My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

I went for my weekly sono yesterday and my cervix dropped from 2.0 cm-2.1 cm on Wed. and Sat. respectively to 1.5 cm. They called my dr. and he was at L&D a couple of blocks from the perinatal center and told me to meet him over there. He started me on steroids to help develop the baby's lungs. I got a shot yesterday and had to go back this afternoon for the second round. I am still going in to his office for weekly progesterone shots and to perinatal for weekly sonograms. He has not prescribed bedrest nor a cerclage. Apparently they are last resorts for him. When I asked him how short my cervix would have to get for him to be very alarmed, he said 1cm.

I have been wavering between having faith and being totally hopeless. I am only 24 weeks, so as far as preterm labor goes, I am in a complete danger zone.

Between all of the shots, internal sonos and the ffn test with the unlubed metal speculum, I feel so violated. My poor vagina!

On a lighter note, my DH just can not understand why we can not have sex (dr's orders!) while I am getting poked with numerous other objects in the same place.

Sigh.

(spelling)

Message edited 9/4/2008 7:50:05 PM.

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

My sister is going thru the exact same thing, she is now 27 weeks but it started at 23 weeks.

On a side note, my FIL is an obgyn and he said that my MIL, when she was pg, had a paper-thin cervix for the majority of her pregnancy. He said sometimes it holds, and theres nothing to worry about. Thats why Dr's do the cerclage as a last resort...b/c a pregnancy can hold regardless of the length of the cervix. I hope that made you feel a little better at least

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

Maybe you can talk to mommy-of-2-angels, she is going through the same thing!

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

please be VERY careful with this!!
i have an Incompetent Cervix.. but with me, they found my cervix short too late... and i lost the baby.

just make sure you go for monitoring often! you can dilate with no symptoms.. this happened to me .. i dont want to see this happen to anyone else.

good luck! if you have any questions please FM me!!

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

I am so sorry. I don't have any words or advice - but I will for you!

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

I was put on bed rest at 24 weeks, and was on it for 12 weeks. I think that may be the next step for you. I was told at that point that it was too late for a cerclage. I am going every other week with this pregnancy to see what I am measuring, I may get the cerclage just to be safe. When do you have to go back to the doctor so he can tell you bed rest or cerclage?

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

Hope you don't mind if I ask a probably stupid question- How did you/they know that your cervix was shortening ??? Is it something that is seen on a regular routine sonogram ???

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

Are you on bedrest? I am sorry but I do not think your Dr is giving you very good care. if I was you I would immediately get to a high risk ob/gyn for a 2nd opinion. Isn't this the guy that fought you on even checking your cervix? I would hate to see something happen because of his nonchalance.

ETA: this is melijane-I was signed in under my sister's name sorry

Message edited 9/4/2008 8:40:53 PM.

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

Posted by stephanief

Are you on bedrest? I am sorry but I do not think your Dr is giving you very good care. if I was you I would immediately get to a high risk ob/gyn for a 2nd opinion. Isn't this the guy that fought you on even checking your cervix? I would hate to see something happen because of his nonchalance.

ETA: this is melijane-I was signed in under my sister's name sorry

Message edited 9/4/2008 9:08:23 PM.

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

Posted by Bops

Hope you don't mind if I ask a probably stupid question- How did you/they know that your cervix was shortening ??? Is it something that is seen on a regular routine sonogram ???

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

Posted by dm24angel

Posted by stephanief

Are you on bedrest? I am sorry but I do not think your Dr is giving you very good care. if I was you I would immediately get to a high risk ob/gyn for a 2nd opinion. Isn't this the guy that fought you on even checking your cervix? I would hate to see something happen because of his nonchalance.

ETA: this is melijane-I was signed in under my sister's name sorry

I tend to agree here.

Bedrest IMO is not a last resort but could make the difference between keepign and losing the PG.

I was put on Bedrest when my cervix was 2.5( and I had no contractions yet)...

