Cervical Scans

Just wondering if everyone is getting/has gotten regular cervical scans?
I am currently only seeing an OBGYN and not getting cervical scans. Now they measure my cervix with an external scan at every ultrasound (every 4 weeks), but from what I've read/heard this is not accurate or atleast not as accurate as a transvaginal cervical scan. Should I be incisting on getting cervical scans?

 

My peri started measuring my cervix via u/s at 17w, that was standard for a twin pregnancy. I am very glad they did because it picked up that my cervix shortened from 20w to 24w without any kind of warning.

 

I am in the same boat as you are. I see an OB who works side by side with a peri and I have only had external scans so far. I don't think they will start to monitor me unless they suspect PTL or see cervical changes. I have had 2 internal checks when I went in for pressure etc. I was kinda wondering the same thing though. I am being seen every 2 weeks so I am gonna ask at my next appt.

 

Due to PTL and TTTS I am being scaned every week. But they do vaginal u/s to measure cervix, it is more accurate. I would definitly ask the doctor to check vaginally with u/s. Also the manual checking to see how dialated you are, is very subjective. I see a group of peri's and one of them said I was 1-2 cm dialted, while another one said, it wasnt even 1 cm. The docs said the best way to check is through vaginal u/s along with manual checks.

 

I've been getting cervical scans via transvag u/s every 4 weeks at my ob, and I see the peri for scans of the babies every 3 weeks (due to suspected mono/di and risk of TTTS). And that has been going on since I was 10 weeks along. I guess every ob is different. I hope you reach a decision with your ob (or another one if you don't like the answer) that you are satisfied with!

 

She stopped giving them around 14 weeks and I started getting them abdominally after that. BUT, they were able to detect a shortening cervix from the abdominal u/s at 24 weeks. After that, we went back to trans. vag u/s's.

 

Only got abdominal u/s at every appt with my twins. My last transvaginal u/s was at 7w when I "graduated" from my RE. I was seeing a high risk OB but as long as my abdominal u/s looked fine I was good to go. No complications at all. I had my first manual check at 38w....nothing going on. I was induced the following day.

 

I'd insist on cervical length scans via T/V U/S, not external, every 2-3 weeks. It is quick, easy, and can save your pregnancy. I had no contractions, discharge, or any other sign that my cervix was shortening, yet at my first scan at 16 weeks it was pretty much gone (0.2cm). Had my peri not done the measurement, I surely would have lost my babies.

 

I only see a regular ob also and have only got abdominal u/s at every appt with my twins. The dr. doesn't seem to concerned about checking either. I feel fine with that because I have never had any issues with p/l. with any of my pregnancies.

 

My doc only does a transvag in the beginning (prior to 12-16 weeks) and then only if they see a shortening at all the rest of the way. I get ultrasounds every 4 weeks and the compare the measurement to the last one every visit. They have told me that if they see even the slightest change, they will do transvag to double check. (I guess they want me to be ready for it if it were to happen.) So far things have been wonderful! I have a lot of faith in my OB too though. I really don't question him at all. He hass delivered several sets of twins as evidenced in the baby pictures in the waiting room and I actually have been able to talk to another twin Mommy who was delivered by him just last year too. Goes a long way towards developing trust in his abilities. (Thus making it MUCH easier for me to relax in his care.)

 

I went to my first Peri appointment yesterday and he said they will begin cervical measurements via transvaginal ultrasound at my next appointment which will be 18 weeks. Depending on how things look it will be every 2 weeks or every week after that.

 

I've never had any, except one manual check at about 28 weeks. Maybe because I had previous full-term pregnancies and no risk factors, but no one ever even brought it up. Now I'm avoiding cervical checks because I don't want to get too impatient . . .

 

I get internal scans every 2 weeks at my peris since going into PTL at 23 weeks due to TTTS. My cervix has always been long and closed but they still check it. If there is any change they do one at the week in between as well. That only happened once when it went down to 2.5 cm but the next week it was back up. If I wasn't getting them done every 2 weeks at my peris my OB would be doing them at least every 2 weeks as well.

 

My OB has me seeing a peri every 3 weeks for a u/s and t/v u/s. That is the most accurate way for them to check the cervix. My OB tries not to do any physical exams unless I am complaining of contractions as it could stir up contractions. I would recommend at least asking your OB or Peri what their thoughts on doing the t/v vs. a normal u/s are.

 

QUOTE(cvaughn @ Jun 26 2008, 08:53 AM) [snapback]846796[/snapback]
The dr. doesn't seem to concerned about checking either. I feel fine with that because I have never had any issues with p/l. with any of my pregnancies.

Just wanted to reiterate that I also never had any PTL with my oldest DD (she was born at 41w) and my cervix shortened very quickly with the twins at 24w. I felt absolutley wonderful yet so many things were going wrong. You do not have to have a history of PTL for this to happen. I just thank God my peri did them, if he didn't, who knows what the outcome would have been.