1cm dilation at 6 months. Anyone been there?

[sputnik]

I've just been told my cervix is dilated by 1cm. I'm 6 months pg. I've been prescribed something to relax the uterus and told to take it easy. Anyone had this? How worried should I be?

Is this what is known as an "incompetant cervix"? If so, my cousin's wife had this. She was sentenced to bed rest and was none too happy about it. But, the prenancy went full term and everything was fine.

Was wondering that. There are a few threads about that I noticed. if so then that's reassuring, thanks.

is this your first baby?

No, second. With DD I gave birth at 38 weeks, but was 1-2cm dilated 2 or 3 weeks beforehand.

your cervix does not ever fully close once it has dilated, and you are often 1 cm dilated for evermore IIRC......

incompetent cervix usually means the cervix opens and birth occurs somewhere around 20 + weeks...

i might be totally wrong, hope you are ok and get to term ! x

My cousin's wife had it bit worse with each subsequent pregnancy. It was her third pregnancy tha she was sent to bed rest. I don't know if you want to know this, but they also sewed her shut until near time to give birth.

Well as long as it's just the cervix they sew shut, that's ok

it is the cervix, called a cervical cerclage or stitch, it is usually done much earlier on IIRC.......if you feel concerned re the amount of info you have, and whether it is indeed an incompetent cervix, or simply a cervix that is slightly dilated due to previous childbearing, you need to know ! you could call the midwife and get more info, put your mind at rest.

Sputnik, Don't panic please. I was told this with dd, dc no.2. I am in France and mthy internals were part of the care then. I was 29 weeks pregnant when she told me this. Had me in complete panic, didn't want me to go on our holiday, told me to take it easy and that I was high risk for a pre-term birth. Yeah right. Dd was induced in the end at 41+4.

Exactly as lulu says, with 2nd or subsequent pregnancys your cervix doesn't always close tight. I am now 33 weeks pregnant with no.3 and have been told I am 1cm dialated again, this time however the midwife has said that she has since understood the above, and is not worried at all.

I didn't need a stitch, and dd was in NO hurry to arrive come term.

Thanks for those reassuring messages. I am in italy and get a monthly internal check too, and was ok up til now. I think I have had some mild contractions but mistook them for muscle and ligament pain, hoping that taking it easy will sort that out.

Being checked internally every month isn't necessary and might not help if you are starting to dilate as a pre cursor to early labour. With ds1 (2nd baby) I was 1 cm for months before and I only knew because I went in at about 22 weeks with contractions, all was fine though. Consultant said that women on 2nd and subsequent babies always have slightly open cervixs and that it's nothing to worry about.

Incompetent cervix would happen a lot sooner than 6 months.

JodieG1, you are so right. My midwife in France has just fought this corner in her general seminar and won. In our area now the policy has changed and we are now only examined from 6 mths. I'm not sure even this is necessasary but 3mths without examination is a step forward.

Try not to worry sputnik, I'm sure all will be fine.

i was 2 cm at 32 weeks and went to term

i wonder why monthly VEs are done? i mean, all it has done for you is worry you, plus every time you have it done, it is fiddling with your cervix...not always a terribly pleasant experience

there is an argument no VEs should be done in labour, for example, as an experienced midwife would know from your body, your expressions, your sounds, if you are approaching established labour, full dilation etc..

i am sure you can refuse a VE, sputnik....

hope you are feeling more reassured

i was dilating at 7 months, a twingy funny pain inside, not like a contraction, admitted , told to prepare for an early birth, and given steroids, but nothing happened until 39 weeks!

Well at this point I'd rather have another one in a couple of weeks to check it's not dilating more, I think. It doesn't hurt, though I remember with my first pg it was rather painful towards the end. it's standard practice here, in fact I didn't realise you don't get them in the UK. I'm seeing a gynaecologist who seems to know her stuuf - they don't have the system of MW antenatal care here.

Tigi, I've been having twinges just like you, couldn't really describe them as full on contractions, and was mistaking them for ligament and muscle pain which has been pretty bad this time round. Good to hear it went ok for you.

That is what the French are slowly realising lulu, risk of infection etc... All pregnancy and birth techniques appear to be about 20yrs behind the UK and VE's used to happen in the UK I believe. Of course you can refuse them but it tends to put their backs up. If you live in our country then you go by our rules. I can sort of see their point. I think if it was something I felt VERY strongly about I would fight it but with this it's not so bad.