Short/Shortening Cervix

Re: Short/Shortening Cervix

• carcrashheart member

  May 2014

  Not personally. But I know two that have. I'm going to say this calmly, but firmly: listen to your dr and whatever restrictions they put you on. A shortening cervix means, in a way, that it's getting closer to going in to labor. That is obviously not what you want. That is why your dr has you on restrictions at least until 24w. That is when dr's consider a baby viable and if it is born they will make attempts to keep it alive, since it's not likely to thrive without a lot of help. Prior to that they will not help and the baby will pass because it cannot thrive on it's own and dr's believe it won't thrive with help either. If your cervix shortens too much there are a few procedures that may be an option to help stop the baby from traveling through the birth canal. How effective they are I don't know. All I do know is that the two I know that had this happen lost their children at 20w (one was carrying twins, the other was a singleton). Shit, I lied. I know three people. Another local girl from my losses group lost two sets of twins from two pregnancies. She and the other twin mom had a procedure done to prevent this from happening again. The other girl has not and moved to adoption.
  
  Sorry to be a downer. There's nothing you can do right now except listen to those restrictions no matter how unhappy it makes you or your husband.

  TTC #2: 12/2012

  Back to our beloved RE 10/2013

  BFP #5 3/5/14

  Beta 1: 47. Beta 2: 87. Beta 3: 482!

  
  

  Baby CCH v2.0 due 11.14.14

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• MrsG1019 member

  May 2014

  Thank you for sharing those stories! After having had so many losses I've learned to follow pregnancy "rules" to a T... With zero exceptions. Aside from the no Sex/working out restriction I've been on since my 9dpo BFP the doctor didn't mention anything new. He said some people have a dynamic cervix (where it shortens and lengthens) on it's own and since it's still above 2.5 he's not worried yet -- Just wants to keep an eye on it. I did have a LEEP done 2 years ago so I'm willing to bet that's the issue -- tho doctors are convinced it's not. Who knows, but hopeful for a good outcome!

  
  

  

   
  

  
  

  
  

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• amtay825 member

  May 2014

  I have an Incompetent cervix. We discovered this after my first pregnancy ended in a loss at 20 weeks. With my DS, we had a cerclage placed at 16 weeks. It wasn't successful, but I did end up carrying almost to term; 36 weeks which was a miracle. This time, I had the preventative cerclage scheduled for 13 weeks (I had it done this past Monday). 7 days before the procedure, my cervix measured at 5cm. When they went to do the procedure; it had already shortened to 1.7cm. The docs need 1.6 to be able to place the stitch; so mention the cerclage to your dr if it continues to shorten. Some drs won't do it this late in the game, however, because of the risk involved. With DS, I went into labor at 24 weeks and my specialist wanted to do a repeat stitch. I chose not to, because the risk was too high. I ended up staying in the hosp for 2 weeks on bedrest and it lengthened. I had been on bedrest since 9 weeks at home because of bleeding, then because of the shortening cervix. When dr checks it again, if its still shortening ask him about the cerclage before it gets too short. Best wishes and prayers for you; I know how difficult this is! Were your previous losses 2nd tri?

                              10/16/04 ~ lost our first baby boy at 20 weeks due to IC

                                                3/05 ~ another loss at 12 weeks

           2/14/06 ~ Our sweet valentine miracle was born after a nightmarish 8 months!

                      Surprise Baby Boy, born sleeping at 31 weeks on 9/21/14

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• TC0514 member

  May 2014

  My very good friend had a incompetent cervix found at her anatomy scan. She was put on strict bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy- around 27weeks it had gotten so small they kept her in the hospital for a month on bed rest. She was able to get off BR around 36 weeks and baby was born at 37 weeks exactly. (Healthy!) so moral of story had she NOT been on BR baby would have been born way to early and probably not have made it. Listen to your doctor and I pray it goes smoothly for you!!

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• skschumacher member

  June 2014

  @MrsG1019‌ -- any updates on this? I might be in your same boat but am waiting on a call from my dr.

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• cyndi1439 member

  June 2014

  I was diagnosed with an incompetent cervix during our previous pregnancy. At our 20 anatomy scan, my cervix measured 3.5 but at our regular 24 week appointment my cervix was 1.8. I was admitted into the hospital and managed to keep our daughter cooking til 27 weeks.
  This pregnancy I had a TVCIC placed at 11 weeks, started p17 shots at 16 weeks, and am getting biweekly cervical length checks. So far, the cerclage is holding strong and I've been able to stay off bed rest (very difficult to be on bed rest with an 8 month old baby!)

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