If you’ve had cervical length scans - when did they start?

[ActonBell]

Just that really - I’ve been booked in for my first one at 16 weeks due to having had an extensive LLETZ. Is 16 weeks standard? Does anyone have a link to any guidelines about this? Should I be pushing for something sooner? It wasn’t really explained to me why they start then.

Thanks!

@ActonBell I didn’t have my first until 18 weeks, but that’s because I moved house and that caused a delay in things. Standard is 16 weeks for the first scan I believe. I had a previous LLETZ also x

Curious about this now. I only moved back to the UK at 16 weeks(from South Africa) so I had my first NHS 22 week scan today and no one has mentioned a cervical length scan. Are they part of earlier scans as standard on the NHS does anyone know, or is it only if they think you're higher risk? Wondering if I should have had one today as well as the anomaly scan.

@loulamay - they are only if you have particular risk factors such as a previous preterm birth or late miscarriage or having had a procedure on your cervix.

Thanks @MintGreenLife - that’s helpful.

I crave info on situations like this so I’d love to know why it’s 16 weeks but I Google isn’t telling me.

I had one at 16 weeks. That’s about standard. It’s to check that your cervix is competent and basically capable of supporting the weight of the baby.

@LuckyWookie - thanks. Good to know it’s standard. I understand why they are doing the scan I just didn’t get an explanation as to why they start at 16 weeks and not right away. I’m nearly 13 weeks and I have a friend who had a stitch put in at 12 weeks so I was wondering why they aren’t checking things out sooner.

@ActonBell I may be wrong, but I think they start at 16 weeks because that is the point that your cervix may start to become under more pressure and start to shorten as a result. If you need a stitch I think the latest it can be done is around 24 weeks. Between 16-24 weeks should allow plenty of time to see if the cervix is shortening. The 16 week scan should act as a starting point. They worry if it goes under 2.5cm. At 18 weeks mine was 3.5cm, but by 20 weeks it was 2.8cm, so close to the threshold. I didn't have a stitch, but started progesterone pessaries. I've just stopped them now at 32 weeks x

I had one at 12 weeks to get a baseline measurement for the normal (ie pre-shortening) length of my cervix. They didn't expect it to have shortened by that point, even if it was going to. Then I had one at 16 weeks to see if it had shortened/funnelled. So I guess it would depend on why you're having it. Mine was not because of LLETZ but a different reason.

Basically, I'm trying to say that 16 weeks would be early enough to put in a stitch before there is any risk to your baby. The baby is still small at that point so preumably wouldn't be putting much pressure on the cervix. The only reason for doing one earlier would be to get a baseline measurement to compare, but maybe this isn't necessary in your particular case. You could ask your midwife at your next appointment though, she won't mind you asking!

This is interesting, as I’ve been booked in for one at 14 weeks and when I was making the appointment the midwife was talking about the “14 week limit” so I assumed it was standard at that time and didn’t question it - now wondering if that’s too early? I only had a cone biopsy rather than a LLETZ though, maybe that’s why?

Aha - I’ve found this, which is a study that basically suggests doing a scan between 13 and 15 weeks doesn’t give a good enough prediction of who is going to deliver preterm. obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/uog.47

@periwinkle86 - I know the above may sound worrying but I wonder whether your 14 week scan is to get a ‘baseline’ measurement and they’ll then repeat a few weeks after? That makes me wonder why I’m not getting an earlier baseline!

Hi @ActonBell please join fb group incompetent cervix uk and then add on group incompetent cervix uk- pregnancy related.
Loads of info of lady's in the same boat.
Basically nice guidelines are to scan from 16 weeks if you have had a pervious letz or other issues that would indicate checking the cervix.

Most hospitals scan from 16 weeks as they say that's when the weight of the baby can start to effect the cervix. ( I believe this is to late and should be done sooner)
Do you know how much cervix they removed ?
Some lady's like myself have naturally short cervix's so I ended up having my 1st son at 28+1. My next pregnancy I had my length checked at 10 weeks and was 2.6cm so was short. Normal length is 4-6cm. I then had a cervical stitch placed at 13+5 and carried my son until 39+1
When scanned anything 2.5cm and below they should be offering a stitch and most dr give progesterone to. Good preventative stitches should be placed before 14 weeks and they can only be done up to 24 weeks.
They should also offer two scans one normally around 16 weeks then another a few weeks later.

@boymum88. - thank you! That is so helpful. I am worried that I’m not being seen a bit sooner. I will definitely check out those Facebook groups. They sound really useful. Thanks!