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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Incompetent cervix

17 replies

Itsallwhite · 10/01/2019 14:22

Please can you tell me about your experiences with this? I have my first consultant appointment and I'm freaking out after have a lot of my cervix removed 2 years ago. I feel a lot of pressure down there and I'm not sure if that's normal. Would really appreciate hearing what others have gone through

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Courtneybrown · 10/01/2019 14:56

How far on are you im on my 4th baby but on my 2nd baby since having alot of my cervix removed...

my cervix has managed to withold my third to 36 weeks then i was induced for other reasons and 30 weeks so far with this baby

... please don't over stress they will keep a very good eye on you and will do any treatment if need be to keep baby in xxx

MummyInHeel · 10/01/2019 15:41

Hello - I was monitored with my first weekly and carried to 38 weeks. I took it easy throughout pregnancy. With my second, I went overdue with no monitoring at all. The body is incredible. A consultant will see that you have the smoothest pregnancy possible. Good luck.

Blueroses99 · 10/01/2019 19:09

Please join us in the Incompetent Cervix UK group on Facebook. My experience wasn’t as positive as previous posters. My experience is that cervical issues are minimised by medical staff and I definitely did not anyone keeping a very good eye on me during pregnancy, I had to be my own advocate.

Itsallwhite · 10/01/2019 22:04

I'm 13 weeks and this is my first pregnancy. But I feel something isnt right. I wasn't but to see the consultant until Feb but I called the midwife and they looked at my notes and now I'm seeing one tomorrow. I think the rush has worried me, I don't do Facebook, but thank you for your replies :)

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Blueroses99 · 10/01/2019 22:29

Good luck tomorrow. The group are on other social media platforms too but I don’t do others. They are the most supportive knowledgeable group, my DD wouldn’t be here without the info I received.

Itsallwhite · 10/01/2019 23:14

Blueroses can I ask what happened?

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Blueroses99 · 11/01/2019 19:52

@itsallwhite It’s a long story... I went into labour at 21+3 when my cervix dilated suddenly and delivered my beautiful boy. I haven’t had any cervical surgery or any indications of IC so I wasn’t being monitored, my 20 week scan was all fine but they don’t scan the cervix as standard. I had that pressure feeling for about a week before but I didn’t know what it meant. The doctors have different opinions as to whether I had IC which let in an infection, or if I had an infection that opened my cervix.

I was reassured that during any future pregnancy I would have a cervical stitch at the end of the first trimester and I know other people that successfully carried to term with a stitch. So after I got pregnant again (more IVF), I then had to fight to get the stitch because I had ‘only’ one loss. Eventually they agreed, but once the stitch was in I was expected to carry on as normal. My anxiety wouldn’t let me relax during this pregnancy, but it meant I was on high alert and investigated every concern. Other treatments for IC are progesterone and bedrest. I was still taking progesterone from IVF so I carried on, and was taking it very easy. They don’t always monitor after a stitch but I insisted and at 17 weeks all was fine but at my 20 week scan, they found my cervix was funnelling. I had a second stitch put in, and then put myself on complete bed rest. Despite the stitches, the progesterone and bedrest, I went into labour at 24 weeks. My little girl was in NICU for 3 months and is now a lively little toddler.

My story is not unusual in the IC group that I mentioned unfortunately and like I said, my DD wouldn’t be here without their advice. IC can be minimised amongst the medical profession because as you can see, it is usually all fine. It’s just when it isn’t fine, the results can be tragic.

Hope I haven’t scared you to death! How did you get on today?

Itsallwhite · 11/01/2019 21:31

Oh I'm so sorry that happened to you! I've heard lots about the needing to have lost a baby before they will take anything seriously. But to get so far must have been horrible for you and your partner.
They wouldn't check me to put a stitch in, they just checked the baby's heart beat and said they will book it in between 16 and 17 weeks and was told if I have bleeding or discharge then I must come straight in. But I feel like they are leaving it late, I don't understand why they just didn't look to see when they know the risk considering the treatment I had :/. I just hope nothing happens between now and then. Especially after hearing the heartbeat today and had the first scan last week I feel like I'm connected now, it's a real living, growing being that I don't want to let down.
Once they put your stitch in, did they not check you every two weeks?

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Blueroses99 · 11/01/2019 22:42

I hope that everything is ok for you.

A preventative stitch between 12-16 weeks is safer and more successful than an emergency stitch once the cervix starts to shorten.

No I wasn’t checked every 2 weeks. I had my stitch at 13w, checked at 17w and then 20w. I was seen in between because I had episodes of bleeding and thrush but I don’t think they scanned the cervix. It’s tricky because a transvaginal scan gives the best measurement of the cervix but introduces an infection risk so I know some ladies choose not to have them.

ba03 · 11/01/2019 23:05

I had an appointment and scan with a consultant at (I think) 15 weeks, as I had had two letz procedures previously. The scan showed that my cervix was short so I was given the option to have a stitch. This was my first pregnancy.

I had the stitch at 17 weeks and was also given progesterone and put on 15 weeks bedrest (I could be on my feet a little each day but not too much).
Despite all the worry, everything went well and I gave birth to my baby at 39 weeks (the stitch was removed at 37 weeks).

I found my treatment to be excellent - I didn't have any follow up scans though, as this wasn't something my consultant offered. If my first scan hadn't shown such a short cervix, leading to the stitch, I believe I would have instead been scanned every two weeks to check for changes in length.

Itsallwhite · 12/01/2019 11:37

Blueroses thank you! There's so much information on there and I just find it helpful and terrifying at the same time :)

Ba03 so nice to hear a positive experience! Can I ask how you managed financially with the bedrest?
There is no way we could survive if I didn't work!

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Blueroses99 · 12/01/2019 13:01

You’re welcome! I was signed off work from 13 weeks and have only recently returned after an 18 month break. I thought about going back in my third trimester but obviously never got there.

Itsallwhite · 12/01/2019 13:23

From 13 weeks! I wouldn't be able to pay my mortgage if I got signed off any time before baby is due!

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Blueroses99 · 12/01/2019 14:02

It was tough! We completed on our new house on the same day I had my stitch too. Relied on savings and husbands salary until my maternity pay kicked in (luckily I had a generous package). But I had no choice, I couldn’t risk losing another baby.

ba03 · 12/01/2019 14:52

I have a desk job so as long as I have a laptop and phone I can pretty much do it from any where. I was very lucky that my employer was fine with me working from home, and i could do some hours from home each day. We would have struggled to manage financially if I had been on statutory sick pay.

If I had to leave the house to go to a hospital appointment etc, I would take Ubers everywhere. I was very very very paranoid about doing too much!
My understanding is that the advice you get differs from person to person and situation.

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