Incompetent Cervix

Hey Ladies!

Just wanting to know other peoples' stories and how they've coped/are coping.

I was diagnosed with IC after my son was born, and the doctor told me at the time that next pregnancy I would be on bedrest from the beginning of the second trimester.

I've done some research on cerclage's and have noticed there's a lot more positive feedback on those working, and just about *nothing* about bedrest stories.

I'm preparing myself for hearing all about bedrest at my first Ante Natal appointment, but I'm also wondering about the cerclage...

Would love to hear from anyone. :)

Hi

I am a cerclage success twice now and just came across your post. Sorry to see that you lost your little boy :(

I lost my first at 21 weeks and was diagnosed with IC and a cerclage was recommended for future pregnancies. My pg with DD I had the cerclage placed at 14 weeks and had regular ultrasounds from 16 weeks to measure my cervix. I was placed in hospital at 21 weeks for bedrest after my cervix halved in length between 19 and 21 weeks and was there for 3 weeks when another u/s then showed my cervix had grown. I then had fortnightly u\s until 28 weeks while resting at home. My cerclage was removed and I was induced the same day at 38 weeks.

My pg with DS I had the stitch in at 13 weeks and again fortnightly scans from 16 weeks to check my cervix. I put myself on what I guess you could call "modified" bedrest between about 20 weeks and 24 weeks at home in a bid to try and avoid hospital and all remained stable. My final u/s was again at 28 weeks and by then I was pretty much living life normally with a toddler and part-time work keeping me busy. I was again induced with stitch removal at 38 weeks.

If you have been told you have an IC I would not be risking just bedrest and would be pushing very hard for a cerclage. Preventative stitches have a much higher success rate than emergency ones from what I understand.
My DS is crying sorry but I hope that helps for now :)

Hi there :hello:

Firstly so sorry to hear of ur loss:hug:

I too have a incompetent cervix.

With my first pregnancy at my 12 week scan It was
Discovered my cervix was quite short (2.5cm) anything under 3cm is a concern. I was put on bed rest and re-scanned at 14weeks and it had dropped to 2.3cm.

We decided against having a stitch done and at 20 weeks my cervix was 3cm... My OB kept memon bed rest from that 12 week scan..
At 21 weeks I went into labour, and it was stopped. Unfortunately my waters were bulging and I got a massive infection and my bOdy couldn't fight it even with a million different anti-b's and at 22w1d I delivers our DS....

My OB immediately diagnosed the incomPetant cervix and said a stitch was a must for me. He was also devastated that we all (incl himself) decided that we wouldn't do the stitch.

I was scanned before I fell preg again and I have a abnormallly short cervix before the strain of a pregnancy is added...

When I fell preg with DD I was put on bed rest at 8 weeks along with pogesterone pessaries to keep my cervix calm and stable.
After my 12week scan came back clear I was booked
In for my stitch to be done and had it done at 15 weeks, it would have been earlier bu t my OB wantEd a specific assistant.

I was in hospital over night and it was done with a spinal block and light sedation.

I stayed on bed rest from 8 weeks till 24weeks, then I was allowed off bed rest until about 28weeks.

I would definitely be pushing for a stitch if they have diagnosed u with IC, the way I see it there is no point risking anything if u can avoid it.

What state are u in?

Hi 8wks, I'm sorry for the loss of your son :(

I will be watching this thread with interest..

With the twins, I went for my 19wk scan and was admittedly immediately for a stitch, as my cervix was very short. I have no idea if it was measured in the 12wk scan?? After the stitch was put in I wasn't officially on bedrest, but told to take it easy. Didn't lift anything, didn't do anything strenuous and no sex!

When I spoke with my OB about subsequent pregnancy, she was reluctant to diagnose me with I/C as it was a twin pregnancy, however she did say she would want to do fortnightly scans to measure my cervix from 12wks.. (I think, it's a bit hazy it was so long ago..)

