25mm Cervix length at 20 weeks.... will I need cerclage?

[nattynoo85]

Hello all,

I’ve been told my cervix length is 25mm at 20 weeks and am worried I may need a stitch put in. I am being monitored weekly now to determine if I need a stitch.

My first born arrived 6 weeks early and since then I’ve had lletz treatment, they took 12mm away. Due to this I knew I may have a risk of another premature birth but this time even earlier, hence the cervix length scan at 20 weeks. I have not been diagnosed with an incompetent cervix yet.

Has anyone gone to term or to at least 34 weeks with a cervix as short as 25mm without needing a stitch? I’m so scared to have a stitch put it, it sounds so risky.

Or if anyone has had to have a stitch put in, how was it and did it work?

Many thanks,

Natalie.

Just waiting to go home. Xxx

Glad it's done. Get plenty of sleep and rest. I've got a weeks wait til I find out what they will do with me. It's dragging. Thank you for keeping us updated and sharing.

Hope you are OK and resting up at home.

If you, or anyone else reading, need a positive stitch story, I had one put in with my second (twin) pregnancy and went on to deliver at 38 weeks with no further complications. It was a bit of a no-brainer for me because my cervix was rapidly shortening and funnelling and my medical team were very clear the procedure was far less of a risk than doing nothing. It sounds like making the decision has been very stressful in your situation, but at least that is done now and you can hopefully start to relax and recover.

Hi ladies hope you don't mind me jumping on here, I had a lletz 2 years ago and I've been having cervix scans every 2 weeks since 14 weeks and I had my 20 week scan this week where my cervix was 24mm, I'm waiting for a phone call from the consultant from Tuesday to hopefully here what they are going to do as I'm panicking like mad since it's got a lot shorter and I don't want to loose my baby boy xx

My bleeding had stopped from the car late but when I got up this morning I’ve had a hush of blood and now I’m panicking and I can’t get through to anyone one the line I was given I might need to go to A&E!

It's probably because you've been lying down and any bleeding has collected overnight, has it stopped or slowed down now? Could you ring the labour ward if triage is closed?

I will try labour ward. Been trying to lay down and rest And not worry but it’s hard not too. I went to toilet about three/four times through the night and hardly anything. When I got up to go to the toilet about 6:40am that’s when the hush came. Maybe I’ve moved and irritated the stitch? I’m just worried it’s not working as it should or somethings wrong. I will feel better when I speak to someone! I’ve felt baby move though x

@Klwb93 don’t panic! You’ve got some time to have your stitch put in if needs be...... just make sure you keep on top of your consultant and chase him if needs be! Xxx

@thewalrus thank you so much for your positive experience with cerclage! Xx

I was hoping the decision would be the most stressful part my recovery is worrying me due to the amount of bleeding I’m having. When that stops I will feel more positive and be able to relax xxx

@islandislandisland the bleeding has lightened up so maybe it was pooled blood over night xxx

@nattynoo85 thank you so much for your reply and putting your experience on here it was really good for me to read, just a really stressful situation but up to now the consultant has been really good, they nearly missed my cervix scan at 20 weeks and I had to push for it, hope the bleeding easies up soon for you xxx

Hi @nattynoo85 glad the bleeding is easing up. Just wondering does your hospital have a maternal assessment unit ? That is who I had to call with any worries xxx

@JSLACEFAMILY there is but they are closed on the weekend 😫 why does it have to be Saturday! I called an assessment line which they gave me and they said to monitor it myself for now as it’s lightened but if bleeding comes back to call them again.

Xxx

@Klwb93 I completely understand how stressful it is. You want to do everything you can to keep your baby safe. I hope you speak to your consultant soon.

It’s great you’ve been monitored since 14 weeks though, I tried to fight for earlier monitoring but I was told no. It was super stressful but 20 weeks came and I was 25mm and they wouldn’t haven’t have done anything anyway until it dropped below 25mm. It took till 22 weeks when it dipped to 22mm for them to offer me stitch. Maybe your consultant wants to give it time to see if it changes. What was your measurement at 14 weeks? Xx

Going back to labour ward to be looked at xx

@nattynoo85 it's thanks to my midwife that I was monitored from that point because when I had my phone call with her at 8 weeks and I told her about my lletz she said a consultant will be in touch and you will have scans every 2 weeks, I'm just so scared of something going wrong and I just want my baby to be safe, maybe my consultant will speak to me about options this week because each time I've had a scan the cervix has gotten smaller each time, my length at 14 weeks was 53mm, hope you manage to get sorted at the ward today and keep us updated xxx

@nattynoo85 how did you get on?

Hello everyone,

Sorry for late update yesterday was hectic.

So the doctor checked my stitch which looked fine and cervix is closed. However my cervix is very irritated from the procedure and I apparently have a friable cervix which is very prone to bleeding and tearing. I sort of freaked out at that point thinking the stitch won’t hold in that case. But I’ve been reassured that the stitch has been put in a thicker of my cervix. So anyway they aren’t surprised I’ve had more bleeding than your average woman. As long as it doesn’t constantly gush. The dizziness I had is most likely due to the antibiotics. I’m feeling awful with them but they want me to persevere as there’s not much else I can take as I’m allergic to penicillin. My blood pressure was fine and bloods were all clear. Just waiting in swab and urine results which take a few days.

Was relieved the doctor wasn’t worried. The blood slowed down a lot last night but this morning It’s picked up but not as much as yesterday morning thank god. I’m to expect bleeding for a while so trying not to worry,

Thank you all for worrying xxx

Phew! Glad you're ok. You've been through it haven't you? Feet up now and hopefully you can start to relax and have a happier pregnancy going forward since it's been so stressful 💐

@198435years thank you xx finding today super emotional... think it’s hit me all the stress and I can’t wait for it to be gone and just feel positive for once. Xx

Glad you are okay @nattynoo85 try to take it easy now and enjoy your pregnancy xx

@Klwb93 thank you I’ve just returned to my flat, have been avoiding going home as there’s two large flights of stairs in our block and also my flat is split level so has stairs. I’ve been staying with my mum the last few nights to avoid them but I have to get back to normality as I have a four year old at home!

After climbing the stairs I feel slight pains down below, so am now worried I’ve caused some damage to my stitch... frightened to now walk up to the stairs in my flat to use to the toilet and see if there’s bleeding god I wish things were easy, or that I had a commode at home! Haha. I feel really guilty as I plan not to leave the flat at all this week but my son is going to be so bored bless him!

Xxx

This is exactly how I felt after mine. It wasn't painful as such but I could feel it and I did bleed for a few weeks. I was told my cervix was irritable and friable too and Interestingly when u have had smears recently have been told it still looks "different" Not that I can see! I would just take things as easy as possible although o recognise that's hard with a 4 year old o had to go back in to hospital with scares at least 3 or 4 times but we made it in the end x

Oops should be when I.

@clareykb oh wow, you had an irritable and friable cervix too?? I have a feeling I’m going to bleed for a while. I’ve read the blood should go brown by now but I don’t think that’s going to happen any time soon. Did your bleeding slow down and then pick up and then lighten up again and pick up? Every time I feel positive it’s stopping I get more. And I’m worried I’m doing too much although I can’t do any less than I am.

What sort of scares did you have? Was it with bleeding? I hate seeing blood I can’t wait for it to stop even though I know it’s expected.

So happy to hear you made it!! How many weeks did you get to? Xxx