Cervical Length Checks

I am 22 weeks 3 days pg with my twins. I go to the doctor for my prenatal checkups still every four weeks. My doctor hasn't ever mentioned anything about cervical length checks. The appts. have been very routine and same as when I was pg with my singleton. I thought twin mommies go in more frequent? He is doing an ultrasound each time and I go for my growth scan every four weeks. My question is, when did your doctor start measuring your cervix? I worry that there could be changes or something and I wouldn't even know. I also have horrible acid reflux all day long. I feel like I pop tums like candy. I ask for a prescription for something stronger and he said there is nothing I can take.

Correct me if I am wrong but at 24 wks don't u usually take a glucose test? I go back to the doctor at 24 wks September 22 and no one mentioned if I would be having this test done at my last appt....I guess I am just feeling clueless and worried I am not getting all the info from my doctor and that he should be doing more??

Thanks ladies!

 

This is my first pregnancy so I don't know what should really be happening or when. I am 22w6d and at my appt this week I was told my next appt would be my last 4 week one that I would start coming in every two weeks after that. I was also told I would have to do the glucose test then (i'll be 26weeks).

 

I had cervix checks every 2 weeks since week 14 - but I had early complications, am advanced maternal age, concieved with difficulty, and have had an irritable uterus the entire pregnancy.

My glucose & iron levels were checked at 28 weeks, as is standard at my hmo.

 

I have never had my cervix checked as of yet. I asked my dr about it and he said that sometimes it can cause a woman to go into labor or just do more harm than good. I too have been diagnosed with a irritable uterus. I'm comfortable with my drs descision about it and will ask whoever is doing my ultrasounds to check the length of my cervix on the screen which they do.

Also I had the worse heartburn so my dr started me on zantac 150mg a day but now I take 150mg twice a day which is a godsend. I know several women have used zantac as well as mallox (sp?) and another type of medication that I can't think of the name of off the top of my head.

Oh and I did my glucose test about two weeks ago.

I have been lucky with everything so far and have had no complications other than lots of BH but I had lots of those with my son as well.

Hope that helps, good luck!

 

My peri did cervical u/s checks on me early on until about 20 weeks, but stopped them. I had them though because I had IC with my son and it was undiagnosed with my 1st daughter. They always checked my cervix with external u/s after I reached 20 weeks. They don't like to check if there are no issues, because you risk introducing an infection and that is no good to have in pregnancy. I wasn't checked cervical wise until I was 34 weeks, and that was because we were setting a date to take my cerclage out, he wanted to see how well the cerclage was holding. I was going to come back in at 25w 6d to get it removed, I ended up delivering the day before though at 35w 5d.

 

I have gotten cervical checks via vaginal ultrasound each time they did a routine ultrasound, which was monthly. At my 20 week appt they noticed some changes to my cervix, then I had to go for vaginal u/s every week for a month. I did my gluecose test at 26 weeks. I have an appt on Monday and my dr. will start doing "manual" cervix checks (I'm 29 weeks today).

Good luck to you!!

 

16 weeks, and they were going to do it every 3 weeks. But at 16 weeks mine was extremely short (basically, non-existant) and I had an emergency cerclage. I was then measured every 1-2 weeks until around 24-25 weeks, then they stopped messing with my cervix until internals started around 29 weeks.

I also had at least a quick U/S at each doctors visit.

 

I started having cervical scans at 18 weeks. We started early though because of my history. I had preterm labor with my son, cryo on my cervix, and a D&C due to missed miscarriage last August so they were worried about my cervix having trauma and shortening/opening early. Amazingly I was at 5cm (good and long!) up until Wednesday (25 weeks 6 days). It dropped down to 4cm then but he didn't seem concerned. Just said that once it goes to 3cm he will see me weekly and at 2.5 cm they'll be watching me REAL close. I've been seen by the Peri every 2 weeks since 18 weeks also. Again - that may just be because I'm being seen by a Peri and they were worried about my history. I figured I'd be seen weekly by now but since all is well I wait another 2 weeks again. I did get my glucose and iron tested at 24 weeks but from what I read they normally do that between 24-28 weeks. I would say if you're having any concerns to call them but maybe they feel that all is well and they don't need to see you more frequently? I'd definitely call though with any concerns in between appointments. Good luck!!

 

I had my cervix checked via ultrasound twice - once at 20 weeks and once around 32 weeks. Neither my OB or Peri recommended doing it any more frequently than that. Some women have long cervixes and the next day they're in premature labor. Others have short cervixes and hold on til 38 weeks. They also said that manual cervical checks have been shown to induce preterm labor in some cases. As a result, my doctors told me that manual cervical checks did more harm than good in twin prengnacies without complications and that there was no reason to check via ultrasound more than a few times. FYI - I went to the best Peri in our state and my OB was the head of the hospital's maternal/fetal program, so I was comfortable they knew what they were talking about.

As for the reflux... I didn't have it, but I'm certain I've seen a few women on here receiving prescriptions for something stronger than Tums. You might want to push the issue with your doctor.

 

I was given the lab paperwork for my glucose test at my 23 wk visit; the instructions said I had to pop into the labs and get it done any time up to 25 wks. I wasn't given any notice about this beforehand, it was very low key, so maybe it's the same for you?

Tums eased my acid reflux for about five minutes so my Peri advised Pepcid AC. I take one of these now as a preventative 10 mins before eating (if I feel the acid kicking around); they work great and last throughout the evening.

I have only had my cervix checked onscreen.

Good luck!
Molly

 

I saw a peri along with my OB while pregnant with my twins. My peri started measuring my cervix at 17w, it caught me off guard as I thought it was so early, but that is when they start them with every twin pregnancy. I am glad they did because at 23w6d, my cervix was very short, all of a sudden. I'd hate to think about what would have happened if they didn't.

 

With the boys, I continued monthly visits/u/s until I was 32 weeks. I had a cervical check at 14 weeks due to a history of cervical procedures in the past. This pregnancy I had one vaginal u/s at 24 weeks to check my cervix because of my PTL with the boys. My doc will not do another check, unless there is a problem, until he starts internal exams at 32 weeks.

My visits were no more frequent with the boys than this time. The main difference was that I got an u/s every time with the boys and not so this time.

If you have a reason to be worried (prior PTL with your son, lots of procedures on your cervix (cryo, leeps, ets), etc) then I'd ask about a cervical check.

I was 26 weeks when I had my GTT with the boys and just had mine at 28 weeks this time...from my understanding, it's generally given anywhere from 24-28 weeks so you may not have it until 28 weeks.

 

My Dr started doing length scans at 16 weeks. They've been done every two weeks since then. I last measured 5.5 cm at 23.5 weeks so he said he wouldn't measure again until week 28. He said he would only be concerned if the measurement went below 2.8 cm. I've been taking Zantac 150mg and I was told 2 20mg Pepcid a day are okay. I try to stick with Tums, but lately that hasn't been working.

 

I had cervical checks at 12 weeks and then weekly starting at 17 weeks. It was known that I had a short cervix to start with though, plus even shorter due to a leep. They stopped checking at 24 weeks, since a cerclage could not be placed after that anyway.

For the heartburn/reflux - I was told I could take 20mg Pepcid twice/day (either at the same time or one in the morning and one at night). If that didn't work, he said he could prescribe something. That seems to be helping me a lot. Maybe ask him again..?

I had my glucose test done at 27 weeks. He said it's normally done at 28, but with twins he did it a little early.

Good luck.

 

I started going weekly for cervical legnth checks (via ultrasound) around 18 weeks. I wasn't having any problems or anything, they just said that was what they did with twins. I went weekly until 22 weeks and they didn't see any change, so now I'm just going every other week until 24 weeks when I'll just have it done at my 3-4 week growth scans.

I was worried when my Dr. started doing them so early... I guess no matter what we're just programmed to worry =D

I'll be 24 weeks on Sunday and go for an appointment the following Tuesday at 25 weeks... no one has said anything about a glucose test to me as of yet.

 

I have been seeing the OB every 3 weeks since I went in at 11 weeks. She started doing cervical checks at about 18-19 weeks and I am 25 weeks now and have had them two times with her, plus once with the peri I saw at 19 weeks and at both of my U/S's, one at 20 weeks and one at 24 weeks.

I am going to start seeing my OB every 2 weeks from 28 weeks on, and am getting an anatomy U/S and growth scans every month-which began at 20 weeks.
My OB also does u/s's to check my fluid every visit.

I only saw the peri one time, and mentioned it to my OB(who has twin toddlers herself) and she said I will see him in about a month. Because I am having b/g frats and everything is great so far, there is just no reason. The peri I say last month said I didnt need to come back for any reason.
But my fluid levels are good-3 and 4, and my cervix is 4.5 so I am confident with just the u/s's and appts.

 

I'm still waiting for them to check mine LOL... My twins are 10 months! I think that this varies a lot by doctor and based on your pregnancy. In my case I really had no complications. I think that if they can tell through a vaginal exam that things are fine then there is no need to worrry...

With that said, if you are concernd or have a question ask... Even if you just left and remember that you wanted to ask something call... Those doctors make a lot of money to answer ANY questions you have regardless of how small. I would definately ask about the glucose test though. I didn't know I was having mine, and ate a brownie right before getting the test!!! Obviously my levels were high and I had to take the 3 hour test! It was not long after that that I changed OB's!!!

 

They started measuring at 20 weeks and then every third week, which is standard here. My cervical lenght shortened about 50% in two weeks so I am put on moderatly bedrest.

 

I didn't start getting checked until I was 34weeks. I never had any complications or anything. It was a very uneventful pregnancy.

 

Started having vaginal cervical U/S checks at 16 weeks...I had no complications, my pregnancy was uneventful and I carried until my 39th week. I think it is odd that they wouldn't check even every couple of weeks since the whole point is to make sure you are not going to have any problems like needing a clerage or bedrest. You just never know with a multiple pregnancy. If you are concerened ask.

 

I started having the vaginal cervical checks at 14 weeks and had them every 2 weeks until 24 weeks. Mine has remained around 4.5 and m dr thinks we do not need to anymore.

I am going every 3 weeks for visits now. not sure when that will change, but it is not much different then with my DD.

I had my sugar test at 24 weeks (and have to take my 3 hr this week since I failed. grrr)

 

Never! I had u/s's at 20, 28, 32, and 36 wks and I guess since my cervix always looked long, they never checked. I'm not complaining

 

I have cervical checks every two weeks that started at 18 weeks and will continue until 24 week. The glucose test I will take at 28 weeks.

 

Are your twins di/di? If they are and you don't have any other apparent complication, then u/s every 4 weeks is fine. Di/di twins aren't all that high risk and many docs (peris included) will treat them only slightly different than a singleton pregnancy. If your twins are mono/di, you should be getting u/s at least every 2 weeks.

I got my cervix measured at all of my u/s. For me, this was every week. Was your first baby premature? If so, you'd want to get your cervix measured more often but, if he was term, then every 4 weeks at your u/s should be fine.