Short Cervix questions

[Carrie]

Hi all,
At my last Ob appointment I was advised that my 20 week ultrasound reveled that I had a CL of 2.3cm. As such I have been booked in for a further ultrasound on 24th Aug to ascertain whether the membranes are funelling at all or if CL has further decreased. Apparently if either of these two things has happened I will have to go into hospital for the remainer of the pregnancy.
My last pregnancy CL was not measured. My DD arrived at 28.6 weeks apparently due to placenta previa causing placental abruption - CL may have been a precipitating factor in this but as it was never measured we will never know.

My questions are this:
*can anyone who has had this problem please share what happened with your pregnancy, care etc. Did you go full term? Did you stay in hospital? Did your CL decrease and how quickly etc. I would just appreciated it if you could share any experiences.

Thanks!

[Danni]

hey darl...i remember i asked Alan a similar question during my pregnany. My CL was only 2cm and he said that should be fine. Anything under 2 would be a bit of a concern.

I went into labour naturally at 37w6d. I know that doesnt really help you much but just try to relax

[Carrie]

Thanks Danni - was that measurement from your 20 week scan? I hope I'm like you and go full term!

[Alan]

Hi Carrie
Julie sent me an email about this here is my reply to her.

Your cervix is normally somewhere between 2.5 and 5cm long. A ‘short cervix’ can indicate that the baby will come early, however this is not always the case, in fact, the baby is often carried to full term. The problem is that we do not know which ones will come early and which ones will go to term. It is for this reason that the doctor will err on the side of caution.

[Visitor9]

Carrie,
I have a short cervix in pregnancy, my 2nd preg was 1.6 at 19 weeks and all the health professionals told me I was ok things didnt turn out favourable in that pregnancy and I delievered her at 20 weeks.
I thankfullt found a wonderful obst who gave me a cervical stitch with Eliza and all throu her pregnancy we stayed above 3 cm, I was told if I shortened to 2 I would be hospitalised. Eliza was born at 37 weeks due to GD and was a 8'8 hefer on that stitch and it never flattened. I'm at work at the moment..I'll send you throu an email when I get home with some more information.
Take it easy no lifting and lots of feet up
Bec

[Carrie]

Thanks Alan and Bec. Bec, I'm really sorry for your losses, how devastating that you were advised things would be ok only to deliver at 20 weeks. I am so happy that you were subsequently able to carry Eliza full term - and she is such a beautiful girl!
I suppose I just need to wait til the u/s and see what happens, then discuss my options with the Ob.
I would really like to hear any other experiences if anyone else out there has them.

[Olive]

carrie i hope all works aout well for you and bubs!! rest up too

[Tracy79]

Hi Carrie my Name is Tracy. i am now in my 4th pregnancy and have the same problem my currect cl is 13mm and im 3cm dialated. i am 30 weeks and ive had steroids to help bubs lungs just in case. im on bed rest so pop your feet up and dont lift anything or do too much walking. there is hope that bub will be born at the correct time. my 2nd child Christopher was the same. i was admitted in hosp on total bed rest until 34 weeks and home bed rest after. he delivered naturally at 37 weeks and he is now a healthy 5 year old. take care and just take it easy

[Sally2]

Hi Carrie
My name is Sally and l am currently on bedrest at the Mercy hospital. I have been here for the past 3 weeks (was admitted at 24weeks). I am now 27+1Weeks and will be here until the baby is delivered. My cervical length at my 20week scan was 3.5cm and l instinctively thought something was wrong at 23weeks so came to emergency in Mercy to see if all was okay? My cervix was still closed but they suggested another ultrasound the following day and the scan showed my cervix had shortened to 1.7cm (should be somewhere around 2.5cm at 24weeks gestation).
I was admitted for hospital bedrest (still able to use the toilet/shower myself and sit on the bed or in the chair in the corner of my room). I had another scan at 26weeks (2 weeks after being admitted) and my cervix had again shortened to .7cm. That was over a week ago and my doctors are hoping for a few more days so l can get to 28 weeks but we'll see.
Our babies head engaged 3 days ago and l can feel him down there ready to escape. Just thinking postively now and know that we have done all that we can to prepare this little one for his NICU/SCN journey. Still hoping for another week at least but are certainly a lot more confident than we were when we thought we were going to have a 24 weeker. My first baby was born at 28+6weeks and was thought to be spontaneuous labour but now they have decided this could have happened last time and just wasn't picked up.
I would suggest that you dont put any pressure/strain on our cervix and maybe see an alternative doctor/specialist who understands prem births a bit better and takes you seriously so you can protect your bub as long as possible.
Good luck with everything - l'll be thinking of you.
Sally

[Sally2]

Sorry Carrie - l just looked at the dates and realised you would have had your baby by now. Hope all turned out okay for you all.