Cervical length - so worried

[sw25]

Hi there. I'm currently 23 weeks pregnant and because of previous cone biopsy, I am having cervical length scans.

My first was at 21 weeks when it measured 28mm. My second scan, today, was 25.7mm (although the sonographer told me it was 23mm). Two sonographers had to take turns as apparently I have a tricky cervix to measure. I saw my consultant afterwards who presented me with a scan picture that stated the 25.7mm measurement. The consultant seems to be going with this higher measurement, which is worrying me a bit.

Anyway, she is very cautious/reluctant to place a stitch yet. I am going back again next week when she said if she saw a significant decrease again, only then would she consider the stitch (there was no sign of funnelling).

I'm concerned as 24 weeks seems late for a stitch, plus I just keep imagining my cervix thinning out rapidly over next few days and going into labour. Should I get a second opinion privately? This watch and wait approach is all very well but I feel I'm just waiting for the inevitable. Not sure how to cope with the worry. This is my first and probably last baby so I am petrified. Any positive stories welcome!

hello sw25

so sorry to hear you're going through this. there's a few threads about this at the moment (below in case they help), there has actually been talk of starting a Short Cervix Club!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/a1744177-Cerclage-with-very-short-cervix-and-negative-doctor-help

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/a1756587-Cervical-Length-again

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/a1766226-Cervix-length

I had a stitch at 14 weeks with a cervix lenght of between 2, 2.5 and less than 1 in places (they didn't know that bit util the surgery.) very happy i had it done, no regrets at all.

Thanks Kelly. Yes we should start a club. I'm very glad for you that you had the stitch put in so early. I'm not sure what the success rate is for one put in at 24 weeks. I'm also really confused about the whole bedrest thing. Everything I read about women going through this in America says that strict bedrest is advised for anything measuring below 2.8cm. But my consultant is still saying I don't need bedrest and I'm measuring 2.3-2.5. Don't know whether to get second opinion - feel helpless. Plus one of the sonographers was really rough and my cervix feels sore and has shooting pains. I'm just lying here in bed not knowing what to do. It's awful.

Hello sw25 I've got a thread about it running on here, if you scroll down on the pregnancy page you can see it. I'm really anxious as I had a LLETZ and am 14 weeks, and following cervix scans, I've been unsure what to do and given conflicting opinions about a precautionary stitch.

I've also done a LOT of googling research, we're talking hours and hours. I'm a bit suspicious about how they measure the cervix as having had two scans a day apart this week, the measurements came out differently, so I think a lot of it depends on the scan and opinion of the specialist, that's just my feeling about it.

The worst result I was given this week was 24mm which is less than yours is now. I've read a cervix usually shortens during pregnancy so starting off with less is obviously not good. So as you're further along than me, and your cervix seems a bit longer, I think that might be better for you. A consultant told me that he doesn't think I should get a precautionary stitch (and now would be the safest time) based on my measurements alone. So at least you and I are getting the same advice there. I am worried about leaving it to the point where I MIGHT need an emergency stitch as they are harder to do, but at the same time the advice I've been given is that it isn't worth the small risks unless you're sure you need it. It is hard to trust advice as so much it based on previous loss/history and I'm sure you feel the same as me in that you need to be cautious with this baby.

It sounds like you're being scanned weekly which is good. Also, a couple of women on my other thread have said the cervix doesn't just shorten, it can actually lengthen which gave me hope, plus I did hear that a short cervix doesn't necessarily mean incompetent. I've been reading about bed rest but it seems to be advised more in the states, there's no clear evidence for it but I have read on forums that women think modified bed rest helped their cervix lengthen.

I think you and I are in the same boat but at different stages, so please let me know how you get on. It took me 15 months to get pregnant with clomid and I'm really anxious too and also looking for positive stories. Sorry for the long post but I am slightly obsessed with worrying thinking about this at the moment!