@peppercorn16 my measurements were pretty much the same as yours in the exact same weeks. They found my short cervix in week 22 as well. I was terrified. I'm heading into week 28 now with just progesterone and no bed rest. My cervix measurement is down to 1 or 1.5 (different techs and doctors say different things - frustrating). I'm still terrified, but every week it gets slightly less so.
Here's hoping out short cervixes can be small but mighty and carry us to term.
@peppercorn16 my measurements were pretty much the same as yours in the exact same weeks. They found my short cervix in week 22 as well. I was terrified. I'm heading into week 28 now with just progesterone and no bed rest. My cervix measurement is down to 1 or 1.5 (different techs and doctors say different things - frustrating). I'm still terrified, but every week it gets slightly less so.
Here's hoping out short cervixes can be small but mighty and carry us to term.
Good luck!
It is a scary thing to hear that is for sure! Glad you're getting up there in weeks though, not far from the 30s!! Good luck to you too, hope these little cervixes carry us through!
Thought I would share my experience, hopefully it eases some minds. My cervix was thinning at 19 weeks so they monitored me every couple weeks to see if it kept thinning, which it did. At 23 weeks I had a cerclage placed and put on "modified bed rest" I had put myself on bedrest at 20 weeks when I was scared about my thinning cervix. I had my cerclage removed at 36 weeks in which they predicted my labor to start, but nothing. I'm now 38 weeks and dilated to a 4. I never thought I would make it this far but it is possible, keep your head up and take it day by day. Feel free to ask any questions I didn't answer.
@remingtonchaise thanks for sharing your story and congrats on making it to 38 weeks! That's the stuff dreams are made of for us short cervix ladies.
My update: ultrasound today showed cervix down to .8 at 28+2. I just got my first steroid shot and I get my second tomorrow. My anti-bed rest doctors have finally put me on a modified bed rest, so I'll be working from home (bed) 4 out of 5 days per week. Luckily I have a career that I'm able to do that. Now I'm just hoping it will all work to take me to term or closer to it.
A well placed TAC can make bed rest a thing of the past and cure IC for most. It might be worth looking into for someone out there. Abbyloopers is a community that has more information about it.
@breezypip I can't remember, are you also on progesterone?
My docs stopped checking my cervix at 24 weeks (it was 1.9). I'm still on progesterone until 36 weeks and was told to take it easy. So far I'm 31 weeks and no major issues yet! I do get BH contractions and these painful sharp contractions in my lower uterus (was told this was due to irritable uterus) but as long as they aren't consistent the docs aren't worried.
Now just waiting it out!
@remingtonchaise What an awesome story! Glad to hear that baby is still cooking! There is definitely hope for full-term babies for us IC girls!
@kidcapri100 yes! I've been on progesterone since week 23. So I basically have the works now, just without a cerclage. The modified bed rest they have now ordered was explained to me as "the last thing we can control", and that it's not proven to prevent pre-term labor, but that it can't hurt so we'll give it a shot. I'm ok with that.
36 weeks is great! My doctors are telling me that going full term or close to it is definitely possible, but since my cervix is so short now they want to play it safe and get me the steroids "just in case". They have been very adamant to tell me I shouldn't sit around thinking I'll definitely have a pre-term baby, it's just an elevated possibility. After reading all the great outcomes I'm choosing to think positively instead of worrying about something I can't control.
My cervix check today was just "eh"...Just a recap, last week at 22&5 was when I officially was diagnosed w/ short cervix at 2.2 cm (after being at 4 around 18 weeks) and given progesterone suppositories and put on bed rest. This week at 23&5 it initially looked like GREAT news when she first inserted the probe, with a measurement of 3.4. I almost breathed a sigh of relief until she put my cervix through the paces of me bearing down/then fully relaxing my muscles/her applying pressure internally/then applying pressure externally, and got a measurement of 2.7, then 1.8. Of course they go by the shortest number, so I am on strict bed rest, continued progesterone, and getting rechecked weekly for now. still closed, not contracting, and healthy baby growing fast. Doctor says we are still holding onto the possibility of full term, but are shooting for 26 weeks, then 28, and anything beyond that we are thrilled. Recheck next week! Happy to hear all of you hanging in there, sending strong&long cervix vibes to all!
Cervix is 1.3 cm
circlage at 18 weeks, bedrest until february. Had to quit my job, dealing with
laying down all day. 8 miscarriages, this is #9.
FYI!!!! Do not read 50
shades of gray, do not make out or mess around with hubby, do not watch heavy
TV romance/trublood/sultry stuff, it will relax your cervix further and can
cause opening of the cervix. No joke. My doc said he didnt know, but i spoke to
the OBGYN consultant to the surgeon general and he said it does relax the cervix and
can cause preterm labor if done too often.
