I guess by now I might be a random since I haven't been too active. My job got really busy starting November and I tried to engage, but it didn't feel the same since I couldn't keep up. Well, I recently learned I have an incompetent cervix and that puts me at risk for preterm labor. I've been given progesterone to try and prevent any contractions. Has anyone dealt with this before? What was your experience like? I'm trying my best not to resort to Dr. Google and would prefer to hear from any women that have had real-life experience. Thanks.
@dee_ao I don't know if I have an incompetent cervix, but I have been treated as if I do since I went into labor at 20 weeks last pregnancy (they don't know why for sure). This pregnancy, from weeks 16-24 I had biweekly cervical length checks (by transvaginal ultrasound) and from 16-36 weeks I'm taking weekly progesterone shots called Makena to prevent preterm labor.
The scariest time of pregnancy for me is right about now (25 weeks), because it's too late to safely do a cerclage, but baby's viability doesn't go way up until 27+ weeks. If you're over 24 weeks and start to go into labor at all, I think they'd give you some medicine to stop contractions and possibly steroids to stimulate the baby's lungs. There's a chance they'd put you on bed rest too (but my hospital doesn't believe in the efficacy of that, unless it's hospital bed rest specifically to prevent infection). After 27 weeks they'd also do those things, but you may end up delivering if there's a chance of infection since baby has a good chance of making it.
I know it's worrisome, but it's good that they caught it now and can do everything to prevent future complications for you and hopefully prevent preterm labor happening at all! I know with the Makena shots, for people who really needed them they can end up going into labor basically right after the shots stop (36 weeks), but it's safe to do so at that point. If I didn't really need the shots (meaning my previous preterm labor was just a fluke), they work so well that I'll probably need to be induced.
@dee_ao I'm on progesterone shots weekly until 36 weeks. They're not too bad, they've caused some lumps under my skin where they're injected and I've had a lot of itching at the injection sites. Otherwise, no real side effects, and the risks were so little that the benefits far outweighed them. I believe @abhphilly is also doing the progesterone shots? My midwives also discussed a possible cerclage, but as of right now my cervix was just barely over the limit (they said we would discuss if it was less than 25 mm and mine was 26) so I've been able to avoid it so far. Edited because abhphilly's answer was so much more informational than mine LOL I'm on the shots because I had my twin girls at 35 weeks, and had some cervical adhesions that were removed when they were born. The midwife basically told me that while 35 weeks isn't considered super early for twins, they can't say with 100% certainty that they were born early because they're twins, or if I'm predisposed to have early labor anyway, and if the history of the cervical adhesions could increase my risk. That being said, I don't have any experience with it other than taking the shots because, "We think this is a good idea because it COULD help, and almost certainly won't hurt."
Me, 35 Hubs, 32 Married June 2012 BFP June 2013- blighted ovum, D&C Aug 2013 BFP Oct 2013- twins! A&H born May 2014 BFP Aug 2017- EDD 5/8/17
Thank you @abhphilly and @sandbar517. I'm sorry I should have put a TW, I edited my post to add.
**TW: preterm labor related
I am at 23 weeks, so I'm also at the scary point and I'm looking at each day as a win. I'm not on shots, instead they prescribed vaginal suppositories (to be used until 36 weeks). I'll be sure to ask about the difference between shot and suppositories at my next appointment. My cervix has actually decreased in length over the last two appts, so at this point they said they would stop measuring and just rely on the medication. I also have to do my part by taking it easy. I may be placed on bed rest, but same here, the doctors don't really believe that is an effective measure. Thank you for your input, it really means much more than a Google article.
@dee_ao Good luck! I’m not sure if there’s much of a difference between the suppositories and shots in efficacy. The shots took a few weeks to get approved by insurance and also are more expensive, so they might have chosen the suppositories for quicker availability.
I am sorry you're dealing with this. It came up in my last pregnancy because my cervical length was oly 2.3 cm at one point. DD was head down and it seemed to be causing some funneling. At our next appointment, her brother had seemed to have moved off of her a bit and she was able to go higher in my uterus and my cervical length went up to 3 cm. Definitely scary time for us. And they continued to watch it. We discussed progesterone shots, but never got to that step since it seemed my length was at an ok level. Due to other issues along with this, I ended up getting steroid injections to help develop the twins' lungs in case I went into early labor. Worked out well as I delivered at 35w4d. That may be something to ask about at a later appointment.
