Incompetent cervix & treatment

[KateColx]

Hi,

I'm 21 weeks pregnant and found out about 2 weeks ago that I've got a short cervix, measuring at 19mm. Suspected due to previous lletz treatment for abnormal cells.

I was offered the cervical stitch or Arabin pessary option and went for the pessary which was fitted last week.

I made the mistake of joining a fb group which has scared the life out of me! So thought I'd turn here to see if anyone has any short cervix success stories they'd like to share? And maybe even with any experience of the Arabin pessary?

Thanks x

@KateColx so sorry to hear this, hope you get some positive stories. Do you mind if I ask how this was found? I had a LLETZ around 5 years ago, saw the consultant about it who said she thought the amount that was removed wouldn’t cause an issue, but I worry that nobody has actually checked. I’m 12 week x

Ohh no which group did u join. The one I'm on can be a little scary sometimes but also filled with hope and lots of positive story's too.
I know it's scary but plenty of happy outcomes about.
I'm currently 27 weeks with a stitch that was placed at 13 weeks and cervix still looking good 🤞 see lot of lady's going full term and even having to have induction
Pessary lady's might be harder to find as not all hospitals offer them x

@MintGreenLife well my lletz was done at a different hospital so they had no record of how much was removed, but I was also having a bit of spotting so they decided to do an internal scan and that's when they saw that it might be shorter than normal. I'd definitely push for them to check for you, if anything just for peace of mind. But it's a good sign if they don't feel like they have to based on your records ☺️ xx

@boymum88 I think it was something like incompetent cervix UK. I had a read through and all of the posts were about losses, so I had a cry and left the group 🙈 which one are you a part of if you don't mind me asking? Thanks for that though, it's reassuring! Are you having check ups every two weeks? Yes there does seem to be a lot less info about the pessary around as it's so new. X

@Mumof1fun aw keeping everything crossed for her!! What do they do in the situation if your waters break early? Has she had to be kept in and monitored? X

@KateColx I also had spotting from 10 weeks so went to EPU and was found to have a polyp on my cervix. I'm having it looked at at colposcopy on Thursday, so maybe I'll ask then what they think re the length, although that'll be an internal exam rather than scan. According to my records I had 7mm removed, and consultant told me anything over 10mm they would be concerned about. With everything else going on cervix wise I'll try and ask for it to be double checked. Hope everything works out for you, I'm sure it will xx

So yes it's incompetent cervix uk but u want the pregnancy related add on group. Sadly you will find lady's that have suffered losses due to ic or like my self that have had Prem baby's that didn't know they had ic or it wasn't picked up early enough.
The good thing is they found out about ur length and was able to offer treatment so you have a very good out look.
The problem is the care of ic wildly different depending on hospital and consultant and still not a lot of research on the topic
They scanned me every two-three weeks from 10-27 weeks (had my last one last week) but most hospitals only scan from 16-24 weeks
Have they advised u take progesterone ? Again not loads of research on it but most dr will advise you take it as it won't do harm but can help

I know most lady's that have had letzs should be offered two tv scans I think from 16 weeks ( but don't quote me on that)

Sorry if I've waffled

@boymum88 no you haven't waffled at all it's really helpful thank you! I'll have a look for that group. I think it just shocked me a bit, it's so sad how many people had losses and like you prem babies because they had no idea 😔

Oh really? That must be frustrating for those who aren't getting a good level of care. I can't fault the hospital so far, everything has been so quick and thorough. Yes I'm on the progesterone pessaries, are you on those too? Really hope everything stays well for you over your last few weeks 🤞🏻☺️ x

@KateColx it really is sad that so many women go though losses but with more understand and research and knowledge things can only get better 🤞

Yes have taken them from 11 weeks and think I will until 34-36 weeks and will have stitch removed at 37.

I know the group can be scary but if the worse was to happen it's a great place to find info and advise on what treatment to ask for like steroids and magnesium as these Make a huge difference

And glad that your at a good hospital and feel fully supported, we do have some great centres for ic like the one is guys & st Thomas I believe that's supported by Tommy's

In response to your question above, they monitored my sister for a week in hospital to make sure labour wasn't imminent. They gave her steroids and magnesium in case the baby was born early and sent her home. They will monitor her for infection twice a week and will induce at 37 weeks if she hasn't gone into labour by then.

Good luck, I felt so helpless for her when we found out she had a short cervix just from a chance scan at 20 weeks, but she has exceeded our expectations. She has been on self imposed modified bed rest since bout 24 weeks though.

I found out by luck at my 20 week scan that my cervix was measuring 16mm and funnelling.

I had an emergency stitch put in and given 400mg cyclogest (progesterone) pessary to take every night since then. I was also put on strict bedrest at first which was slowly eased after each 4 week check up with the preterm consultant visit I had. After the stitch my cervix has measured 19mm and funnelling to the stitch at each check up and holding well so far!

I'm now 33 weeks today with the stitch removal date for 36+2 :) I've been told I can stop the progesterone at 34 weeks.

Super scary at the start but it gets better as each week and milestone has passed x

@cervixissues thanks so much for sharing! ☺️ so pleased that it's worked out well for you, and that they caught it at the 20 week scan! It's scary how many people go unnoticed. Have you had regular check ups right up until now? Thanks again, it's really reassuring to hear x

@Mumof1fun gosh that must have been scary for your sister!! 🤞🏻 baby holds on until 37 weeks x

@KateColx Thank you! I have had check ups every 4 weeks (last one was last week and now I have my stitch removal booked for 12th Feb!) The time seems to be going super quick now :)

How are you doing? x

I have exactly this and had four successful full-term pregnancies (well, respectably early at around 39 weeks each one). I didn't know about it with DS1, but was scanned with DS2 and offered some kind of experimental ring over the cervix plus progesterone pessaries. With DS3 it shrank really quickly over a few weeks to 10mm at 28 weeks, which was a little hairy, to say the least. But held there until he was born at 39+2. He still likes to keep me on my toes. With both DS3 and DS4 I just had progesterone. DS4 was the earliest at 38+5. I had my younger three at Kings, which has amazing antenatal care, so I knew I was in good hands!

@cervixissues oh yay! Must be nice to be so close to having it taken out ☺️ all good thank you, had my first check up today after having the pessary fitted 2 weeks ago and cervix has gone from 19 to 23 so really pleased! Got another check up in 2 weeks and then hopefully won't need to go back if all still okay. Thank you, it's nice to have someone to chat to who's been there x

@Sleepthief thanks so much for sharing!! You're the first person I've spoke to who had the pessary too. So pleased to hear all 4 got to nearly full term ☺️☺️ fingers crossed this one behaves and stays put until a similar time x

Glad to hear you are dong well, that's amazing! Wishing you all the best for your next check!

Super exciting that I'll have it out soon - hoping it doesn't hurt too much! x