Cervical scar tissue?

Sportsmomacc

At my appt last week, my OB mentioned that he felt some scar tissue on my cervix.  I had a spot frozen on my cervix 10+ yrs ago that I had completely forgotten about.  He mentioned that I would probably stay at 1cm until I get into active labor and either the scar tissue will pop on it's own or he can manually do it - ouch!  He said this should not cause any issues with having a natural birth.  Just looking to see if anyone else had scar tissue that kept them from dilating and how birth turned out for you.  Also, did anyone try EPO to help soften the scar tissue...did it work?  TIA!!

amandaleigh1

Interesting that your OB said he could feel it. I asked my OB whether or not my 12 year ago cryo surgery would interfere with dilation, and she said you can't tell by look or feel that it is there . She then added that it rarely interferes. I would be interested to hear how other's experience has been with this.

drubie

Check out this page: https://www.birthresourcenetwork.org/blog/98-cervical-scar-tissue--a-big-issue-that-no-one-is-talking-about

It's actually something you should definitely deal with! 

jennyelf

I had cryosurgery about 7 years ago (gave birth 2 months ago). I was completely closed at 39 weeks, went into labor at 40 weeks, stayed at 2 cm for a really long time (2pm check and 10pm check). 5 cm at 2am, delivered at 4am.

My OB was aware of and did notice some minor scarring during my exam. She also mentioned how it should pop on it's own during active labor. I didn't need any interventions, so I suppose that means that the scars popped on their own. I didn't notice any extra pain from them doing so. But now that I think about it, I wonder if that's why I stayed at 2 cm for so long and then delivered so quickly.

3003girl

I had some scar tissue from a laser surgery and was told it would probably not be a problem. During labor I was *almost* fully dilated, but had a "cervical lip" that would just not budge. My MW asked if I wanted her to try to move it and I said yes, knowing that it would hurt. OMFG it hurt - it was the only time I screamed during labor.

My labor seemed to progress fine - I started contrax at midnight, was at the birth center at 5am at 7cm, and was 10cm at 7am.

I think it's something you need to be aware of - it might not be a problem, but it might be... so it's good to be prepared.  

dmhrn13

you can feel some peoples scars while others seem to have none from a cervical procedure. take evening primrose to soften it as much as you can. the good news is that women with scars tend to thin out all the way first (which is a lot of work) then dilate. so you may contract away and like yout doc said, still be 1 cm. its easy to stretch it in labor & then things usually go quickly once its been broken up. i've had a leep so i worry about it too- but its ok- just don't get discouraged if you first exam isn't "big numbers"- it rarely casues women to have a real problem.

electricdoctor83

I had a cervical thick stitch (cerclage) placed from 12 weeks to 36 weeks with this pregnancy.  After the removal my OB said he felt scar tissue from the stitch and that it should break during active labor.  I went from 1.5 cm dilated last week to 3 cm this week and the tissue is still there.  Right now it's actually keeping me from dilating too much too early (I have a history of a floppy incompetent cervix). 

I guess as I get further along without progress then I may ask him to possibly manually break it up. 

drpayne

It didn't cause any issues for me.  In fact, I was 7 cm when I got to the birth center (and I didn't labor at home that long).  I honestly don't think you'll know until you're in labor but I'm sure it depends a lot on the extent of scarring.  I did use EPO... no way of knowing if it helped