So here I am now. I went to the GP today to get a referral to Brisbane (which is where I had the twins) so now I just wait for an appointment and see what she says. It has been bliss this last week, pretending this is a normal pregnancy. The normality wore off as soon as I went to the GP today and the realisation in just a few weeks it will be ultrasounds and measurements and knowing that everytime I go to Brisbane there is a chance I will be admitted! This whole pregnancy after loss is scary..

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Preventative stitches have a much higher success rate than emergency ones from what I understand.

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Angellukesmum - I really hope thats true..

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Hi 8wks, I'm sorry for the loss of your son :(

I will be watching this thread with interest..

With the twins, I went for my 19wk scan and was admittedly immediately for a stitch, as my cervix was very short. I have no idea if it was measured in the 12wk scan?? After the stitch was put in I wasn't officially on bedrest, but told to take it easy. Didn't lift anything, didn't do anything strenuous and no sex!

When I spoke with my OB about subsequent pregnancy, she was reluctant to diagnose me with I/C as it was a twin pregnancy, however she did say she would want to do fortnightly scans to measure my cervix from 12wks.. (I think, it's a bit hazy it was so long ago..)

So here I am now. I went to the GP today to get a referral to Brisbane (which is where I had the twins) so now I just wait for an appointment and see what she says. It has been bliss this last week, pretending this is a normal pregnancy. The normality wore off as soon as I went to the GP today and the realisation in just a few weeks it will be ultrasounds and measurements and knowing that everytime I go to Brisbane there is a chance I will be admitted! This whole pregnancy after loss is scary..



Angellukesmum - I really hope thats true..

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blessed have u had ur appt in brissy yet???

I am so sorry for the loss of your son :(
I have and incompetent cervix from having treatment on my cervix for cinIII.
My last four babies have gotten earlier after the procedure...36 weeks, 35 weeks, 28 weeks and my last little man came at 25 weeks.
My OB refused to stitch with my last bub even though with #6 I had no length left and 2-3cm dialated at 26 weeks and PROM at 26+6 due to pressure.
I had to have push for internal u/s from him...at 23+4 I was 2.2cm and 50% funnelled so was booked in for an emergency cerclage at 23+5...which is very risky at that stage.
He was born at 25 weeks by emergency c-section.
I would push for the cerclage as well as bedrest.
As Angellukesmum said a preventative stitch at 14-15 weeks is so much better than a later emergency one.

Crumpet, no app in Brissy yet. I went to my GP last week, she faxed off the referral, so just waiting now.. I do however have an appointment with my cardiologist who is also in Brissy, just at a different hospital. I see her at the end of May. I'll be 8wks by then, so if I haven't heard from the Royal women's by then, she should be able to use her authority to hurry things along. She was the one who referred me to royal women's with the twins.

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Crumpet, no app in Brissy yet. I went to my GP last week, she faxed off the referral, so just waiting now.. I do however have an appointment with my cardiologist who is also in Brissy, just at a different hospital. I see her at the end of May. I'll be 8wks by then, so if I haven't heard from the Royal women's by then, she should be able to use her authority to hurry things along. She was the one who referred me to royal women's with the twins.

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hopefully they will get back to you soon then!
love it when dr's can use their authority! i used to have so many troubles getting US appts to check my cervix so when i was at my OB's office and he decided we needed another scan he would ring and make the appt! :lol: very handy!

let us know how you go!

Hi I am also very very sorry for the loss of your baby boy.
I too lost my son, at 20 weeks I went into spontaneous labour that could not be stopped.

The next time I fell pregnant they just put the first loss down to "bad Luck"! Yeah right.
So my OB at 22 weeks into my next pregnancy suggested I get a scan of my cervix, where the lady was looking a bit worried and had to call the doctor in. The next thing I was in the labour ward waiting to get the cervical suture put it.

I think the cut off point was around 23/24 weeks and then they wont put it in as there is too high risk for rupturing your membranes and breaking your waters.

Though all the doctors kept warning me that there really wasn't any real proof that the stitch actually worked. But I have to say It worked for me and I had it taken out at 37 weeks and lasted a week until I went into labour.

Strangely with my last pregnancy I didn't need to get one at all!

