What are the signs to watch out for with incompetent cervix?

[Catlady12335678]

Hey,
I’m 16 weeks and have a shorter cervix due to loop excision 10 years ago. It was measured last week (15+5) at 30mm as my first scan.

Ive been paranoid about my cervix as since 13 weeks I’ve experienced watery discharge on and off. Was told this is normal..

the last day or two I’ve also been experiencing a ‘heavy’ feeling down there and shooting pains which feel like they’re in my cervix, almost like little fireworks. No bleeding or stomach cramping but I do feel very on edge and just wondered if this is normal.

If my cervix was going to shorten or open, are there any warning signs?

I have another scan in 3 weeks but it feels like so far away.

thanks x

This is the best link in my opinion for info on this www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/pregnancy-complications/cervical-incompetence
Do contact the hospital though - much better to go and be checked out if you have had new symptoms since the scan.

@Catlady12335678 To try to reassure you, I had a LLETZ procedure previously. With the first pregnancy my cervix was around the 30mm mark (don't be surprised if it varies a bit between scans, its an imperfect measurement!) and everything was totally fine - didn't require any intervention and went into natural labour post-due date. Second pregnancy and my cervix measurements started of longer, and progressively get shorter to the 30mm mark. I'm 25 weeks, 'discharged' from cervix measurements with again no intervention required.

Whilst you're cervix is shorter, it only really becomes a worry at 25mm and below. You'll likely have regular measurements until 24 weeks, after which point measuring your cervix is no longer a useful predictor of pre-term labour. If they were to see any shortening or signs of cervix starting to open, there are options such as progesterone and cervical stitch.

There is also information of looking of for signs of premature labour here: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/signs-of-labour/premature-labour-and-birth/

If you're every concerned about any symptoms, just get in touch with your midwife

I have an incompetent cervix. I'm currently 28 weeks pregnant with my second baby.
I had a lot of pressure and lower back pain with my first pregnancy but it was only a scan that picked up the short cervical length- no real symptoms other than the pressure and back pain- and it was quite a bit shorter than yours at 25mm (I was around 16 weeks by then). I had a cervical suture and was put on a course of progesterone for the remainder of the pregnancy.
I know this sounds trite but I'd say trust your gut- can you push to be seen sooner?
I sought a second opinion privately about my cervix because my NHS consultant didn't listen to my concerns about having had the LLETZ procedure, but I just remembered how the doctor who performed the LLETZ had stressed what a large area he'd had to remove.
By the time I got the private appointment I was measuring short, and by the time I finally got given a scan with my NHS facility locally I was classed as an emergency procedure for having the suture.
I'm not trying to scare or worry you but I wanted to share my experience in case it is helpful.

I’d contact MAU (or may need to be early pregnancy unit at 16 weeks) to report symptoms and ask for a scan asap. Don’t let them fob you off.

In terms of symptoms, for me it really varied between pregnancies.

1st pregnancy - the earliest symptom was my mucus plug going at 21 weeks (I contacted the MAU and was fobbed off/ told many women can lose their plug throughout the pregnancy and it’s ‘fine’). Then my waters broke a week later and sadly my baby did not survive. I was told it was likely to be due to an infection. Looking back I did have a feeling of heaviness around a day before my waters went.

Second pregnancy - I had regularly cervix scans until 24 weeks and all was fine, then at 25 weeks I had a growth scan (because baby was measuring slightly small at 20 week scan) and they they just happened to notice that my cervix was open and membranes visible! I’d had no symptoms prior to that and given that my final cervix scan the week before was fine, I’d finally began to relax and believe that I’d just been very unlucky last time. I then had an emergency cerclage which lasted until 37 weeks and now have a healthy 8 year old.

I had a shortening cervix in my first pregnancy due to having lletz 9 months prior to falling pregnant, it shortened to 24mm, I didn't have any symptoms or warnings really. The second pregnancy 7 years later my cervix was 30mm from 14 weeks and didn't change , both times though I had progesterone pessaries, the first time due to it being 24mm going from 34mm in a week, and the second time just as a precaution

Thank you! Did you take progesterone vaginally or rectally? I’m just struggling with shooting pains which feel like they’re in my cervix x

You can take the progesterone either way - I've taken it both ways (had it due to ivf). rectally is less messy I find, but its really personal preference

Thanks @2mumlife i much prefer rectally but my consultant said vaginally to help with cervix?! Urgh x

The difference is probably negligible? you could alternate perhaps?

Vaginally. Just couldn't gear myself up to do rectally. Shooting pains can be down to the lovely fanny daggers or lightning crotch, which is one of those pregnancy joys.