Ffn Test / Short Cervix Stories needed!

Hi All
I am now 28 weeks! but it has been quite the eventful pregnancy like everyone else. Bed rest starting at week 18, cerclage at 18 weeks. Prog 17 weekly shot and terb pills as needed.
Several trips to L&D - last one was for 5 days and they thought I may have to stay in until the babies are born.
They did finally knock out the contractions with some terb shots but also gave me the steroid shots for the babies lungs. My Ffn test came back positive and my cervix is now .85cm with funneling.
I know a neg result of the Ffn test is more reliable of predicting you will not go into labor soon than a pos Ffn test. BUT - the doctor still believes I will be having these babies by 30 weeks.
Looking for some similar stories/experience. Did anyone have the pos Ffn test as well and did go into labor within 3-4 weeks. How about the cervix length? How long did you hold out with a shortened cervix? Am nervous- want to keep these babies in as long as possible, but also want to be prepared if they do come soon!
Many Thanks!
Carrie

 

My cerclage was right around 1cm (with a cerclage) from 22 weeks on, and I delivered at 31 weeks. Had steroid shots right at 24 weeks and a rescue dose 48 hours prior to delivery. I spent from weeks 24-28 on hospital bedrest.

Baby A PROM'd and was footling breech and threatening to push her cord out with her feet, that is why I delivered. My cerclage was still holding strong.

Just stick to that bedrest faithfully, it really helps! It's pure torture, I know, but it works. My peri never did FFN tests, they didn't want to mess with things down there at all with my short cervix. I was measured at 24 weeks and not again until 28 weeks.

 

I had a postitive FFN test at 25 weeks and delivered my girls at 28 weeks due to PTL. I was also funneled and dilated. But really I think it depends on each individual person, some people have the same symptoms and go to 35+ weeks.

It is a HUGE milestone that you made it to 28 weeks. My girls are 28 weekers and they are perfectly healthy...granted we did have quite a long time in the NICU, but it all paid off in the end.

Good Luck to you!!

 

I had funneling and short cervix (2.8) by week 22 and had a cerclage put in. When in to PTL by week 25 with serious contractions. Put on mag and terb on strict hospital bedrest (catheterized etc.) for 8 weeks. Cerclage held but cervix continued to get smaller (contractions never stopped the entire 8 weeks) until by week 33 cerclage broke, cervix got to .8 and water bag of baby boy was bulging. FFN tests were all neg until the week I delivered by c-section when it came up positive. I don't know if the positive FFN test was true or not or if I just had to be delivered because doctor knew that water bags would break at any time, probably a combo. Anyways, good luck and try to stick to strick bedrest, keep in tune with your body and try to stay as calm as possible in such a difficult situation.

You are doing great and you have come so far already! You babies are going to do well with the special care you have been getting.

 

I had 1 cm cervix from 19 weeks - 27 weeks. It was about 0.5 cm from 27 weeks until I delivered at 30w4d. We did have steroid shots and the girls are still in the NICU, but we really couldn't ask for a better experience. We've had relatively smooth sailing in the NICU. The girls are doing so well even with their early arrival. We expect to go home in a couple of weeks. Have you had the betamethasone shots already? If not, ask for them. I am a firm believer in the steroids since my girls were only on a vent for 12 hours and have always been on room air and never needed oxygen. You will get through this!

 

Ok help me out...how do they know how long/short your cervix is, and funneling? By ultrasound or through vajj exams?

 

My peri was able to tell the length of my cervix from the ultra sound the longer the better.

QUOTE(bray64015 @ Jan 11 2008, 02:04 PM) [snapback]568286[/snapback]
Ok help me out...how do they know how long/short your cervix is, and funneling? By ultrasound or through vajj exams?

 

My OB would always check my cervix via u/s. You can check it to see if it is dilated by vag exam, but if you are already dilated it could cause you to dilate further and you cannot get exact measurements to see how long/short your cervix is. Funneling is when your cervix opens from the inside out and then the amniotic sacs are "funnelled" into the opening. It puts you at a high risk for PROM and obviously early delivery. HTH

 

My cervix actually got so short that it was not even measurable by transvaginal u/s. Also, my cervix was dynamic (continually changing from looking normal to funneled and extremely shortened within a matter of minutes), so manual checking was not reliable at all because it could seem fine and a minute later be .5 cm.

 

QUOTE(Mairoge @ Jan 11 2008, 07:13 PM) [snapback]568294[/snapback]
My peri was able to tell the length of my cervix from the ultra sound the longer the better.


Mine was measured via T/V U/S.

 

Thanks so much for all your responses. Ironically, I was just starting to go a little stir crazy being on bed rest so long- and now I have a new found inspiration- I actually WANT to be on bed rest for a lot longer now!! Am very motivated to do whatever I can. It is so hard as a mommy-to-be - you want to protect your babies already and keep them in there.
So, now I am officially 28 weeks and 1 day- every day is huge!
Carrie

 

28 weeks is a great milestone. Just take it one day at a time, and hang in there. You can do it!

 

QUOTE(cb15 @ Jan 11 2008, 04:57 PM) [snapback]568806[/snapback]
So, now I am officially 28 weeks and 1 day- every day is huge!
Carrie


You are so Right! Everday in your tummy is 3 days OUT of the NICU! Keep up the Good Work Momma!! :clapping:

 

Carrie, my heart goes out to you right now. I was 28 weeks when I had a positive fFN test, and so I can clearly understand your concern, anxiety, and fears. My cervix was measuring 1.8cm at the time of the test, but due to the results, my peri placed me on hospital bedrest just as a precaution. At that time I also received the steroid shots for their lungs. By the time I was discharged at 32 weeks, I was down to .9cm. I delivered two weeks later.

You have made it to a wonderful milestone, although I am sure that is meaningless to you right now; that is how I felt. And I know that your cervix is quite thin; thinner that where I was at at that time. BUT, I just wanted to give you hope that a fFN is not a guarantee of immediate delivery. I was able to hold out another six weeks.

I have been on this Expecting board, as a member and a moderator for three years now. There are countless stories here of women in your situation who have gone on to deliver babies that are healthy, with no NICU time. I hope you get to hear a few more of those stories to lift your spirits.