Short Cervix - First Pregnancy

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Hey everyone! I hope you’re all well!

To set the scene; I am in my first pregnancy at nearly 17 weeks. Also a very anxious person, so finding pregnancy very nerve wracking and overwhelming that something may go wrong. So bear with me

I decided to have a private scan at 16w3 to check my cervix length given that I have had a biopsy years ago following CIN1 results from a smear.

The results said my cervix was 26.1mm. I appreciate not under the 25mm mark, but uncomfortably close and not long enough for me to genuinely feel ok about it.

I have spoken to the midwives and asked that I get a second opinion/review scan before my anomaly scan in 4 weeks to which they are arranging.

But I wanted to know if anyone has had experience of being on this “borderline”. My fear, of course, being that it is literally 1mm off being what would be considered short and a cause for concern.

Wishing you all a lovely evening and thanks in advance for your support

Hello! Firstly, congratulations on your pregnancy and sorry to hear about your anxiety. This is also my first pregnancy and I suffer from anxiety too, so I can relate! Anyway, I'm 32 weeks now but at about 23 I think, I went to the MFAU with really bad pain (which turned out to be trapped wind) and they wanted to do a transvaginal ultrasound just to be on the safe side. Anyway, they (incidentally) found my cervix to be borderline, but the other way to yours - 24 mm. I was put on Cyclogest pessaries, two a day and asked to come back in a week. When they retested a week later, the length was 28 or 29mm so they said to reduce the Cyclogest to once per day until the pack was finished and they signed me off from their clinic, saying they were happy with the measurements. I was at the stage where it was too late to do a cervical stitch anyway and the pessaries seemed to have done their job so there wasn't much else to do.
I don't know if this helps at all but just to say that it is definitely worth getting the measurement done again at your NHS base so they can make a plan going forward. I (thankfully) had no issues like biopsies but if you have that in your history then I'm sure it is something they would want to check. Also remember that these measurments can change a lot from day to day so they may not come up with exactly they same meaurement, it may be better.

Hope it all goes well! And good luck with they rest of your pregnancy!!

Z

@zeena83 thank you so much and congratulations to you also! Pregnancy with anxiety is very tough at times. I hope you’re relaxing more the further you go ❤️

There’s very conflicting and confusing information out there at what it all means to have a “short cervix” - and if you disappear down the rabbit hole you tie yourself in knots about it all.

Interesting to know that they change day to day - I didn’t know this! Thank you for posting. I really appreciate it. And wishing you a relaxing, stress free remainder of your pregnancy xx

Hi look at joining incompetent cervix uk- pregnancy related on fb. It's a great group full of support and advise.

So a short cervix does not always make it weak but does put you at higher risks of problems, I would be chasing the midwife and get a tv scan next week. Then they should be either giving you treatment with a stitch and or progesterone and a follow up scan, if they just use progesterone.

Some lady's do really well on progesterone and carry to term some like myself need a stitch and progesterone.

They also say ic shows between 16-24 weeks, where for me that wasn't the case I measured 2.6 at 10 weeks then had the stitch placed at 13 weeks but went to 2cm and started to funnel at 28 weeks but thanks to the stitch managed to carry till 39 weeks. My 1st was born at 28 weeks so I clearly get to that point and my cervix can't cope.

You also face the prob that it is time sensitive, stitches can only be placed up 2 24weeks x

My cervix length was 22mm at 24 weeks (measured due to experiencing cramping). It was also funnelling at this point. I was too late for a stitch but was given progesterone pessaries until 36 weeks. Delivered by planned c section at 39 weeks. I’m sorry you are having this anxiety - I was also highly anxious - sometimes the things we do to try to reassure ourselves make it more stressful! I would push for another cervical length check in a few weeks though as would have thought it needs to be monitored. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy x