@sleepydaze All they will tell you at the ER is that you’re having a threatened MC. They hate when women come in bleeding in early pregnancy. There isn’t anything they can do to help and they always give a diagnosis of threatened MC. Plus, most of the time their US machines aren’t that great. I’m glad things have tapered off. Hopefully it won’t happen again.
Hey guys, just thought I'd check back in and happily report that I had my first ultrasound today and baby is still in there. 7w4d, heartbeat of 144. My bleeding stopped a day or so ago. Feeling a lot more relaxed. Thank you all for the support and well wishes!
Hey everyone. I just went in for an ultrasound and was measured with a cervix of 2.5 cm at 12 weeks (supposed to be 3 to 4 cm?). Trying not to freak out, but that seems short. Last pregnancy I measured at 1.8 cm at 26 weeks but took progesterone and was actually induced a 41 weeks. I'm waiting to be booked for a cerclage. Doctor said if I hadn't come in that I probably would have lost baby between 16 and 24 weeks. Apparently I ha e a heart shaped uterus which pulls on my cervix and makes it short. Just wondering if anyone else has experience with cerclage? Trying not to bawl my eyes out but frankly feel like I'm going to be on pins and needles until I reach a "safe" zone of 32 weeks or something.
@sleepydaze oh my gosh I'm so sorry you're going through this. I've never heard of cervix length causing miscarriages. I'm so glad u went in and were seen. So is there anything they can do in the meantime to keep things in check? Will they put you in progesterone or something else? Hugs to you
Thanks @nasalot188 and @whatabout2ndbreakfast. I was kinda so shocked I forgot to ask about progesterone so am gonna ask whichever OB I'm sent to. Other than cerclage and progesterone I'm not sure if they can do anything else. @whatabout2ndbreakfast thank you for sharing this! I only know of one friend, who went through this at around 18 weeks and unfortunately lost her baby, even though they had her on progesterone and did the cerclage. Your story gives me hope! To answer your question, I had requested having a specialist see me to double check my cervix as I had a shortened cervix last pregnancy, so I knew to advocate for myself to get more info about it this time after a poorly done 1st ultrasound.
@sleepydaze sorry you're going through this but I'm glad they found it early. Mom's on my previous BMB have had a cerclage and it worked for them. One of them lost a daughter at 24 weeks because of her incompetent cervix and went on to have two healthy boys (one premie and one full term) with the cerclage. Another mom had a cerclage and was on bedrest in the hospital for the last 5-6 weeks of pregnancy but made it to full term. It is scary but with treatment and monitoring you will have a beautiful baby.
*TW LC*
Me & MH: 32 DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU) TTC #2: 12/2019 Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
Just an update, I was sent to the hospital last night to get a cerclage. After waiting for 9 hours, the OBs decided they disagreed with the other OB and specialist who sent me there and preferred to monitor me biweekly to see if I needed a cerclage instead. The specialist told me 2.5 cm but wrote down 2.8 so based on 2.8 they don't feel it's as serious a concern. They said based on my past pregnancies they think I have a strong cervix even though it's short. I'll be on progesterone for 3 months and hopefully no cerclage! Feeling a bit more confident about this pregnancy but just gonna take things easy from now on.
Had my own scare today... I was in the office and felt a huge gush. There was a lot of blood all of the sudden. I left and went to the ER. After a ton of bloodwork and an ultrasound, it looks like everything is okay, but they're referring me to an external clinic for a follow up early next week.
We did get one positive out of the day. They don't usually allow visitors to come into the exam rooms, but because it was a potential miscarriage situation, our nurse made the call that the emotional support was essential and made an exception. Which meant that my husband actually got to see a live ultrasound for the first (and possibly only) time.
For now, I'm just resting at home and planning on taking it real easy this weekend.
@gutsysneakers The doctor I saw made it super clear that she is an ER doctor and doesn't specialize in pregnancy, but also suggested that sometimes the placenta slips down and covers the cervix and it can cause painless bleeding like I described. I was thinking/hoping it was an SCH but she didn't mention that and I would have assumed that would show up on the ultrasound? I figure I'll probably get better answers next week with the specialist clinic.
@sawasap My husband is an ER doc and I can tell you they don’t know much about OB stuff other than telling you it is a threatened miscarriage and to follow up with your provider. The US machines aren’t the best either. So they may not have been able to see a SCH. It all depends on the machine and the knowledge of the person giving you the US.
Thanks for the support, all. I got the call today that the earliest they can see me is Wednesday morning. Had a bit of a chat with one of the nurses at my OB's office this morning and that helped too, she told me not to worry unless I hit the point where I need to go back to the ER (they gave me a list of things to watch for when I left). I'm also trying to remember that them not rushing me in means that they don't consider it to be super urgent and that's a good thing. I just don't like not knowing what the issue is.
@sawasap it's so hard to not know what's going on with these pregnancies! I like what you said about no rush = not super urgent, I'm going to try to remember that for my own situation since it feels like I keep getting blown off by my health care providers. I hope the appt clears things up for you and provides lots of reassurance!
