Anyone have a similar story - shortened cervix at 29 wks

sexyntexy

I hope this post doesnt bother anyone as I dont have a preemie.  Im just really scared and wanted to know if anyone else had a similar experience.   I'm c&ping from ny home board...

I didnt have a great drs appointment today. I posted that I have been having a lot of pelvic pain and that I thought it could be SPD. I had an u/s today to look at the baby's profile since they havent been able to see it based on his position (still couldnt see it). They went ahead and measured my cervix and it's only 2.61 cm. It was 4.34 at 20 weeks. The dr is concerned since it has gotten so much smaller on top of me having so much pain. She made me take a fetal fibronectin (fFN) test to see if Im going to go into labor w/in the next 2 weeks.

If the test comes back positive I may have to be put on bedrest. If it is negative I will come back in a week for them to re-check my cervix.

I'm really scared. Im only 29 weeks today and he is not ready to be born. Im freaking out even though I know everything could be fine. Anyone have a similar experience? TIA!

angelicalopez29

My dumb doctor never said anything (I am no longer going with him) but I always felt the lengths of my cervix were off. At 14 weeks my cervix was 4.5, at 22 it was 3.8, and it just kept shortening, which I think was the cause of my early delivery, which also my stupid OB never made clear, even if the test comes back negative, I would strongly suggest you put yourself in bed rest, baby CAN survive outside the womb, but it is extremely hard to see them struggle day to day in the NICU, take care of yourself and your baby to keep cooking until full term, God Bless....

 

IncogNeato

My cervix was around 3cm at 22 weeks so I was monitored but I think it stayed above 2.6 until around 32 weeks. I had a neg FFN test at 33 weeks and my water broke 3 wks later. I'd at least try to stay off your feet as much as possible. I wish I had tried harder but my OB wasn't concerned.

kikijbunny

Your story sounds very familiar.  I went in for my 28 week growth ultrasound, complaining of menstrual-like cramping that wasn't lessening if I changed position, drank water, etc.  I also suffered from mild SPD, but that wasn't an immediate concern.  The doctor decided to check my cervix, and I was 1.8 cm.  I was placed on bed rest (not strict, just told to stay at home and "act like a slug" on the couch, recliner, or bed).  A week later my cervix was still 1.8 cm but I had dilated 1 cm, so bed rest continued.I was on bed rest for the duration of my pregnancy.  My dilation kept increasing.  I made it to 34w1d before delivering my baby.  I had fFN tests every two weeks, and they all came back negative, which bought us a little time.  The last fFN test my OB did wasn't processed because when the OB checked me after I was already 4 cm dilated (at 33w5d), and so she just sent me straight to L&D.  I had to be induced two days later because of a separate issue (Group B strep test came back positive and they didn't want to risk infection).Your experience may differ, but you likely have the chance to keep baby cooking for a good while longer!  Best wishes to you and I hope you won't have to join us here (but if you need to, we are here)! ETA: oops, just realized I was signed in under my old user name when I originally posted... correcting my login...will delete other post!

KristinaIsAGeek

I'm 29w5d today and my cervix is so short that it's difficult to measure. It's about .53cm, a fingertip dilated, and the last time I got an fFn was 9 days ago (it's positive). All you can do at this point is stay off your feet as much as possible and stay positive. The fFn test only yields a valuable outcome if it's negative anyway. A positive fFn isn't indicative that you will definitely go into labor, but a negative outcome indicates that you have less than a 1% chance of going into labor. Stay positive! If your cervix is only just now shortening, it's very likely that you can make it to term. Best of luck!

smw123

I went into preterm labor at 29 weeks and was 100% effaced and 4 cm dialated.  I was on hospital bedrest and spent the first 3 days on mag and wasn't allowed to get out of bed at all.  I spent 5 weeks on hospital bedrest and 2 more weeks at home.  The day before I went into labor I was dialated to 5 and I delievered him at 36 weeks.  I would definitely stay off my feet as much as possible.  I am expecting again and I am defintely taking it easy this time around.

Jessys_Girl

With my first pregnancy, I was placed on bedrest at 28 for a shortening cervix.  They called it an "incompetent cervix".  i was given steriods to help baby's lungs strengthen in case she was born early, and I was given the FFN test which thankfully came back negative.

I had multiple other complications, and was on complete bedrest from 28 weeks until I delivered at 36w3d.

Imprezachic991

I wen through the same thing...At 27 weeks I was at work one day and noticed my lower back was hurting...I just figured it was the pregnancy so I took a tylenol...An hour later it was still there to the point it was uncomfortable.  So, I called my OB.  They said to come in....Turns out I have having contrax 2 mins apart.  So, the circus started....Two days later I had an appt (after the hosp. stopped my contrax and I was sent home), found out my cervix was at 2 cm.  My ffn test came back positive.  I was put on strict bedrest.   

At 29 weeks 3 days, I was eating dinner and my waterbroke.  At 30weeks 1 day, my little Cameron was born.  He spent 38 days in the NICU.  We couldn't have been more thankful though.  He was a great 2lbs 15oz and didn't have ANY breathing issues (I received steroid shots while in the hospital).   He will now be 1 year on 25th (due date oct. 1).  It is very scary but hang in there!  Try to not stress as much as possible.  Take things one day at a time.  

I'm sure you will do great! Good luck mama!!