Short cervix and pregnant again

[Dewdrop2015]

I had a short cervix 1.5cm at 20 weeks with my daughter. Spent 13 weeks in hospital on bedrest. Came off bedrest at 32 weeks and went full term. I'm pregnant again and have been offered a suture at 12-14 weeks or can wait and see. Anyone else been given a choice about this and did you have a suture? Really don't want to spend 3 months in hospital again.

overstretched if I were you I would argue against the whole membrane rupture issue, the pdf I linked to up thread compiled by the Royal college of Obstertics says that there is little evidence of a pProms happening due to the procedure. The risk of pProms comes from infection after the procedure is done. IMO the risk worth it because your chances are greatly increased of having a live baby.
But at your stage I can see why they feel its too late I was boarderline too late at 20 weeks.

Does you hospital have a proper fetal med & Nicu department? If not then I would change your care to a hospital that has both those departments.
My current hospital has done a stitches for those dilating before but my previous hospital wouldn't have the experience or expertise to deal with it and so leave their patients to their fate. There is still a lot that can be done without a stitch but it's vital you get the right medical support and care.

Make it clear you do not agree with it being a 'managed miscarriage' situation you expect them to interven in the pregnancy in order for you to get to viability.

I would also insist on Progestrone the brand name commonly used it Cyclogest. 200mg is the dose but you can be prescribed more.
Can you sac be seen? If it were at my hospital you would be put on tilted bed rest for at least a few weeks and that would also aid you in getting to 24 weeks.

For me strict bed rest meant only getting out of bed to pee and showering once or twice a week so basically 23 hours and 45 minutes a day in bed.

Hi overstretched. I can imagine that you're really stressed. I don't have as much experience as some people here, but was on bed rest five years ago with DC2. At 25 weeks my cervix was at something like 2cm and I was off work, but it shortened further to 1.7cm (I think...hard to remember exactly) and then I was on strict bed rest for the following seven weeks, initially in hospital. The bed rest did stabilize everything - cervix hovered at just under 2cm for a while and eventually went back up to 2.4cm. DC2 was born healthy at 36 weeks.

I would definitely ask for more information on funnelling, and also get them to measure the cervix length again - my doctor normally measures three times in different positions, it can be quite hard to get an accurate reading. I am 25 weeks with DC3 and now taking progesterone and resting a lot - so far this pregnancy things have been fine, but I'm prepared to end up in hospital at some point.

I hope that everything stabilizes and you can get some clear answers on Thursday. Good luck.

Hi everyone,

Honestly thank you so much for getting back to me. As I said we have no experience with this and after speaking with others my dh and I feel very much like this was being handled as a managed miscarriage. It seemed their attitude was 'well baby isn't viable yet so we can't do anything anyway.'
Currently looking into changing hospitals, we have another that is slightly further out but they have fantastic nicu dept so will be getting switched over Asap.

I have an appointment with the midwife tomorrow so will be quizzing her about what else can be done. I have a very active job, I work with schools in central London and need to be signed off, or at the very least working from home it seems.

Never realised how poor/unsupportive the care can be if you don't have a straight forward pregnancy.

I didn't know the cervix could pull itself back, that's really encouraging to hear.

Thanks again for the support and guidance everyone.

My turning point was being signed off and made to bed rest, that along with the preogesterone pessaries which I had 400mg 3 times a day made a massive difference.

You're just two weeks out, so I would get yourself signed off asap, even if you self certify for the first seven days until you see another consultant

Hi all hope everyone is well.

Just wondered if anyone had also had issues with prolapse? My cervix is very low and the doctor (over email, will see them in a few days) said it sounds like a dlihht prolapse of the uterus. Sounds scary and seems odd since my only birth was at 25 weeks. However, within 4 months I've had my cervix stitched twice and given birth so I can imagine it is pretty weak down there. Any advice would be appreciated xxx

Hi I'm about 13.5 weeks. The feeling is like something falling down and I can feel my cervix about 2cm Mac from my vaginally opening. It doesn't help that I'm really constipated too! Just stressed as feel like this is now another complication to worry about

Sorry, bad grammar I mean 2cm max from my vaginal opening. Xx

Thanks Dixie. I should have said as well I can physically feel my cervix low. I checked in the shower (know I shouldnt and I won't again) and it is very low down. Heard people say it can pop back up later in pregnancy. Doing what I can to help my constipation too as that won't be helping I'm sure! X

Hey just wanted to update and had a few questions!

Saw the doc this morning. Ironically I woke up this morning feeling like my cervix had lifted. Had a quick feel and it had! Not to a high position but significantly higher than it was (14.1 today). Anyway doc said uterine prolapse is rare with my history but possible. In any case there's nothing they can do in pregnancy. He also said it I doesn't affect the pregnancy (phew as thought it may put me at more risk of premature birth). . Ironically again, when I got home I got the old low feeling back and convinced it's dropped again! I feel better about it tho and also at least I know it's got the potential to rise and I'm hopeful it will go up and stay up once my uterus grows.