I really think getting it in earlier is the best way to go but I would still talk it over with your OB more!

Hi, I just thought I would update.. I went to Brisbane to see the OB I had with the twins and we have decided to put in a stitch at 14wks. She said my cervix could be damaged because I laboured with the stitch and it cut through, plus if it will save me having weekly scans and the uncertainty of it. I go in on July 13th and will probably have it done with a spinal, same as I did with the twins. I'll keep you updated to how I go. We also discussed progesterone pessaries at 16wks to "calm the uterus" but she is going to a conference where they are discussing whether or not they really are beneficial so I will find out after I get the stitch in probably. So far I have had 2 scans, 1 at 6wks and 1 at 10wks and my cervix was a normal length.

My joke of the year: My Button will be sewn in !!! Lol, I've been telling that to everyone

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Hi, I just thought I would update.. I went to Brisbane to see the OB I had with the twins and we have decided to put in a stitch at 14wks. She said my cervix could be damaged because I laboured with the stitch and it cut through, plus if it will save me having weekly scans and the uncertainty of it. I go in on July 13th and will probably have it done with a spinal, same as I did with the twins. I'll keep you updated to how I go. We also discussed progesterone pessaries at 16wks to "calm the uterus" but she is going to a conference where they are discussing whether or not they really are beneficial so I will find out after I get the stitch in probably. So far I have had 2 scans, 1 at 6wks and 1 at 10wks and my cervix was a normal length.

My joke of the year: My Button will be sewn in !!! Lol, I've been telling that to everyone

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sounds like a good decision hun....

my OB was really concerned about me going into labour with a stitch because of the damage it can do.
i had mine done under spinal and recovered really quickly, was put on nifedipine (sp?) once it was done to make sure nothing go razzed up, and was on pregoesterone from 8weeks as a precuation to keep everything calm, but we stopped them the night before my stitch as my OB was concerned about the risk of infection when putting them in...

great news about ur cervix length so far! :dance:

:lol: love it!

ny Dh used to tell ppl he wasnt getting action becasue i was stitched up and ppl would look at him confused! :rofl:

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ny Dh used to tell ppl he wasnt getting action becasue i was stitched up and ppl would look at him confused!

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Lol that's funny :)

Sounds like a great plan BAL.
A preventative stitch is so much better than having to put in an emergency one.
Mine was a spinal to and it only took about 30-40min, I was in hospital for 3 days but I had steroids at the same time.
Great news that your cervix is normal length.
I used to say my little man was on lock-down :D

RB - i'm scared to ask this but I see you have 2 premmies. Was this with a stitch and if yes when was the stitch put in? Also (sorry for 20 q's) why did you have steriods? I'll be in overnight. I'm not worried about that at all. In fact I'll be paying attention to how the nurses do things, y'know, now that I'm qualified and know it all :lol:

*UPDATE*

Stitch put in successfully yesterday. The Dr said my cervix was still a good length and she did the stitch above any scar tissue. Here's hoping Bub's is in for another 22wks!!

Good to hear, BAL. Did you have a GA for the procedure?

No just a spinal. Small dose, mainly my bum and waist area were numb. My legs felt numb but I could still move them.

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*UPDATE*
Stitch put in successfully yesterday. The Dr said my cervix was still a good length and she did the stitch above any scar tissue. Here's hoping Bub's is in for another 22wks!!

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Good to hear the stitch is in place and bub is on lockdown.
Everything crossed for you and for the next 22 weeks.

