Question about cervix after you have had a section

[AliBingo]

I know that after you have a vaginal birth, the cervix never closes up completely again, but what happens if you dilate to say 9cm and then have a section, would it close up fully then? Is it the pregnancy, dilation of cervix or baby passing through the cervix which deems it un-completelycloseable?

Sorry for such a random question, and I wasn't sure where to post it (here or chat) but I figured that people here may know the answer.

Was chatting with friend earlier and we started wondering and I told her Mumsnet might know!

Anyone? :/

Be interested to know. I didn't get as far as 6cm; took 48 hours to get to 5, and ended up with an EMCS. I wonder what the old cervix is up to? :)

Wow does it really never close again after vaginal birth?

I did not know that ...

Ohh I hope someone clever comes along with the answer soon. I only ever made it to a measly 2cm before having EMCS but interested to know now !

I had a coil fitted in 2011 when ds2 was three. He was ny second section. First I only got to two cm. With him I got to roughly the whole way when his 99th centile head wouldn't fit.

I can safely say mine is still clamped shut. Even the Gp fitting my coil was amazed. Not even a teeny bit open. Coil fitting completely spasmed it and she's refused to remove and refit the same day as my cervix is too tight.

Yeah I think I am a bit freaked out that mine is supposedly open (but how open?!) And that's what started me wondering lol. Was hoping there might be an obstetrician or someone here who could help!

Don't worry, your cervix is not still open like a baby birds mouth! It closes up pretty we quickly.

You can tell the difference between a cervix that has been dilated in child birth (even if not delivered baby this way). A nulliparous cervix looks like a circle with a dot in the middle. A parous cervix looks like a circle with a slit in the middle cos it's been previously stretched.

Ahh thanks Gin! So it,s not gaping open as such just not as tightly closed. I guess I can risk raking a bath again now without stressing :)

i got to 8cm then had a c section. when i had my coil fitted the dr said 'ah yes, i can see you dilated' and the fitting was pain free. hope that helps.

I got to 10cm with my ds, then had a section. When I had a mirena coil fitted at 10 weeks post partum, the GP said if she didn't know I had a DS, she wouldn't have thought I'd had any babies as my cervix didn't look any different from a nulliparous woman's!!!

Sounds like everyone's cervix varies then.

I've had two planned sections, never been in labour... I'm never having a coil fitted :o

Shudder, I can't bear the thought of that (I am a huge wuss though!)

No idea on the OP's questions but... your cervix opens up a bit every month around ovulation anyway - otherwise no way for those little swimmers to get up there :)

Yep, knitting, and to let your period blood out!