I have a few questions you ladies may be able to help with:

He said he though he would check my cervix abdominally ever spot (3 weekly) he said he didn't want to tell me if its shortened or funnelled unless it becomes an issue. This is on the basis I will stress and now I'm stitched up there's not much more I can do anyway. If it got bad though he would say and put me on strict bed rest/rethink things. I think I am happy with this approach as I've been pretty stressed. Just wondered if any of your docs have suggested the same approach?

I am currently on 200 progesterone rectally each day. He seems keen to up this to maybe 400 twice a day which I'm fine with. So I'll do the 200 for at least the next 3 weeks (until 17 weeks) then up it. Is this in line with what you ladies do?

Most importantly Bump doing well and he thought it was a boy too! X

That sounds like good news, at least that the prolapse is not an immediate threat to your pregnancy!

Just for comparison I'll give you my situation. I'm in Germany, so things are probably slightly different here, but also I've not had such severe problems - I had one premature birth at 32+3 weeks and then a very managed second pregnancy with strict bedrest between 27 and 34 weeks, gave birth at 36+4, so almost at term. My last pregnancy was 5 years ago. This time (I'm currently 27 weeks) I was offered cerclage but chose to try and manage the situation with regular checks and lots of rest. I have been off work since about 18 weeks pregnant, am resting as much as I can and avoiding all unnecessary exercise, and taking progesterone three times a day. My doctor checks the length of the cervix every 14 days and so far it has been stable at 3-4cm but I'm entering the danger zone for me now, so will be very nervous at my next appointment! If it starts to shorten or funnel, I will go into hospital for the steroid injections (lung development in case of premature birth) and probably spend the rest of the time until 34 weeks on fairly strict bed rest. Am really hoping I can avoid this this time though!

How much rest can you get daily April? There's no real evidence that bed rest or resting up really influences the situation, but it makes sense that if you can take the weight off your cervix as the baby gets heavier you can stop it shortening even more quickly. I would also consider pushing for check ups every two weeks, as that seems to be the window of time that it can take from a cervix to go from normal to fairly short.

Good luck with getting the next few weeks under your belt!

Hi all

Willnotbetamed I'm in dubai so different here too! It's all private and so I can go in pretty much as much as I want. My doc said he will check my cervix 3 weekly (maybe more when I get to the danger zone) but just won't tell me if my cervix has shortened on the basis unless he think my treatment should change there's no point.

I am taking it v v easy. I am so paranoid since my loss and am
Not working so spend most of my day either sat or lying down. If we go to the shops I go in a wheelchair. Pretty ott but it makes me feel more comfortable and means I can get out more. When I'm between 20-30 weeks I plan to do even less. It'll be boiling here so no one goes out anyway! Hoping to hibernate then.

Thanks all for prolapse advice. Mines odd since it's just come on during pregnancy and because I've only had one very small baby. Ah well seems to be getting better for now at least!! X

Feeling so sad. My SIL just had her baby, very late and at almost 10Ibs. I am happy for them but so sad. It just brings everything back and is so upsetting that she had such an easy time and we didn't get to keep our baby. I am dreading all the fuss and everything. I live far away so that's my only comfort. Life is so so unfair.

I'm so sorry for your loss April and hoping that time will fly for you until 26 weeks, when you can start to slowly unclench and look forward to your baby. It's really hard...my sister had an MMC very recently, and that brought it home to me how unfair things are. She had been TTC for quite a while for DC2 and I felt like it should have been me to miscarry (expecting DC3 now and no problems conceiving) rather than her. Fingers firmly crossed for you that things go well this time. Keep us updated here!

Anyone around on here today? I'm now 29+3 and starting to panic a bit. My last appointment was ten days ago, cervix was 3cm (so shortening slowly, but still not dangerous) with no funnelling. I have next appointment on Wednesday. But last week or two I have had loads of braxton hicks, lots of sharp stabbing pains in cervix/vagina (especially when walking) and the feeling that the baby is heavy and is pushing down on my cervix. I don't really want to go and get checked in hospital this bank holiday weekend - it would mean lots of sitting around and another examination, and in theory every two weeks should be enough to 'catch' any trouble in time, right? But I'm still feeling very nervous. Does anyone have any reassurance for me? If I can just get through the next four weeks...

@kirstylouise20 Hey, I know this thread is 5 years old so chances are you may not see this at all! I am really worried too in the same boat as you! I am in the UK and my cervical length was measured at 3.9 3 weeks ago and now at 19 weeks it's just over 3 ! They told me not to worry and this is fine and they will not need to monitor. Did you go on to have a healthy pregnancy in the end without any stitches etc ? I have been googling and it has not helped anxiety levels! Thanks