Cervix too short to have cerclage stitch at 17 weeks

[Mamto4and1onway]

Hi anyone had cervix too short to have cerclage fitted at 17 weeks. I had first cervical scan at 16 weeks and measured 20.03mm. I opted for pessaries and to be scanned a week later. Rescanned at 17+4 and shortened to 17mm. Consultant advise cerclage stitch and was book for the next morning. During surgery they refused as cervix was to short to fit the stitch. Now back home next appointment for cervical scan and to see consultant is in 2 weeks. Im stressed to bits i may not make it that far. My last pregnancy with short cervix, i laboured at 33 weeks but cervix measured 16mm at 20weeks and 22weeks with no changes. Worried that my cervix has deteriorated earlier.

Wondering if anyone had cervix this short and this early and how far they got when going into labour?

So worrying for you. I’m afraid I don’t have the detail to share re length but my friend just had her second cerclage. I know how anxious she has been so I didn’t want to read and not reply without a hand hold and to wish you well

Thank you and wishing all the best for your friend and baby and 🤞. All i can do is rest for a short while and see how thing go.

Are you part of the Incompetent Cervix Pregnancy Facebook group? There are definitely people in there who haven't had enough length to stitch. Can they up your progesterone dosage and prescribe bedrest?

Wrongsideofpennines yeah i have read through incompetent cervix uk but can be abit daunting going through it all, so thought best to just create a post but should creat one on there too. I will definitely be asking to up dosage at next appointment, currently on 200mg at night and have read that alot of pepole have been prescribed 400mg so thank you for the reminder. bed rest is possible most day but my partner suffers with gout and when it flares up im really needed as already i have a baby who is 10 months, a 6 year old with asd and adhd, 11year old and 13 year old with adhd but will bed rest as much as i can as this helped massively with getting my 10month old to 33 weeks.

I would speak to your consultant ASAP you can be on 400mg AM and PM if necessary. I wouldn't wait until your next scan to ask as your cervix is still shortening on your current dose.

Wishing you all the luck. I did have enough to stitch but had a toddler in my stitch pregnancy and know how hard it can be trying to manage everyone's needs.

Wrongsideofpennines yeah good plan. Heads all over the place didnt even think of ringing. Ill be on phone as soon as 8 oclock comes thank you.

Sorry you're going through this OP, I had 3 x 400mg of progesterone per day in my first pregnancy, so definitely worth asking for an increased dose.

Thank you. Seems I'm on lowest so definitely asking for increase when i get phone call back from consultant.

Hello,

I had only 13mm left at 20 weeks and was told the stitch would likely not hold.

I'm now 31 weeks and going strong. I'm also on 800mg progesterone. No bed rest or anything.

It's very very worrying at first, but as the weeks go on you'll start to feel better :) x

Sorry you found it daunting but please persevere with the Incompetent Cervix UK group. There are many knowledgeable and experienced ladies on there and you will get more informed answers than on here (no disrespect to anyone but it is a fairly niche issue).

My DD would not be here without the group as they told me exactly what questions to ask the consultant and came up with solutions that we hadn’t considered when things started going wrong.

I don’t know much about it but there is something called an Arabian pessary to strength the cervix as an alternative to a stitch. There are also different types of stitches so while one might not be suitable perhaps another might help. Some of these other stitches need different specialist consultants though.

Please join the group, I’m certain they can help.

Thank you. Going to research Arabian pessaries and mention to consultant see what she has to say. Think i may have to fight for it as for some reason she has never mentioned it. I'm already on ic uk. But was on the loss part nd not the pregnancy part. Its heartbreaking as I've also suffered a stillbirth at 41 weeks due to compressed cord in birth canal. Ive found the pregnancy side of it now and stories aren't as heartbreaking. More just pregnancy side of things.

Need to give my head a break from it all for a day or two as its been racing since thursday nd not slept much. So will have a quick look over Arabian pessaries and start again on monday with it all. Thank you. X

I’m sorry for your loss, and I can see why it would be hard to be faced with all those stories. Sadly many of us have losses before we know about IC so there is a lot of of heartbreak in the group. IC is chronically misunderstood in my experience. I hope the pregnancy sub-group helps.

It’s ARABIN pessary, I just looked it up. Not Arabian 🤦🏽‍♀️

Thank you all. Have spoken to consultant and she done an cervical scan herself (as i have tricky cervix) im measuring 4mm so she did an internal and stated cervix is tight and closed, she also stated whats left is scar tissue and hopefully strong enough to hold. But had to advise that if my cwrvix starts to open i will be admitted to test for infection and straight for a GA to have membrains pushed back and stitch placed to stop cervix dilating any more. She also agreed upping progesterone to 400 but stated there is no proof higher will make a difference. But i can only hope for the best and know am trying. She advised against arabin as she dont want to disturb any cervix that is left. Place a foreign object for my cervix to possibly reject and deteriate more. Thank you everyone for your advice.

Hi. I am in as worrying a position as you were at the time of your last post. Can I ask what the outcome was?