Short cervix at 16 weeks

[YouAndMeAreGoingToFallOut]

I had two LLETZ treatments for abnormal cervical cells in 2014, and was advised by my consultant that I now have a short cervix.

I am now 16+3 with my first baby, and had a transvaginal cervical length scan this afternoon. The sonographer advised that my cervix is 2.4cm (normal is 3cm and up). She said that when I see my midwife next week, I will be referred for a further scan, probably at 20 weeks. There was no sign of funnelling or opening.

I'm really worried. I know that the key issue is whether or not there is shortening, rather than the length of the cervix per se. Has anyone had a successful outcome with a short cervix? I'm terrified I will lose the baby before the next scan, or that there will be further shortening but it will be too late for a stitch or any treatment.

I had a measurement of 26mm at 13 weeks, and was frankly terrified - like you I thought I would lose the baby before I got through the 8 weeks until the next scan.

But I did read that the cervix can lengthen as well as shorten, and sure enough, at my most recent scan (22 weeks) it's up to 36mm, and all alerts are off.

I tried to reassure myself that -statistically - a stitch or other treatment has it's own risk of loss, and that my cervix was still long enough that it was safer not to have treatment, and that they were monitoring me, which was the best they could do.

It's no fun waiting it out though.

Your cervix can grow. But usually when it gets below 2.5cm they put in a cervical stitch.

I lost my first born due to cervical weakness at 23 weeks. Dilated to 10cm without knowing.

I had my an emergency stitch place at 17 weeks with my 2nd pregnancy after my cervix shortened from 2.5cm to 1.2cm over night. The stitch was removed at 36+6 and she was born 5 days later.

I have a stitch in this pregnancy, it was placed at 15 weeks and my cervix was 2.4cm will be removed on Monday.

Look up a Cervical Cerclage- maybe suggest it to your midwife?

I am seeing the midwife on Tuesday morning (will be 17+1) and will discuss it with her. At the very minimum I would like to be rescanned earlier if at all possible - waiting until 20 weeks to see what's going on seems like too much of a risk.

I'd definitely asked to be rescanned to make sure. But your cervix can grow during pregnancy

When my cervix shortened from 3.4 at 23 weeks to 2.4 at 24 weeks I was booked in for weekly scans and given progesterone pessaries. I would definitely push for an earlier scan. The progesterone and rest got me to full term and my DD is now 7 1/2 months.