1 CM Dilated and 75 Effaced LEEP Procedure

sarahlizzy2914 · December 2013

I'll try to make this short and sweet. I am Due Feb. 9th and I am 32 weeks and 2 days.

So on 12/11, I got out of work (hairstylist) at 8:00 p.m. I was driving home and I started having contractions. I got home and drank water and laid on the couch. I was having menstrual type cramps, but the lower back pain was worse. It was sporadic and lasted through the night. I drank 50 oz. of water by the time I made it to bed at 11:00 p.m. Woke up, still having contractions, BUT not strong enough to keep me up. I had a regular OB appt. at 9:00 a.m. so I went to that. She checked me and said 1 CM 75 Effaced, with a very soft cervix. (We have been keeping an eye on my cervix through U.S. because I’ve had a LEEP surgery on it back in 2007 for PreCancerous cells) SO she sent me straight to L&D. I was monitored and I was having contractions, mild, but there. They gave me meds to stop them. Yadda, Yadda. 20 minutes later, with one shot, they are gone! LOWER BACK RELIEF! Haha. So, because I have had surgery on my cervix, and a really soft cervix that’s so effaced at 31 weeks, they decided to give me two rounds of steroids. One shot, then another 24 hours later.

They sent me home the following day because my cervix had not changed over the night. I am on bed rest and cannot go back to work. Hairstylist isn't the best job to have in this scenario. SO I'm wondering, this morning, and I don't see my OB until Friday. I know having a LEEP can make your cervix weak BUT would having a LEEP procedure make my cervix feel more effaced than a normal cervix? You think the doc is keeping that in mind? Because my cervix, I think, is already shorter to begin with? I know we aren't all doctors here. But I'm wondering if anyone else has had a LEEP before and experienced something similar?

Heatherlp43 · December 2013

Have not experienced this but wishing you luck! T&p's

NoelMarieFrey · December 2013

Did you OB follow you more closely since having the HX of a LEEP?

KaraLeigh115 · December 2013

I had a LEEP and colposcopy* done. A few of each actually. (Not colonoscopy) for precancerous cells as well back in 2009. They checked me with my first DS (2011) an said it all looked ok and this one it's like they aren't minding it too much. I wish they would cause it's still in my head

MamaHollywood27 · December 2013

I have a similar situation except my cervix is completely thinned out and I had my LEEP just last year. I also have a history of PTD so that's y we are keeping an eye. Not sure what exactly u want to know? Yes ur doctor should still be able to tell how effaced u are since they know what u started out with. I'm stuck taking it one day at a time and have had the shots also, I think that is pretty standard in most practices for possible preterm delivery. Gl and hope u keep LO cooking as long as possible

NoelMarieFrey · December 2013

TyrannosaurusLex said:

Yes I've had a leep and yes my cervix is shorter/shaped a bit differently than the average bears. I too am one cm dialated and my cervix is shortening but not in the danger zone yet. I'm on bedrest. I had a 5 day hospital stay due to preterm labou last week. The fact is, our cervix's are weaker and more unstable due to having a leep. Some women I our shoes will have totally normal pregnancies, others will have complications. I'm reading your question as you wondering if your doc isn't aware that this is your "normal" now. The fact that your cervix may be shorter or less competent to begin with doesn't mean this is nothing for your doc to be concerned about - quite the opposite. Eta: what I'm getting at is yor cervix won't just feel more effaced than someone else's - it will BE more effaced. Same body part, you just have less of it. Effacement is effacement. zero is zero.

Same as Tlex. I had a LEEP back in 2008, and due to this I was being watched. My cervix is shortening but not to the point where they are overly concerned. I get my cervix check every other week.

sarahlizzy2914 · December 2013

Thanks Ladies. Yes,my OB was keeping an eye on my cervix. I was getting a trans-vaginal us with every appointment up until 28 weeks. She said by then if it hasn't changed, it shouldn't. Well......hmmmm. It did. Just plain and simple.I thought effacement was the shortening of the cervix,well my cervix is shorter than normal. But I'm sure my OB is keeping that in mind, I just don't want to believe that this is really happening. And not knowing if it's still thinning is driving me nuts! I go in Friday and they'll check. I'm just sitting here waiting for something to happen, but maybe it wont? Maybe I'm still exactly 1 cm and 75? GAAAAAAA!

LHC2011 · December 2013

I also had the LEEP which causes my cervix to be shorter than the average cervix. So when most people measure 5 cm, I am started off at 3.5 (that is the longest I have ever measured). With my first pregnancy (and this one), I had ultrasounds every other week to make sure that it wasn't getting too short. With the first pregnancy, it did get short, I had to see a high-risk dr, and take a bunch of medications. Just to make you feel better, this pregnancy has been so much easier. I have NO clue why, but my cervix has measured longer this entire time and I haven't had to visit the high-risk dr. or take any medication.