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RB - i'm scared to ask this but I see you have 2 premmies. Was this with a stitch and if yes when was the stitch put in? Also (sorry for 20 q's) why did you have steriods? I'll be in overnight. I'm not worried about that at all. In fact I'll be paying attention to how the nurses do things, y'know, now that I'm qualified and know it all :lol:

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I have had four prems...but the first two where 36 and 35 weekers. I didn't have a stitch for the first very early prem(fully effaced and 2-3cm at 26 weeks, PROM at 26+6 weeks had her at 28weeks) then my second I pushed for a stitch he wouldn't do it...I ended up needing an emergency stitch at 23+5weeks and because of the risks I asked for steriods (thank goodness he was born a week later)...they don't usually give them till 24 weeks but given my circumstances they did.
So my story is very different from yours. Preventative are way more successful then emergency ones.
There is a very good chance of your carrying bub to term or very close to it.
Had to have a giggle at your last line :p

Did anyone with a stitch have the cervix open below the stitch? I had my 19wk scan today and was told the stitch was the only thing keeping it closed. It's open to the stitch but closed from the stitch up.. I am freaking out because I can't see my OB til next week. The registrar I saw quickly just told me to take it easy and said the OB might put me on bed rest.. At my 16wk scan the cervix was long and closed so there has been a change in the last 3wks. 1 day at a time, but I am so scared...

have replied in your other thread hun, but lay down as much as possible with ur feet and butt elevated it will take the pressure off ur cervix :hug::hug: can u get a earlier appt with ur OB??

I didn't even try to get an earlier appointment because I knew I had an appointment monday. I also have to go see the medical Drs and have a scan so even if I did get an appointment I would have to go back monday anyway. I think if I just rest at home I'll be ok, I will go up if I'm concerned though..

Hi everyone

I've been reading with interest your posts with regards to cervix issues. I asked my doctor to check my cervix from early on as I have had a procedure for CIN 3, and also have a friend who had her baby at27 weeks with this issue. My cervix s very short. About 1.3cm and is funneling but still closed. I am 27 weeks, am off work but just told to 'take it easy', not on bed rest.

My doc does not want to do a stitch, he said there is many dangers, infection, waters breaking etc and it sounds as though it is a bit late for one anyway. I am having scans once a week and see him again on Monday and will try and get a bit more info around what I can and can't do.

I'm interested to see if anyone else has been in a similar position and what they have done. This is my first pregnancy, it was a very long road to get here and I'm pretty anxious! Thanks:)

Julsie - If I were you, I'd stay off my feet as much as possible. There's still a bit of length there, but you don't really want it to keep shortening. A stitch at 27wks would have an increased risk of rupturing membranes. I don't think they like to do them past 22wks (Not sure on that, could be less). Hope Bubby stays baking for a while yet.. Keep us posted.

Update for me: Cervix closed at 3.2cms.. I have had 2 more scans which showed that my cervix is closed. The OB thinks it was mucous causing a shadow in the last scan and my cervix hasn't been open at all. Yay! I have another scan at 26wks. I'm still on progesterone pessaries til 28wks. can't wait to stop them! On Tuesday I will be 24+3wks and that will be the longest I have been pregnant. this gestation with the twins I was in hospital labouring.. So glad I'm here and still pregnant with Button kicking away madly :D

That is all wonderful news BAL :D
I am so pleased to hear that it is going well for you and 3.2cm is a awesome length :D

Hi Julsie, I agree with BAL keep of your feet as much as possible, you need to keep as much pressure of your uterus as possible.
I had my stitch at 23+5 and that was about the latest they would do it and they said they had to they couldn't leave it...he was born just over a week later at 25 weeks.
My bub before him was born at 28 weeks again due to IC, I had no cervix left at 26 weeks and was 2-3cm dialated but they didn't stitch them either as it was to late and still got another 2 weeks but only because my waters broke and my cervix was open.
There are many woman who have made it to full term (or close to) and have have a shortened cervix all the way through.
It is great that they are doing regular scans, cervix's are very dynamic and with plenty of bed rest it may even grow.
Wishing you and bub the very best.

The only thing that worries me with frequent scans particularly with an open cervix is risk of infection.. Are they doing internal scans Julsie?

RB - 23+5wks for a stitch.. I would have been terrified.. I wonder if any 'emergency' stitches late in pregnancy have worked.. Mine didn't and I was 19wks. I still went into labour though.. Maybe if I hadn't started contractiong I would have lasted longer?