The ultrasound today found a tiny SCH. Doctor is not at all concerned about it, just was told to be on pelvic rest for a couple of weeks and all should be resolved! Everything else looks good and the baby's growth is "textbook" so I am feeling much better about everything now. Thank you all for your support and kind words over the last few days ❤
I just need to vent. So I'm down to 2.3 cm cervix at 14 weeks (it should be 4cm). I was 2.8 two weeks ago so that's a loss of .5 cm. It's still closed thankfully but the doctors all seem reluctant to do a cerclage (cervix procedure). It's frustrating to just be sent to ultrasounds, watching my cervix shrink away and not have any medical intervention done. I'm definitely stressing out and dealing with anxiety. I've had to spend 2 weeks doing constant phone calls to advocate for myself and get some answers and still feel like nothing besides "monitoring" is happening. I'm not supposed to start progesterone for 2 more weeks. I'm feeling pretty low at times and feel like the chances of me even having a viable pregnancy at this point are not high. I have to make it at least 10 more weeks for baby to stand a chance at life. I also have two littles at home and because I'm often so stressed/anxious I'm just not patient with my 2 year old. I've already reduced my exercise to walking only for 8 weeks and done pelvic rest for most of this pregnancy. I just feel so done with this whole situation and feel like every time I see baby on the ultrasound that it's gonna be the last time I see them thriving.
@sleepydaze Why are they so reluctant to do anything? I would be on the phone demanding a cerclage! Losing .5 cm in that short of time is concerning. Have you thought of getting a second opinion?
@sleepydaze I'm so sorry you're going through this. I can't imagine the stress and worry. I agree I would seek a second opinion. Progesterone seems like are a really simple low risk thing to do so why are they waiting 2 weeks for that?
*TW LC*
Me & MH: 32 DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU) TTC #2: 12/2019 Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
@sleepydaze I'm so sorry you're going through all of this. I'm frustrated for you! It just seems like your doctor is being very passive and not communicating very well. I agree with @emeraldcity1214, I would ask for a second opinion. Another OB might be able to get you in right away if they knew what was going on? Hang in there...
@sleepydaze I'm sorry, that sounds so frustrating. It seems weird to me too that they wouldn't be doing anything at this point? If you can, get a second opinion. If you can't do that, maybe ask at what point they would do the cerclage and see if you can get them to explain why they're hesitant to do it. There may be something that they know that we internet folks don't, and maybe getting a better explanation will make you feel better about it. But I would still say a second opinion would be best, if you can get one.
@sleepydaze that is so stressful! I’m sorry, hopefully they can give you some kind of reassuring explanation or you can find another OB to give a second opinion
@sleepydaze that’s incredibly frustrating and I’m so sorry you are going through such a stressful time. Don’t give up on seeking answers and advocating for yourself and your baby. I hope you can find some peace soon.
@sleepydaze that's so stressful and it's even more frustrating when you're trying to advocate for yourself and not being listened to. I'm sorry you're going through this.
@emeraldcity1214 at this point my midwives have talked to 4+ OB at the hospital over 2 weeks but apparently there's controversy over cerclage and its risks. My midwives have been very supportive with whatever is happening but unfortunately there are just so many hoops I have to jump through. Ex last time they said well you're not under 2.5 cm. So I said, now I'm at 2.3. They said, well, you don't have a history of 2nd trimester losses. So basically I have those this baby, and another one, before they take me seriously???? Anyway I've been waiting 20 hours for a Maternal Fetal doctor to call back and talk to my midwives about my situation. These doctors seem to love being elusive. ETA: usually they find out about short cervix when it's too late ex at 20 week scan. From what I've seen, all the studies are done on women around that gestational age and very little info is found at my time frame (14 weeks). I think they will be forced to offer once I drop below 2 cm but at this rate they'll just tell me to continue monitoring.
@sleepydaze oh man that is so stressful!! I hope they are able to give you some solutions/answers soon, or at least a better explanation/game plan going forward! Good job in advocating for both you and baby!
***UPDATE*** The Maternal Fetal Medicine said they will do a cerclage soon for me (it's not considered urgent or else would be done asap). But they want to do one more ultrasound first. I guess they just can't get enough of looking at my goods.
@sleepydaze That's good news! Both that they're going to do the cerclage and that they don't consider it urgent. And hey, more ultrasounds means more looks at growing baby.
Re: **TW: Spotting/Bleeding/Threatened Loss Support
@whatabout2ndbreakfast thank you for sharing this! I only know of one friend, who went through this at around 18 weeks and unfortunately lost her baby, even though they had her on progesterone and did the cerclage. Your story gives me hope! To answer your question, I had requested having a specialist see me to double check my cervix as I had a shortened cervix last pregnancy, so I knew to advocate for myself to get more info about it this time after a poorly done 1st ultrasound.
DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU)
TTC #2: 12/2019
Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube
Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN
Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
We did get one positive out of the day. They don't usually allow visitors to come into the exam rooms, but because it was a potential miscarriage situation, our nurse made the call that the emotional support was essential and made an exception. Which meant that my husband actually got to see a live ultrasound for the first (and possibly only) time.
For now, I'm just resting at home and planning on taking it real easy this weekend.
Hope your appt goes well today.
DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU)
TTC #2: 12/2019
Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube
Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN
Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
ETA: usually they find out about short cervix when it's too late ex at 20 week scan. From what I've seen, all the studies are done on women around that gestational age and very little info is found at my time frame (14 weeks). I think they will be forced to offer once I drop below 2 cm but at this rate they'll just tell me to continue monitoring.