I just had a cerclage placed two days ago at 13 weeks. After a premature birth at almost 21 weeks in my past, this has been the option chosen by my doctor for the last two pregnancies. My last pregnancy with the cerclage left my baby cooking until one day before his due date! Hoping that will be the case with this one as well. Good luck to you all and cerclage is definitely a great option.
hi ladies! here's my recap and update: 2.9 cm @ 21 weeks, and 2.2 cm @ 23 weeks, 3.5cm @ 25 weeks, 2.2cm @ 29 weeks, and now 3.0cm @ 31 weeks! I believe the dip I had at 29 weeks was due to severe and frequent contractions from dehydration from a cold, and irritation from a UTI. After I recovered from both of those issues, my contractions decreased and my cervix went back up!
Next goal is to get to 32 weeks, and MFM suspects I'll be ready to deliver @ 34 weeks (small baby, borderline IUGR). Hoping to go longer though! I was initially worried since I couldn't get a cerclage, but have been able to make it this far with progesterone and bed rest. Good luck ladies, let's keep these babies cooking!
@azimum Awesome to see your measurements have been steady! Fingers crossed your LO has a growth spurt and jumps over the IUGR borderline. As my doc keeps telling me "just take it a week at a time" ...we are almost there!
Thanks @kidcapri100! I remember feeling so scared and hopeless at 24 weeks, but you're right, it's one week at a time! Can't believe I've made it this far! Hope all is going well on your end
Weekly cervix check showed that my cervix is still short and dynamic, but stable! Was placed on a contraction monitor-- no contractions, and had a FFn that came back negative! Take it one day and one week at a time ladies, we can do this! I am 24 weeks 4 days today. If you are on bed rest and having trouble with feeling hopeless and feeling like you have an eternity left, I encourage you to make small goals/milestones to hit along the way. Some of mine are "next OB appointment", "26 weeks", "28 weeks", "mom comes to visit", "Thanksgiving" etc etc and I have countdowns for each of my goals that I update daily. It has REALLY helped me and is helping make the days and weeks seem shorter. I attached a screenshot of my countdown post-it on my computer, and also a chart to help you make goals in terms of baby's GA. Hopefully it helps someone!
Re: 23 wks 1d shortening of cervix
Here's hoping out short cervixes can be small but mighty and carry us to term.
Good luck!
My cervix was thinning at 19 weeks so they monitored me every couple weeks to see if it kept thinning, which it did. At 23 weeks I had a cerclage placed and put on "modified bed rest" I had put myself on bedrest at 20 weeks when I was scared about my thinning cervix.
I had my cerclage removed at 36 weeks in which they predicted my labor to start, but nothing. I'm now 38 weeks and dilated to a 4.
I never thought I would make it this far but it is possible, keep your head up and take it day by day. Feel free to ask any questions I didn't answer.
My update: ultrasound today showed cervix down to .8 at 28+2. I just got my first steroid shot and I get my second tomorrow. My anti-bed rest doctors have finally put me on a modified bed rest, so I'll be working from home (bed) 4 out of 5 days per week. Luckily I have a career that I'm able to do that. Now I'm just hoping it will all work to take me to term or closer to it.
My docs stopped checking my cervix at 24 weeks (it was 1.9). I'm still on progesterone until 36 weeks and was told to take it easy. So far I'm 31 weeks and no major issues yet! I do get BH contractions and these painful sharp contractions in my lower uterus (was told this was due to irritable uterus) but as long as they aren't consistent the docs aren't worried.
Now just waiting it out!
@remingtonchaise What an awesome story! Glad to hear that baby is still cooking! There is definitely hope for full-term babies for us IC girls!
36 weeks is great! My doctors are telling me that going full term or close to it is definitely possible, but since my cervix is so short now they want to play it safe and get me the steroids "just in case". They have been very adamant to tell me I shouldn't sit around thinking I'll definitely have a pre-term baby, it's just an elevated possibility. After reading all the great outcomes I'm choosing to think positively instead of worrying about something I can't control.
Cervix is 1.3 cm circlage at 18 weeks, bedrest until february. Had to quit my job, dealing with laying down all day. 8 miscarriages, this is #9.
FYI!!!! Do not read 50 shades of gray, do not make out or mess around with hubby, do not watch heavy TV romance/trublood/sultry stuff, it will relax your cervix further and can cause opening of the cervix. No joke. My doc said he didnt know, but i spoke to the OBGYN consultant to the surgeon general and he said it does relax the cervix and can cause preterm labor if done too often.
As my doc keeps telling me "just take it a week at a time" ...we are almost there!