your GP on the case as well to request the notes?

I'm going to be facing the same thing as mine was done at another hospital so my notes are there.

I would definitely get your GP on the case today -- don't leave it to discuss with the consultant at the 16 week appt. If it was me, I would write a letter to the GP today and cc your consultant and your midwife/midwifery team so that they are all aware that your cervix is possibly compromised and can agree a plan. I suspect this will be weekly or fortnightly cervical scans.

I had my first cervical measurement scan at 12 wks and the following scan a week later revealed the neck of my cervix had shortened, quite alarmingly. A suture was organised v speedily. You might not need a scan or a stitch but don't delay getting it flagged-up.

Good luck.

Thank you Onky. I'm hoping now that the appointment with the consultant comes through quite speedily. I'm 13+3 now so anxious that if something needs to be done then it should be sooner rather than later.