Kind of short cervix? Confused.

kwrightnb

Hi there, I'm 22 weeks pregnant with baby #2 after loosing my daughter at 28 weeks last year (for unknown reasons).
I went for an ultrasound last week and my cervix was measuring 2.8 cm and my doctor mentioned that it was a little on the short side and wanted me to come back in a month to check it again. He's kind of wishy washy and just left it at that.
So now of course I'm looking all kinds of horrible things up and am thinking maybe this is what went wrong with my daughter last year (went to the ER at 24 weeks last time in severe pain and they sent me home, now after giving birth im positive it was a serve contraction ( lasted 45 minutes ) and at my 28 week appointment they discovered my babies heart hadn't been beating for weeks). I think my body was trying to go into labor and they just sent me home at 3 am.
Anyways, is there any advice for me? There was also NO fluid with my first baby when I went in at 28 weeks so I'm so nervous that I'm leaking fluid. I have always had ALOT of pressure deep in my pelvis and yesterday I had some stabbing pains that felt like I was sitting on a knife!
What are some signs I should be looking out for that might indicate my cervix is becoming TOO short? Should I be having sex at this point (I've been avoiding DH)?
Doctor said he didn't want me lifting over ten pounds but I work in a shipping and receiving unit for a hardware store and there is a lot of pushy and pulling and squating etc. I think I'm just freaking myself out, sorry for the rant just scared to death in going to loose another child..

PaniaO

If I were you, I'd push the issue. I'd explain that I didn't want to risk another loss and want to be monitored 3x/week at least. I'd actually probably be close to asking for a preventive cerclage if I'd already experienced a loss and had a cervix that short. Mine went from your length to 8mm in two days. I had no signs whatsoever. ETA: after re-reading, your story sounds quite different than a short cervix problem. I'm not familiar with the kind of contraction you describe, but would suggest monitoring the cervix more regularly than monthly nevertheless. Like I said, you won't necessarily have any signs and now is the time it would shorten--not at 26+ weeks (20-24 weeks is most risky for shortening).

kdebesche4

Do you happen to know what the length of your cervix has been at any of your previous appointments? I have a short cervix to start with (3.1-3.4 depending on the day), so as long as it doesn't change drastically, my dr isn't too concerned as long as it stays above 2.5cm. But I am checked every 2 weeks (pregnant with twins), as they want to keep an eye on things. With my last pregnancy I was always around 2.7cm and had my DS at 37 weeks. I would push the issue with your dr to make sure you feel like they are being proactive, especially with the previous loss. Best of luck!

kwrightnb

This was the first time he checked so I don't know what they were previously. He did ask me if I've been feeling a lot of pressure which I have been at work a lot where my job is so physical. The only reason he wanted to check was because he couldn't get a good look at baby's head through my abdomen as he was so low so he did a transvaginal u/s and measured it then.
Thanks ladies for the replies ! Maybe I will schedule an appointment with my family doctor to see what she thinks? Get a second opinion.

labecker21

It sounds like incompetent cervix which can lead to preterm labor. I would push for more frequent cervical length checks. My cervix was 2 at 20 weeks and I ended up being put on bedrest for the rest of my pregnancy.

erikaja6

I'm confused. You are on the high risk pregnancy board...so am I correct in assuming your doctor deals with high risk pregnancies? I'm not sure your family doctor is going to be more helpful than your current doctor. I would perhaps ask for another appointment with your doctor so he can address your questions/concerns.

As far as a cerclage is concerned, I don't believe doctors perform them after 24 weeks. So, if you wait a month to get your cervix measured again, it would be too late to even get one.  More importantly, a length of 2.8 is not quite in the "danger zone" (less than 2.5/some doctors say less than 2.0) and, as another poster said you might just have a cervix that is always on the shorter side. So, getting measured again (and not a month from now) to compare your cervical length is very important.

Push to get your questions answered and your concerns addressed. You have to be your biggest advocate. Good luck.

kwrightnb

It works a little differently where I live.. My family doctor monitors me my entire pregnancy and I see this other doctor only a couple times as there is only 5 specialists in my province. So for me to get a second opinion, there isn't anyone I can really go to other than her.
I am going to go in to the hospital today as I've been having some stabbing pains that aren't really disappearing and hopefully get them to check my cervix and everything again. Thanks for the responses ladies !

sbw193

Sorry for just jumping in.  I am 25 weeks + 3 days (April board) on modified bed rest since 20 weeks for a short cervix. My two cents: I would see if you can see him more often (every 2 weeks) or get a different doctor to monitor.  I was diagnosed with a short cervix at my anatomy scan at 20 weeks.  No prior history and my son was born at 37 weeks.  At the anatomy scan I was about a 2.5 and the maternal fetal medicine doc recommended progesterone suppositories and I return in a week.  No heavy lifting and to take it easy.  At the next appointment a week later I was 1.3 and put on modified bed rest with progesterone vaginally 2 x a day.  I switched doctors to get a second opinion and held steady for two weeks  at 1.3 and then on Christmas Eve (fun!) I had to have an emergency cerclage put in.  Now I am on progesterone 1/day and modified bed rest being seen every two weeks for any changes. And full pelvic rest, meaning besides the progesterone nothing else gets in.   I think that cervical length can change quickly and with your history of early loss that you should push to get seen more often or get a second opinion. 

Anaelsea

Noone told me the cervical length fluctuates with bowel movements, especially if youre constipated, and noone told me not to get turned on, because it relaxes the cervix further. Hope youre doing better this week?

jonesl12

At 25 weeks my cervical length was 2.7 so they put me on 200mg progesterone capsules I insert nightly.. ( not pleasant  but necessary ) and now at 29 weeks it's down to 2.0 so I'm on pelvic rest still but no bed rest or anything.
my doc told me that he's only concerned if it gets below 1.5 at this point because in almost 30 weeks.
He said just to "take it easy, no sex ( I've been on pelvic rest since I was 13 weeks) , and there's nothing I can do to change the situation so try not to stress. "

kwrightnb

Wow sorry ladies for not answering sooner I just seen all these messages now! Thank you so much for all who replied. Update: I had a mental breakdown and called maternal fetal medicine at my hospital and they got me to come in. After sitting in a bed for four hours arguing with the new intern on giving me a ultrasound we finally got ahold of my obstrician. He came up and did an ultrasound and I was measuring 3 cm exactly and he sent me home saying I was fine... My job is litterally to unload a transport truck full of hardware stock so I've been pretty freaked out ... I have another ultrasound this Wednesday thank god but this past week (25th week) is the week my first child stopped growing , so I feel if anything is wrong, this ultrasound will show it... Very scary