Cervical Shortening

I had an appointment today and the OB said that I am measuring between 2.4 and 2.85 this seems really short to me and he told me to bring a suitcase to my next appointment in case I need to be admitted.

Does anyone else have experience with this and at what point did your OB start to get worried??

 

I had an appointment today and the OB said that I am measuring between 2.4 and 2.85 this seems really short to me and he told me to bring a suitcase to my next appointment in case I need to be admitted.

Does anyone else have experience with this and at what point did your OB start to get worried??

 

At my last u/s at 21 weeks, my length was 3 inches and they said that was completely normal. How far along are you? 2.4-2.85 doesn't seem short to me, but maybe someone else here knows better

 

I believe they measure length in cm not inches. My peri wanted to be sure my length was 2 or greater until week 30. After week 30 he wasn't planning on checking it, if it was under 2 prior to that then action would need to be taken. I was 1.7 at 29 weeks and was hospitalized for a week and a half then sent home on bedrest. I was able to carry just over 36 weeks!

 

A couple of important things to consider:

1. What was your baseline? What did you last measure? This will tell you how much of a change you've experienced. Some people START at 3. I started at 4cm and pretty much stayed at or above 3.5cm the whole time. If you were last measured at 4cm, say 2wks ago, and you are now at 2.5, than that would be cause for concern because it shows lots of change over a short period of time. Does that all make sense?

2. Was there funneling? Funneling is important to note.

3. There's a big difference between 2.4 and 2.85cm, imo. Was he having trouble measuring for some reason? Was this measurement taken by u/s? Was this a Peri taking the measurement?

When is your next appt? I would just try to get as much rest as you can between now and then. If you have a shortening cervix, bedrest won't necessarily stop that but it certainly can't hurt to rest more.

 

A month ago when they last checked I was over 4cm so to me it seems like a big change.

It was done by ultrasound and I don't know why the technician would put the 2 lengths on there.
There was no mention of any funneling.

Thanks for the replys, I am just trying to get my head around the fact that I may have to go off work already.

BTW I am 26 weeks.

 

I agree w/PP - put yourself on bedrest - it can definately help your cervix lengthen.

My cervix shortened very rapidly in a very short period of time - I was also having contractions that I was not able to feel...once I got to 2.5cm - the Peri's really started to worry - especially since I had been 3.5cm three days before - and I was already on modified bedrest. This was at 24 weeks. Like PP mentioned - it helps to know your baseline to know how much you have shortened in how long of a time. I'm also guessing that the change in measurement depended on if the dr. had you bare down or not? They would take different measurements based on that for me - and they also became concerned when there was a descrepancy based on pushing or not...

I was also told to make plans to stay in the hospital if I got below a 2 - and that if it stayed that way I would be staying for the rest of the pregnancy. My cervix continued to go up and down over the next four weeks on bedrest - and then got to 1.6 at 28 weeks w/more contractions - I was hospitalized, put on mag, given steriods - and sent home after a week on nephedipine...three days later it shortened again to .9 and I was in the hospital for the duration - which was only three more days - as they couldn't stop the contractions.

The good news for you is that after I got to 2.5cm - I was still able to hold the boys in for another five weeks! So bedrest definately works!

HTH

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

 

quote:
Originally posted by funkymom:
A month ago when they last checked I was over 4cm so to me it seems like a big change.

It was done by ultrasound and I don't know why the technician would put the 2 lengths on there.
There was no mention of any funneling.

Thanks for the replys, I am just trying to get my head around the fact that I may have to go off work already.

BTW I am 26 weeks.


That is a fairly big change - especially at 26wks. When is your next appt? I would cut back on your activity. Do you work on your feet all day?

Best wishes for many more weeks of pg. I know it's hard to imagine cutting back so early but you won't regret it. What you might regret is NOT cutting back and having the babies too early. I don't say this to scare you, I really don't. I just remember myself not realizing the importance of being cautious.

 

My ob said anything over 4 is considered good. To give you a reference point..I'm a few weeks ahead of you, but my cervix is still 5.6 So it does sound to me like you are having a significant change. Take it easy! Let us know what happens at the next appt.

Reyna

 

I think Jennie brought up some great points. For me, my cervix was 2.9 at 24 weeks, accompanied by lots of contractions. The combo of the two (plus some funneling), landed me in the hospital on bedrest for a week. Once the contractions were under control, I was sent home on strict bedrest. By 28 weeks, I was just under 2cm and put back in the hospital for three weeks.

My doctor took it very seriously. I am glad he did, because my babies arrived when they were ready!

Wishing you luck. Take it easy and keep us updated on those measurements.

 

at my 30 week u/s my cervix was at 2.7 cm with some "beaking." at my 27 week appt., it was 2.8 cm. at 24 weeks, it was 4.2 cm. i was admitted to the hospital for 2 days to get the steroid shots for the babies' lungs. i've been on bed rest at home for 5 and 1/2 weeks ever since with little to no BH contractions. lots of water and feet up...i think it's helped most of us here.

 

my peri says anything over 3.5 is great, I would definately slow down and try to take it as easy as possible.

 

Thanks so much for the insight I really want to keep these babies in, so I will be going off work and trying to stay off my feet and rest.
My next appointment is on Monday so we will see how things are going.

 

When is the next time it is getting checked? Did your doc put on some sort of bedrest? Under 2.5 is normally considered short, and it should really be checked again in about a week to see if it has shortened more. My doc would have prescribed bedrest also.

Mine was drastically short very early. They they should be watching you closely.

 

I went from 5 to 2.5 in a week, at 28 weeks. Doc said modified bedrest, but I put myself on strict. The next u/s I was back up to 4.5. I highly recommend bedrest, keeping that pressure off of your cervix, and tons of water, more than you ever thought you could drink!