Unexpected cervical length scan

[Tryingfor3rd]

Hi all, I'm 13 weeks and had my dating scan last week. Received a letter today saying I will be having an internal cervical length scan when I'm17 weeks. This is my 3rd baby and I didn't have any issues in my last 2 pregnancies, so it's come as a surprise. I know I won't know why until I call them tomorrow but just wanted to know if anyone had one unexpectedly? I've read of the risk factors and I don't match them except being overweight and being over 35, but I didn't have this in my last my 2 pregnancies. It's got my a little worried but trying not to get anxious. Any thoughts welcome. Thank you!

Hi @Tryingfor3rd !

I've got this too, with the pre term birth clinic.

Are you consultant or midwife led?

Hi, I had this but wasn’t warned just asked if I consent at a scan. It’s new and help determines likelihood / risk of preeclampsia and early labour. Didn’t help for me as I was super low risk then had a very traumatic emergency c section!

Hi @sellingupslow thanks for replying! I'm consultant led as my 1st was emcs and 2nd was vbac.

Thanks for replying @Anothermathstutor I was low risk for my 1st then had a traumatic emcs too. Really sorry you went through this too :(

I didn't have pre-eclampsia with any of my other pregnancies. I checked if hypothyroidism and anaemia are risk factors, which I have, but I don't think they are. And both my babies were late!

When you had your emcs, were you fully dilated (10cm)? This is been found to increase your risk of a pre-term birth due to cervical shortening, which is why they do the cervical length scan to check.

@valentinoandme ah yes this would make sense! I was fully dilated when I had my emcs. Surprised they didn't check during my 2nd pregnancy. Thank you so much, you've put my mind at ease :)

@Tryingfor3rd It's relatively new as a routine thing so that's probably why they didn't do it in your last pregnancy.

I also had emergency cs at 10cm so this is the reasoning for me!

Thank you all, feel much better knowing that's most likely the reason x

Having a C-section at fully dilated will be the reason as previous posters have said. I am pregnant after a 13 year age gap and I was so confused as to why they had to to do this scan but I'm so glad they did as my cervix at 20 weeks was just 17mm at its shortest. I have had a cervical stitch put in (but mine has caused me so much trouble) and now at 31 weeks I'm hopefully having it removed next week (not common procedure) but I have had trouble with pain so bad since it got put in. The scans are absolutely fine and don't hurt but obviously can be uncomfortable. Good luck 🤞🏻

@michelle292429 congrats on your pregnancy! Really sorry to hear the pain you're going through with the stitch. It's good the scan caught that the length was short. Hoping you feel better once they take it out. I've had internal scans before as used to have an endometrioma on my ovary but it's been a while since having one. Thanks for sharing, it's good that they're being thorough in checking these things now whereas I had my daughter in 2023 and they didn't do it then.

@Tryingfor3rd as PPs have said, I’m sure it’ll be due to your previous emcs. But just wanted to comment to say hope all goes well with this pregnancy and glad they’re keeping an extra eye just to be on the safe side :-) xx

@michelle292429 im sorry to hear you’re in so much pain. I had a stitch put in when I was 14weeks (now 26) and I find I can’t sit for very long without real discomfort, especially on a hard chair! What type of pain have you had, if you don’t mind sharing. It’s so hard to know what’s ’normal’ and when to be worried. Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy xx

Hypothyroidism is a risk factor if the cause is autoimmune (hashimotos)

@Tryingfor3rd thank you and I hope so too. I just hope baby stays put after it's taken out as they said I could go into labour within 48 hours.

@HavingFaith glad it's going okay for you I have read so much about it and nobody seems to have the trouble it's causing me I just don't think my body likes it, I cannot stand or walk for longer than about 30 mins without a break and sit down, my whole lower abdomen aches and feels like someone is ripping me apart, the pressure in my vagina feels as if he will make an appearance at any moment. Laying still is hard too because I cannot feel comfortable which ever position I seem to lay in sleeping is getting harder and harder the bigger I am getting. I have had to be signed off of work, I had a big bleed 2 weekends ago which they couldn't find any reason for but ever since then it has been a lot worse.best of luck to you too x

@michelle292429 oh gosh that’s sounds awful. I’m so sorry it’s causing you this much pain. Hope the pain all subsides once it’s out and baby stays in until you’re full term xx

@HavingFaith thank you so much for your lovely message.
@michelle292429 when are you due? Praying that it all goes well for you after it's taken out and little baba stays in!

You were all correct, it is because of being fully dilated at emcs :)

It's so horrible and although I am grateful it's helped all this time I cannot wait to have it taken out.. I'm due 2nd April I'm 31 weeks tomorrow, I've already had steriods as after my bleed I was considering having it out then so they gave me them just incase. I have a growth scan next week too so will see how the little chunk is doing x