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RB - 23+5wks for a stitch.. I would have been terrified.. I wonder if any 'emergency' stitches late in pregnancy have worked.. Mine didn't and I was 19wks. I still went into labour though.. Maybe if I hadn't started contractiong I would have lasted longer?

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I was terrified!! There were so many risks involved with doing it that late but the head OB said that they could not do nothing as they could not risk it.
I think they were also trying to cover the other OB's butt who should have stitched back at 14 weeks (grrr but that is another post)
I went into labour the night that I got the stitch and I was stuck on complete bedrest (no getting up for toilet anything) and the bed tilted backwards.
Fortunately they stopped it and I at least got all my steroids in.
It does seem that later stitches are no were near as successful as earlier ones.

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Hi everyone

I've been reading with interest your posts with regards to cervix issues. I asked my doctor to check my cervix from early on as I have had a procedure for CIN 3, and also have a friend who had her baby at27 weeks with this issue. My cervix s very short. About 1.3cm and is funneling but still closed. I am 27 weeks, am off work but just told to 'take it easy', not on bed rest.

My doc does not want to do a stitch, he said there is many dangers, infection, waters breaking etc and it sounds as though it is a bit late for one anyway. I am having scans once a week and see him again on Monday and will try and get a bit more info around what I can and can't do.

I'm interested to see if anyone else has been in a similar position and what they have done. This is my first pregnancy, it was a very long road to get here and I'm pretty anxious! Thanks:)

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like the other girls have said, rest as much as u can and stay off ur feet.... the best thing my OB told me to do was get my feet up so that my butt was slightly elevated to take as much pressure off my cervix as possible.

id be agreeing that there is no way id let them do a stitch at 27weeks, especially if ur funnelling, as there is a very high risk of puncturing the waters whixh would obviously lead to pre term labour.

with the scans, i was having mine done monthly to monitor mine, but if they are doing internal scans id be watching how many internal ones they do becasue as blessedatlast said the risk for infection is high, and if ur funneling, the infection can get into the womb area and affect your placenta, whixh happened to me.

:hug:'s its a tough position to be in, but keep those feet up, every day bubs is inside makes a huge difference!

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Julsie - If I were you, I'd stay off my feet as much as possible. There's still a bit of length there, but you don't really want it to keep shortening. A stitch at 27wks would have an increased risk of rupturing membranes. I don't think they like to do them past 22wks (Not sure on that, could be less). Hope Bubby stays baking for a while yet.. Keep us posted.

Update for me: Cervix closed at 3.2cms.. I have had 2 more scans which showed that my cervix is closed. The OB thinks it was mucous causing a shadow in the last scan and my cervix hasn't been open at all. Yay! I have another scan at 26wks. I'm still on progesterone pessaries til 28wks. can't wait to stop them! On Tuesday I will be 24+3wks and that will be the longest I have been pregnant. this gestation with the twins I was in hospital labouring.. So glad I'm here and still pregnant with Button kicking away madly :D

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my OB wont do a stitch after 22weeks, had one where the waters were puntured and will never do it again, he is more in line with the ill do the precautionary one, even if its just incase!

:cheer: whooo hooooo!!! your cruising along nicely hun!!! good work!

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I was stuck on complete bedrest (no getting up for toilet anything) and the bed tilted backwards.
Fortunately they stopped it and I at least got all my steroids in.
It does seem that later stitches are no were near as successful as earlier ones.

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that sounds all to familiar!!
in my pregnancy with DS, i went into labour at 21w, and my OB admitted me straight away, bed angled head down, no getting up for the loo, actually no getting up at all :shakehead:, and i was like that for a week, until infection set in and my body couldnt fight it anymore :(

from what i read when i was researching things, a precuationary stitch is a massive amount more sucessful than a bugger things are hitting the fan stitch...

Thanks everyone for your reply posts and the extra information. I am having another scan today and yes they are internal. After that I see my OB so I'll check with him as to the risk of infection, perhapse once a week is too often to have the scans.

Good luck BAL, each week bub is kicking away is wonderful isn't it! I'll continue to keep off my feet as much as possible, and keep fingers crossed.

thanks again :D xxxxxx