Cervical length (have had cone biopsy) - worried

[Gingerbreadpixie]

I went to EPU this morning (not at my regular hospital, another one with a better EPU, IMO) as I've been having some brown spotting and weird pains. I had a cone biopsy about 4 years ago and this is my 1st pg so I'm quite concerned about my cervix and it's ability to withstand the pg.

I told the sonographer my concerns and she was happy to do an abdominal scan to check bubba (all fine!) and an internal TV scan to check cervix.

When I had my cervix checked at 13 weeks, I got a measurement of around 4.5 cm. At my scan today at nearly 16 weeks, it was 2.9cm. This sounds like a big decrease for so early on but the sonographer said it was still "normal". Should I be concerned?? I'm being scanned again in 2 weeks time at my regular hopsital and seeing my midwife this week too so will tell her then.

Does this sound like something to be concerned about at this stage? I've read that cervix lengths can change daily and even "grow", I hope this is the case. If anyone has any experience in this area and can offer advice, it would be very helpful. Thanks.

x

I'm in a similar boat, have had two lletz biopsies and not much cervix left. Mine measures 2.5 cams and I'm only 10 weeks, just waiting to see if I need a cerclage.

My doctor was very calm and said even with just 2.5 I might be ok without the cerclage and wasn't panicking or worried at all.

So I don't have an exact answer but it sounds like your cervix is still long enough. Good luck! It's so hard not to worry, like the biopsies weren't bad enough....they come back to haunt us.

I haven't had biopsies so I know my worries weren't the same, but when pregnant with DS I was told that my cervix was a little on the short side and I was monitered until 24 weeks. I can't remember the exact length, but it was under 2cm.

They weren't overly worried, and said that they had seen much shorter (under 1cm) that had gone full term. I didn't have a stitch, although I did have fetal fibronectin (sp) tests every couple of weeks.

I was also told that some variation was normal, and that studies show that cervical length alone is not a good predictor of pre-term birth. I gave birth at 38 weeks to a baby that was over 9lbs.

Oh i just wrote out a long reply and lost it. Thanks internet!!

Anyway, I appreciate your replies.

Kelly - sorry you're going through this too. How come you're being monitored from 10 weeks? I booked my first appt at 13 weeks and was told id made the appt too early as there's not much point checking me before 18 weeks. But I'm glad I had it looked at early as I had no idea what I'd been left with after my cone biopsy.

Browneyes - thanks for sharing your story too, it is reassuring.

I guess it's a wait and see situation. I'm looking into info on the progesterone treatment as an alternative to a stitch as apparently it has no risks associated (as far as I've read so far!)

hello gingerbread! i'm being monitored from 10 weeks as i started bleeding at 6 weeks...i live in the middle east and am private - i pay through the nose for my appointments (going to cost around 8k GBP in total to give birth etc!) the upside is i can see the doc whenever i like.

i'm also on progesterone, 400 mg pessary each night. so far no bleeding and all seems well. really don't want the stitch!

best of luck with everything xxxx

Thanks Kelly. £8k actually sounds quite reasonable for a private birth and care actually! I'm with an NHS hospital but have private healthcare through work so I'm going to look into whether it covers any pregnancy issues. I'm just really nervous to have heard stories that the NHS will wait till you've lost 1 or 2 babies before they'll really take action on incompetent cervix. I don't know if that's true but if I get the feeling not enough's being done I want an alternative route.