cervical length scan, worried about cervical incompetence

[kakes12]

Hope someone can offer some wisdom/advice/reassurance. I am a born worrier and pregnancy is definitely testing my ability to calm myself down!

I'm almost 14 weeks. I had a really anxious first trimester due to lots of bleeding. Everything was fine at my 12 week scan but we are thinking of paying for one more private one next week (15 weeks) before we start to share our news.... just to put my overly anxious mind at ease!

At the scanning clinic, you can pay just slightly more for a "cervical length check" on top of the typical ultrasound. I've done some reading about this and have completely panicked myself. I don't have any of the "risk factors" stated, but this is my first pregnancy and I have felt some pressure-like feelings down there at times. I'm coming into the second trimester now which, from what I've read, is the time where things can go wrong due to cervical incompetence.

I suppose what I'm trying to find out is, is is useful/reassuring to have cervical length checked at 15 weeks? Or is it too early to show anything that'd be meaningful? I know that its not checked routinely on the NHS, but I've read that some people are checked from 12+ weeks, others not until 20, others never at all. How do they check it? Abdominally or vaginally? I'm just wondering if, for the sake of £20, it's worth just getting that done too when I go for this scan.

Any advice or experiences appreciated. :-)

K x

I've had this check as I had 2x risk factors.

It's a completely different type of scan to looking at baby in a reassurance scan. In fact on the last couple all they could see of bub was top of its head as near neck of cervix.

The scan need to be repeated every couple of weeks as they monitor a change in funneling or shortening of the cervix. And yes, they're internal.

I'd be surprised if you could get one for £20, I looked privately before being offered mine on NHS, they were more like £80.

For 20 quid and peace of mind I'd probably do it but I think it would only tell you if you have a short cervix now, not necessarily if you have an incompetent cervix as it's probably still too early at the moment.

I'm not sure what the scan would be like but I had mine measured at 9wks abdominally (like when you had your 12wk scan) for other reasons so it might just be that they check your cervix at the same time as your reassurance scan that way.

If it helps it's very unlikely there is anything wrong with your cervix! And congratulations on your pregnancy x

Hi @kakes12 😊 if it puts your mind at rest why not have it done? I think it's a little more accurate if you have it done vaginally but they can see any problems abdominally too, it's just not as accurate with the actual measurements.

As cervical measurements can change its best to get get the measurements every month or so to watch the trend. I can't remember what time the scans start on the NHS...16 weeks I think? I could be wrong!

Please try not to worry - easier said than done if you are a natural worrier!

Hope this helps xx

Thanks for the replies and info! Also the reassurance that this is actually quite an unusual problem.

@zaalitje - maybe i didn't explain it so well. I'm going for a scan that costs £80, you can just "add on" the cervical check for an extra 20, making it £100 altogether :-)

Actual diagnosed CI is a very unusual problem.

My consultant said they had to be internal for accurate readings, scans done by a consultant in fetal medicine, not a sonographer. They were every 2 weeks from 14 weeks to track measurements, thankfully mine didn't change despite risk factors.

A one off scan wouldn't give you much information as they're looking for change between appointments. Although it would tell you what your cervix measured now.

They treat CI with a cervical stich once diagnosed funneling and/ or shortening.

Had one today at 30 weeks. Keep having bleeds and really strong Braxton Hicks. All was very normal and long. It was an internal probe scan they did.

IC is a really rare condition and can be misdiagnosed sometimes. I gave birth to my son at 24 weeks last year, my cervix was dilated 6cm and I had no warning signs. Sadly, he only lived for a few hours due to complications at birth. Due to there being no infection or any other factor for this happening, they have said I have an IC. Checks on the NHS start at 14 weeks, I had a cervical length scan at 13 and my cervix was 41mm, which is a perfectly good length! However, I still have a cervical stitch because of my previous history and the likelihood of it happening again.

One scan won't tell you if you have IC, it will just tell you the length of your cervix now. You would need further scans to see if it is shortening or you're getting and funnelling. It's very unlikely this will happen to you but for an extra £20 I don't see the harm in seeing how long your cervix is now!

Congratulations on your pregnancy