Is my cervix too short?

Hi,

I am not sure this is the right place, but I had my 19 week scan today and my cervix measures 2.9cm, from what I have read this is very short and the chances of preterm labour are high.

I have a son who is 3 and carried to full term with him.

Can someone let me know if this is short or if it is a normal length?

Thanks

Lisa

I am not sure what is normal or not but I remember having my cervix measured with Georgia and I think it was 4cm + so I can only compare yours to that measurement. They said mine was fine and there was nothing to worry about.It does sound short but then again I am not an expert, If you are concerned check with your carer.
Sorry I couldnt help very much.
:)

Hi Lisa
The length of your cervix should be between about 2.5 and 5 cm. There is a small increase risk of preterm labour if your cervix is short. This risk increases the shorter your cervix is.

Hi,

Thank you for your replies, I feel a little happier that although my cervix is on the short side it isnt an immediate indication that I will go into preterm labour!!

Alan - would it be unusual to carry a first baby to full term and then have an incompetent cervix in your second pregnancy, after 10 hours labour with my first and failure to progress past 8cm I had a caesearean, I think my cervix measure 3.5 at my 19 week scan with my son?

Thanks again!

Lisa

At my 20wk ultrasound my cervix was 4cm. I had a growth and development scan at 34w6d and my cervix measured 3cm - DS was born 44hrs after this scan! At the time I was concerned that my cervix had shortened by a centimetre. I mentioned it to my OB at my 6wk post birth appointment asking if that was an indicator that DS was imminently going to be born. She said that for me it wasn't and that 3cm was plenty of cervix.

Hi Lisa

I hope its all going well for you. I know some that have had incompetent cervix after a full term pregnancy, so i would take it easy if i was you. Towards the end of the pregnancy the cervix will naturally shorten, but in the 2nd trimester I would think that anything shorter than 3cm is short. Saying that, people can have a short cervix without having an incompetent cervix.

My own cervix is nice and long pre-pregnancy, but it was 13mm at 19 weeks, typical for an incompetent cervix.

I hope you keep cooking for many more weeks! Good luck :)

Hugs

Kristin
Angel Mia's mum, born 19 Oct 2008
Abdominal cerclage by Dr Davis 28 Aug 2009