Cervix starting to thin....

ceyda79

So what exactly does this mean? Has anyone heard the same thing? I have an incompetent cervix and at today's appt. my Dr told me that I'm much larger than the norm at 34 weeks and that my cervix has started to thin. She told me to stay home from work and come back to see her next week. Anyone else have this? By the way...I went in today b/c for the past 3 days I've been having awful cramping and diarrhea which they claim can be signs of early delivery. I was told that I likely have the stomach bug that's going around. They did some blood tests to be sure so fingers crossed.

MrsHT

I was at the doc on Monday and was told the same thing.  My doctor told me its just my body starting to prepare itself.  Doesn't mean LO is on its way this week.  But its good progress.

homebird

Your cervix thins out (effaces) and opens (dialates) as your body gets ready for delivery.

Apparently I am 40% effaced with not much dilation, so that doesn't really mean anything at this point. Well, it means I'm on my way. But I won't be having this baby anytime soon.

anabell0920

Your cervix needs to do multiple things not just dilate here this explains them all

https://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,6234,00.html

Cervical ripening. Early in labor, or even at a late prenatal visit, your practitioner may tell you that your cervix is ripe. This means that your cervix has softened (a cervix typically feels similar to a nose) and may be even somewhat dilated. Ripeness is a term sometimes used to indicate that your body is ready for labor.

Dilation is the width that the cervix is open. Dilation can begin before labor actually starts, or in early labor, and is measured in centimeters. For most deliveries, the cervix needs to dilate from zero (not dilated at all) to 10 centimeters (fully dilated) before pushing can begin and the baby delivered. This range is based on the fact that a full-term baby's head is about 10 centimeters across.

Effacement is the shortening, or thinning, of the cervix. Like dilation, it begins before or during early labor. Before effacement takes place, the cervix is like a long bottleneck, usually about 4 centimeters in length. As effacement takes place, the cervix then shortens, or effaces, pulling up into the uterus and becoming part of the lower uterine wall. Effacement may be measured in percentages, from zero percent (not effaced at all) to 100 percent, which describes a paper-thin cervix.

Station refers to how high the baby's head, or other presenting part, is in the pelvis. This information is important because practitioners need to get a sense of how far the baby has descended into the birth canal. Station is determined by feeling where the baby rests in relation to the ischial spines, the parts of the pelvic girdle that protrude slightly in toward the birth canal and can be felt inside the vagina by an experienced examiner.

Station is measured from minus 5 to plus 5. Minus 5 station means the baby is floating above the pelvis. Zero station means the baby has dropped or engaged well into the pelvis and that his head rests right at the level of the ischial spines. And plus 5 means the baby's head not only has come down past the ischial spines, but also is visible at the opening of the vagina (also known as crowning). While the principle is still the same, some practitioners use a scale of minus 3 to plus 3 instead of 5.

Bedrestbabe

I also have an IC. Thinning just means that the lower part of your uterus is getting ready for delivery. It doesn't necessarily mean u r going into labor tomorrow or anything. First a cervic effaces(thins) then it dilates.

three4me

If you have an incompetent cervix, effacement could definitely mean something.  I'm sure she just wants you to relax for the week, then check you again to see if you have progressed any more.  it could be something, it could be nothing but you should definitely be monitored closely. 

I have an incompetent cervix too and have a cerclage in place to keep my cervix closed but I lost a baby at 24 weeks due to incompetent cervix.  I didn't start having contractions or any labor pains until my cervix was 10 cm dilated.  By then it was too late to try and stop anything.

ceyda79

No dilating yet...so why does she want me to stay home? Oh well I'll take it!

anabell0920

ceyda79:

No dilating yet...so why does she want me to stay home? Oh well I'll take it!

Did you ask your doctor this? Only she can answer this. Ask questions! It our job as a patient!

ceyda79

three4me:

If you have an incompetent cervix, effacement could definitely mean something.  I'm sure she just wants you to relax for the week, then check you again to see if you have progressed any more.  it could be something, it could be nothing but you should definitely be monitored closely. 

I have an incompetent cervix too and have a cerclage in place to keep my cervix closed but I lost a baby at 24 weeks due to incompetent cervix.  I didn't start having contractions or any labor pains until my cervix was 10 cm dilated.  By then it was too late to try and stop anything.

Ok makes sense! Thank you!

three4me

anabell0920:

ceyda79:

No dilating yet...so why does she want me to stay home? Oh well I'll take it!

Did you ask your doctor this? Only she can answer this. Ask questions! It our job as a patient!

Agreed.  Especially with a diagnosis as serious as IC, I would be questioning everything.  You could go from " a little effaced" to "full on labor" in no time with your diagnosis.  I'm sure she just wants you to rest until she feels sure that won't happen.  I'm not your doctor though, but that would be my guess.

LaurelBee

ceyda79:

No dilating yet...so why does she want me to stay home? Oh well I'll take it!

The less you're on your feet, the less chance of continued effacement/dialation.  (gravity pulls baby down farther!)  Take it easy and make DH vacuum this week

ceyda79

I got it! It's obvious that it's more risky for me since I have an IC and she needs to start monitoring me closely. You all rock! Thanks!