Cervical stitch advice

[Alexandra6]

Hi, I've only had one LLETZ treatment and they don't check the cervix as standard after one treatment. However I insisted the consultant take a look and he had a look and felt around with his fingers, and then said his advice would be to have a stitch now (at 13 weeks) as I'd had a fair amount removed. He didn't actually do a scan or anything so I asked if he can do a scan to try and check the length first (to be more accurate) and he agreed. So I'm now booked in for that scan and the surgery two days later at Homerton. I'm just looking for stories/support really, anyone with advice or good/bad experiences of stitches. Feeling and scared.

Thanks allbelly I could cry again with happiness at your story! Maybe regular scanning is the way forward rather than panicking and getting an elective stitch early with my measurements (he reckoned it was about 300mm today roughly but said it was hard to see as the placenta is low). Am going to insist on scans every two weeks (and weekly if it gets any shorter.

Managed to find the survey for you! Is based on 800 women so pretty huge. Copied topline results for you here. Basically you need to have a cervix significantly shorter than the average in the first trimester (31mm) to deliver preterm. Hope your not worrying to much alex

OBJECTIVES:
The purpose of this study was to examine the evolution of cervical length from the first to second trimester of pregnancy and the value of first-trimester cervical measurement in the prediction of preterm delivery.

METHODS:
We conducted a longitudinal prospective study. Cervical length was measured by transvaginal sonography at 11 to 14 weeks (Cx1), 16 to 19 weeks (Cx2), and 20 to 24 weeks (Cx3).

RESULTS:
Eight hundred singleton pregnancies were studied. The median cervical lengths were 33 mm for Cx1 and 31 mm for Cx2 and Cx3. Significant independent predictors for cervical length were maternal weight, height, and history of cervical surgery for Cx1, maternal height, history of cervical surgery, and history of preterm delivery for Cx2, and history of cervical surgery, history of first-trimester miscarriage, and history of spontaneous preterm delivery for Cx3. Mean cervical length shortening was 2.36 mm between Cx1 and Cx3. In the subgroups of women with previous cervical surgery and history of previous preterm birth, cervical shortening was significantly more prominent. The median Cx1 was significantly shorter in the women who subsequently delivered preterm; Cx1 predicted preterm delivery before 34 weeks (odds ratio, 0.746; 95% confidence interval, 0.649-0.869) and preterm delivery before 32 weeks (odds ratio, 0.734; 95% confidence interval, 0.637-0.912)

firstday that is so amazingly reassuring but so different to what I read earlier here which says that anything less than 4cm near enough guarantees very preterm, I don't get how they can be so different?! What do you think? Thanks for your help

www.obgynnews.com/specialty-focus/infertility/single-article-page/first-trimester-cervical-length-predicts-ivf-preterm-deliveries.html

www.obgynnews.com/specialty-focus/infertility/single-article-page/first-trimester-cervical-length-predicts-ivf-preterm-deliveries.html

Sorry as a link x

Interesting reading - I had one lletz in 2009 and with my first pg in 2010 they measured my cervix at 12 weeks and were happy with it (can't remember what the length was). That pregnancy went fine (srom at 38 weeks, dilated well).
I've since had one mc at 12 weeks and am now 19 weeks pg. I told the midwife my history at my booking and she hardly mentioned it and didn't recommend anything about cervical length. When I saw the consultant last week she was surprised that I hadn't had the length checked and has asked that it is measured at my anomoly scan (next Monday at 19+2). She thought that the MW may have been falsely reassured by my successful pregnancy....
If there is a problem is it too late to do anything? Will it be difficult to measure this late?

Nope someone in my office had a stitch at 23 weeks. There are different policies and lots of different evidence out there, that's what I'm really struggling with. I've been told to wait and see by one consultant and to get a stitch for peace of mind by another as it's "quite short". Can you remember roughly what your first 12 wk measurement was? Would just be really helpful to know, don't worry if not.

I would ask them to keep an eye. Though I can see that if you didn't have cervix issues last time, they might be presuming all is fine, but you can ask them to check. I don't THINK your 12 wk mc would be related to incompetent cervix purely as the baby is so small then but I could well be wrong. Good luck.

Anyone else out there pls post any cervix measurement/birth stories as it's so helpful, thanks!

Thank you, I can't remember the length but think it was under 5cm. I'll see if I have it noted anywhere.

Eek that's much longer than my 3cm if it was just under 5cm!

No no I really can't remember! I just have a vague recollection that it was something less than 5cm, and as they weren't worried I didn't bother to note it.

My entire cervix measures 6cm but the bit that my OB thinks is important is 3.8 which apparently is textbook. That isn't a stealth boast ;-) I'm just pointing out that there are different parameters in measuring the cervix, so Pseudo's consultant probably measured her entire cervix. It's just a different way of doing it.