1.5 is VERY short...I hate to make it sound scarier then it is, but I think you should get a second opinion. Have you met with a peri natologist?

The fact that its shortening so fast would be my concern.

Heres the theory I would have...why take steriods etc to prepare for a preemie baby when laying down could prevent it all KWIM?

:pray


ETA- Have you had any FFN tests? Oh I see you posted that, sorry.

With me, I had weekly cervical lenth sonos, bi weekly Bio physicals ( To check for contractions, at that early stage you may not even feel them) and FFN's every two weeks till 37 weeks.

My cervix started shortening at 26-27 weeks. I was put on bedrest for the first 5 weeks and then when it legthened a bit it was restrictive bedrest.

I also had weekly Progesterone shots at the Peri's office and a few shots of terbutiline at the first sigsn of contractions.

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

Posted by Snickers

Posted by dm24angel

Posted by stephanief

Are you on bedrest? I am sorry but I do not think your Dr is giving you very good care. if I was you I would immediately get to a high risk ob/gyn for a 2nd opinion. Isn't this the guy that fought you on even checking your cervix? I would hate to see something happen because of his nonchalance.

ETA: this is melijane-I was signed in under my sister's name sorry

I tend to agree here.

Bedrest IMO is not a last resort but could make the difference between keepign and losing the PG.

I was put on Bedrest when my cervix was 2.5( and I had no contractions yet)...

1.5 is VERY short...I hate to make it sound scarier then it is, but I think you should get a second opinion. Have you met with a peri natologist?

The fact that its shortening so fast would be my concern.

Heres the theory I would have...why take steriods etc to prepare for a preemie baby when laying down could prevent it all KWIM?

:pray


ETA- Have you had any FFN tests? Oh I see you posted that, sorry.

With me, I had weekly cervical lenth sonos, bi weekly Bio physicals ( To check for contractions, at that early stage you may not even feel them) and FFN's every two weeks till 37 weeks.

My cervix started shortening at 26-27 weeks. I was put on bedrest for the first 5 weeks and then when it legthened a bit it was restrictive bedrest.

I also had weekly Progesterone shots at the Peri's office and a few shots of terbutiline at the first sigsn of contractions.

He mentioned terbutiline, but I haven't been having contractions.

What is a peri natologist??

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

i hope you are able to keep your little one in longer! try to take it easy, i can't imagine how hard this must be for you

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

sending you lots of

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

I just popped over here and saw your post...please go to a high risk OB...We lost our son due to Incompetent Cervix...there is no way that I would take a chance if I were you. The devastation of that loss is horrifying and anything you can do to prevent it should be done...who cares if your Dr. thinks it should be a last resort? What happens if your cervix opens one day (which is what mine did)? There is no way to predict if it will happen and you can lose your baby in a day....

Please go get a second opinion...

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

Please go see a high risk OB.....When I was doing medical rotations in antepartum for high risk pregnancys they were doing cerclages and strict bed rest at 2.o cm...... It is very evident that your cerivx is shortening at a rapid and alarming rate. You NEED to be OFF your feet and see a specialist ASAP!!!!

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

I agree with the others about going to see a high risk Dr.

I have been being checked bi-weekly for the same thing because I had 2 leeps done years ago. Luckily things seem to be holding, but my dr was clear and said it if got anywhere near 2cm...bedrest would be in order.

I don't mean to sound "alarmist", but you can't be too cautious when it comes to your little one...and even if the high risk doc tells you the same as your reg doc...at least you have peace of mind!

Good Luck and that your cervix stays PUT! ;)

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

I'm so sorry you're going through this. That sounds like a pretty fast progression and I'd definitely get a second opinion. I hope everything is ok.

Re: My Incredible Shrinking Cervix

Hi Ladies-

Thank you all so much for pushing my azz into calling around for a high risk dr. I already called one dr. that is affiliated with my hospital and my perinatal center and left a message, I have a couple of other numbers as well. I really think I should get the 2nd opinion for peace of mind at the very least!!