@glitzandglitter Thank you, it's definitely nerve racking but I'm trying to remain positive and realistic about all possible outcomes. @suchaglencoco They don't seem to think mine will lengthen for whatever reason. I had asked about the steroids and they said they would use that if I was showing signs of labor because I can only get two rounds of those steroid injections. I'm meeting with my primary doctor on Tuesday, so I'll definitely ask her to explain that option. I'm glad your babies were fine. 35 weeks is what I'm hoping for and it seems soooo far away.
I don’t have any experience but I am Sending everyone safe and healthy baby wishes.
Did anyone use the halo co-sleeper or anything similar? We used the pack n play with DS but I’ve been thinking about trying this just wasn’t sure if it was worth the money when we already have the pack n play.
Re: Weekly Questions 1/15
Hi All,
I guess by now I might be a random since I haven't been too active. My job got really busy starting November and I tried to engage, but it didn't feel the same since I couldn't keep up. Well, I recently learned I have an incompetent cervix and that puts me at risk for preterm labor. I've been given progesterone to try and prevent any contractions. Has anyone dealt with this before? What was your experience like? I'm trying my best not to resort to Dr. Google and would prefer to hear from any women that have had real-life experience. Thanks.
@dee_ao I don't know if I have an incompetent cervix, but I have been treated as if I do since I went into labor at 20 weeks last pregnancy (they don't know why for sure). This pregnancy, from weeks 16-24 I had biweekly cervical length checks (by transvaginal ultrasound) and from 16-36 weeks I'm taking weekly progesterone shots called Makena to prevent preterm labor.
The scariest time of pregnancy for me is right about now (25 weeks), because it's too late to safely do a cerclage, but baby's viability doesn't go way up until 27+ weeks. If you're over 24 weeks and start to go into labor at all, I think they'd give you some medicine to stop contractions and possibly steroids to stimulate the baby's lungs. There's a chance they'd put you on bed rest too (but my hospital doesn't believe in the efficacy of that, unless it's hospital bed rest specifically to prevent infection). After 27 weeks they'd also do those things, but you may end up delivering if there's a chance of infection since baby has a good chance of making it.
I know it's worrisome, but it's good that they caught it now and can do everything to prevent future complications for you and hopefully prevent preterm labor happening at all! I know with the Makena shots, for people who really needed them they can end up going into labor basically right after the shots stop (36 weeks), but it's safe to do so at that point. If I didn't really need the shots (meaning my previous preterm labor was just a fluke), they work so well that I'll probably need to be induced.
My midwives also discussed a possible cerclage, but as of right now my cervix was just barely over the limit (they said we would discuss if it was less than 25 mm and mine was 26) so I've been able to avoid it so far.
Edited because abhphilly's answer was so much more informational than mine LOL I'm on the shots because I had my twin girls at 35 weeks, and had some cervical adhesions that were removed when they were born. The midwife basically told me that while 35 weeks isn't considered super early for twins, they can't say with 100% certainty that they were born early because they're twins, or if I'm predisposed to have early labor anyway, and if the history of the cervical adhesions could increase my risk. That being said, I don't have any experience with it other than taking the shots because, "We think this is a good idea because it COULD help, and almost certainly won't hurt."
Married June 2012
BFP June 2013- blighted ovum, D&C Aug 2013
BFP Oct 2013- twins! A&H born May 2014
BFP Aug 2017- EDD 5/8/17
**TW: preterm labor related
I am at 23 weeks, so I'm also at the scary point and I'm looking at each day as a win. I'm not on shots, instead they prescribed vaginal suppositories (to be used until 36 weeks). I'll be sure to ask about the difference between shot and suppositories at my next appointment. My cervix has actually decreased in length over the last two appts, so at this point they said they would stop measuring and just rely on the medication. I also have to do my part by taking it easy. I may be placed on bed rest, but same here, the doctors don't really believe that is an effective measure. Thank you for your input, it really means much more than a Google article.
It came up in my last pregnancy because my cervical length was oly 2.3 cm at one point. DD was head down and it seemed to be causing some funneling. At our next appointment, her brother had seemed to have moved off of her a bit and she was able to go higher in my uterus and my cervical length went up to 3 cm. Definitely scary time for us. And they continued to watch it.
We discussed progesterone shots, but never got to that step since it seemed my length was at an ok level.
Due to other issues along with this, I ended up getting steroid injections to help develop the twins' lungs in case I went into early labor. Worked out well as I delivered at 35w4d. That may be something to ask about at a later appointment.
Did anyone use the halo co-sleeper or anything similar? We used the pack n play with DS but I’ve been thinking about trying this just wasn’t sure if it was worth the money when we already have the pack n play.