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Nervous about shortening cervix
I know quite a few ladies have been or is going through this situation, and was wondering if anyone had any advice or thoughts.
I am 20 weeks 5 days with di/di boys, and my cervix has been shortening over the last 4 weeks.
-At 16 weeks it was 3.2, and they said take it easy and come back in two weeks.
-18 weeks it was 2.1 and funneling, and they said basically light bed rest and we'll check it again in a week, and possibly discuss cerclage.
-19 weeks no change, still 2.1, so come back in a week and check.
-As of yesterday, it is now at 1.0. I was hooked up to make sure I wasn't having contractions, and I wasn't, so that's good. My perinatologist seems to be somewhat against cerclage, because of the fact that studies have shown for it to be not as successful for twins, so she's worried about the risks of complications, but wants us to think it over and decide what we should do. We also talked about hospital bed rest, and strict bed rest at home. I also saw some info about a pessary, but she didn't mention that, so I'd like to bring that up as an option.
I go back tomorrow morning for another check and to make a decision about what we're going to do. So my husband and I have to talk about it tonight and decide what's right for us.
What would you do, or have you done in a similar situation?
Thanks!
I am 20 weeks 5 days with di/di boys, and my cervix has been shortening over the last 4 weeks.
-At 16 weeks it was 3.2, and they said take it easy and come back in two weeks.
-18 weeks it was 2.1 and funneling, and they said basically light bed rest and we'll check it again in a week, and possibly discuss cerclage.
-19 weeks no change, still 2.1, so come back in a week and check.
-As of yesterday, it is now at 1.0. I was hooked up to make sure I wasn't having contractions, and I wasn't, so that's good. My perinatologist seems to be somewhat against cerclage, because of the fact that studies have shown for it to be not as successful for twins, so she's worried about the risks of complications, but wants us to think it over and decide what we should do. We also talked about hospital bed rest, and strict bed rest at home. I also saw some info about a pessary, but she didn't mention that, so I'd like to bring that up as an option.
I go back tomorrow morning for another check and to make a decision about what we're going to do. So my husband and I have to talk about it tonight and decide what's right for us.
What would you do, or have you done in a similar situation?
Thanks!
*TTC #1* since Sept '11.
BFP #1 2/26/12. C/P 3/1/12
Dx Oct '12: Hypothyroid, PCOS and blocked left tube.
1500mg Metformin, 75mcg Synthroid
Feb: 100mg Clomid + Trigger + TI= BFN
March: 150mg Clomid + Trigger + TI= 4 mature follies- BFN
April: Unmedicated cycle due to vacation timing= BFN
May: *IUI #1* Letrozole + Trigger + IUI=BFP!
1st Beta (17dpo): 455 Progesterone: 40
2nd Beta: (19dpo): 810 Progesterone: 37
1st ultrasound 6 weeks 5 days: Twins!
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Re: Nervous about shortening cervix
Good luck.
I was put on hospital bedrest at 24 weeks for cervical length of 1.0. Because of my contractions the doctors were convinced I would deliver within the week. I was given the option of a cerclage but was advised that research shows it doesn't help with twins and was also told there was a 10% chance it would puncture the sac and trigger labor. My husband and I agreed to opt out of the cerclage and hope for the best.
A few days after being checked in my cervical length was 0 and I was starting to dilate. I put myself in trendelenburg, which is a drastic action that the doctors told me wouldn't help. I ignored them and did it anyway because I was desperate to do anything that could help. The doctors were shocked when I made it another 6.5 weeks. I have two healthy girls that are now home and thriving.
Trust your instincts every step of the way. There were 5 separate occasions where I disagreed with a doctor's advice and I always ended up being right. I'm not saying don't take the medical advice you are given, but if something doesn't feel right be sure to ask a lot of questions and push them to explain every option.
Good luck!
Dx: Severe MFI, 0% morphology, doc says we will be lucky to get 10% fert rate
IVF w/ICSI #1: 6R, 4M, 0 fertilized Switching docs, looking for clinic that will provide new treatment for DH's rare dx.
IVF w/ICSI + CaI #2: 11R, 9M, 6 fertilized!!! Transferred 2 5-day blasts, 1 frozen.
12/26: BFP!! It's Twins!
She did say that if this was 5 years ago, then we definitely would have done the cerclage, but since then, there have been many studies to show that it hasn't been very successful with twins,so I think she's just concerned about the risks of causing contractions, infections, rupturing membranes etc.. So it is a very scary decision that my husband and I have to decide on.
I used progesterone suppositories. My MFM's practice was against a cerclage as it has too many risks for multiples. One of my MFMs suggested a pessary if I dropped below .5. I did go into the Trendelenberg position(they just tip the hospital bed to have your feet higher than head - not a huge angle), but that was to help alleviate pain from having a really low lying baby in my pelvis.
Good luck.
I'm in the short-cervix scare with you as well - from what I've read, it's not uncommon - and although dangerous, good that they're monitoring you closely.
Edit: She did not have a cerclage.
2nd FET 6/14/2013 - BPF!!! -
1st Beta: 1046!!!!! - 2nd Beta: 2754!!!!!
First u/s 7/11/2013 - TWINS!!! 120 and 124 heartbeats
Second u/s 7/29/2013 - wiggley babies! 178 and 184 heartbeats!
Third u/s 9/9/2013 - 157 and 161 heartbeats ... a BOY and a GIRL!!!! Cervix on the "shorter side" (3-3.3) - going to check again in 2 weeks.
Fourth u/s 9/23/2013 - Baby A = 157 Baby B = 150 heartbeat. Cervix now 2.3-2.6 ... being referred to a MFM
MFM Appointment 9/26/2013 = Both babies healthy, cervix now measuring at 4 - Playing tricks on me ... will follow up in 2 weeks.
Cervical check 10/7 with regular OB - 2.1cm --- going BACK to the MFM armed with ultrasound pictures from my OB of my cervix. *sigh*
MFM Appointment 10/8 - confirmed my cervix at 2.1cm - putting me on Progesterone for a week.
MFM Appointment 10/17 - Cervix unchanged! Keeping me on Progesterone - followup 10/29
Everett Alan James (3lbs8oz) and Eliana Lee (3lbs7oz) born 12/28/13 at 30w6d!
My doc didn't want to do a pessary.
We went into the appt Friday morning agreeing that we would most likely not do the the cerclage, but we got there and it was down to .5. So after discussing it in depth with the doctor, we decided that at this point, we would do the cerclage and hope for the best.
So we quickly got into the o.r. and I got the cerclage placed. So now on bed rest and just hoping my cervix will hold as long as possible. Still nervous, of course, but staying positive!