At this point in pregnancy, most people start to have cervical changes and my dr. is going to stop checking. I remember being 1 cm dilated last time at 32 weeks and ended up carrying my son until 38w5d, AND ended up having to get a c-section! Seriously, I feel your pain. The whole LEEP/cervical stuff is so stressful, but there are a lot of us that have gone through it. Good luck and keep those feet up

MamaHollywood27 · December 2013

sarahlizzy2914 said:
Thanks Ladies. Yes,my OB was keeping an eye on my cervix. I was getting a trans-vaginal us with every appointment up until 28 weeks. She said by then if it hasn't changed, it shouldn't. Well......hmmmm. It did. Just plain and simple.I thought effacement was the shortening of the cervix,well my cervix is shorter than normal. But I'm sure my OB is keeping that in mind, I just don't want to believe that this is really happening. And not knowing if it's still thinning is driving me nuts! I go in Friday and they'll check. I'm just sitting here waiting for something to happen, but maybe it wont? Maybe I'm still exactly 1 cm and 75? GAAAAAAA!

We do as few manual checks as possible, I am a walking contraction, so I would be cautious getting checked if u have not been contracting or don't have any other symptoms that could relate to possible dialation. Just the check can cause contractions and end up causing u to dialate, especially already soft and opening up! And having the LEEP

plus they are not the most fun thing to have done

karich · December 2013

I had a LEEP back in 2002. I'm on my 3rd (assuming this one goes as well as the other two) completely event-less full term pregnancy.
Just wanted to throw that out there so you knew it IS possible to have no complications after a LEEP.

Also: you can walk around cms dilated for weeks and not deliver. I was 2cm with DD1 for almost 5 weeks.

Hope you ladies continue to have LOs cooperate and keep cooking!

sarahlizzy2914 · December 2013

LHC2011 said:
I also had the LEEP which causes my cervix to be shorter than the average cervix. So when most people measure 5 cm, I am started off at 3.5 (that is the longest I have ever measured). With my first pregnancy (and this one), I had ultrasounds every other week to make sure that it wasn't getting too short. With the first pregnancy, it did get short, I had to see a high-risk dr, and take a bunch of medications. Just to make you feel better, this pregnancy has been so much easier. I have NO clue why, but my cervix has measured longer this entire time and I haven't had to visit the high-risk dr. or take any medication.

At this point in pregnancy, most people start to have cervical changes and my dr. is going to stop checking. I remember being 1 cm dilated last time at 32 weeks and ended up carrying my son until 38w5d, AND ended up having to get a c-section! Seriously, I feel your pain. The whole LEEP/cervical stuff is so stressful, but there are a lot of us that have gone through it. Good luck and keep those feet up

When you were 1 cm at 32 weeks, were you effaced at all?

Soap1 · December 2013

Agree with PPs who've said that 1cm at this point in pregnancy means very little. I was 3cm dilated at 34 weeks with DS2 and he did not come until 38w6d (I do not remember if I was effaced).

Good luck!

sarahlizzy2914 · December 2013

My OB wasn't so much concerned with the 1 cm, it was that I am 1 cm plus 75 effaced and very soft.

Soap1 · December 2013

sarahlizzy2914 said:

My OB wasn't so much concerned with the 1 cm, it was that I am 1 cm plus 75 effaced and very soft.

You can still stay pregnant for weeks when you're very dilated and/or effaced. Only time will tell!

LHC2011 · December 2013

sarahlizzy2914 said:

I also had the LEEP which causes my cervix to be shorter than the average cervix. So when most people measure 5 cm, I am started off at 3.5 (that is the longest I have ever measured). With my first pregnancy (and this one), I had ultrasounds every other week to make sure that it wasn't getting too short. With the first pregnancy, it did get short, I had to see a high-risk dr, and take a bunch of medications. Just to make you feel better, this pregnancy has been so much easier. I have NO clue why, but my cervix has measured longer this entire time and I haven't had to visit the high-risk dr. or take any medication.

At this point in pregnancy, most people start to have cervical changes and my dr. is going to stop checking. I remember being 1 cm dilated last time at 32 weeks and ended up carrying my son until 38w5d, AND ended up having to get a c-section! Seriously, I feel your pain. The whole LEEP/cervical stuff is so stressful, but there are a lot of us that have gone through it. Good luck and keep those feet up
When you were 1 cm at 32 weeks, were you effaced at all?

They never told me. I know that my cervix was about 2 cm long at that point. I don't remember them talking effacement until I was about fullterm. Sorry that isn't helpful. I will say that I walked around 3 cm with effacement (don't remember how much) for over 2 weeks before my water broke.

eg214 · December 2013

When I was measured at 20 weeks, my cervix was noted as "Over 3cm." I had a colposcopy and LEEP done in 2010. My midwife examined my cervix last week and noticed absolutely nothing. Prior to getting PG, my OB's would comment that everything looked good and their appeared to be no scar tissue, so if you had a "great one" done, you should be just fine.

kt_arr · December 2013

No experience- just sending well wishes to you ladies and hoping that your LOs stay put.

amerk1107 · December 2013

I had a LEEP in 2010 and it has put me in a 'watch closely' category for much the same reason however I have not had an issue with it being softer than a normal cervix yet. But I'm just a few day past the 30 week mark. Hoping it holds but my OB has been watching it closely.

Want a personalized experience?

1 CM Dilated and 75 Effaced LEEP Procedure

Re: 1 CM Dilated and 75 Effaced LEEP Procedure

Choose Another Board

Search Boards