qu about cervical length & BH

hi, i had a ob app yesterday (20wk)and he also gave m a scan to check for growth and fluids.

everything looks good as far as fliuds go...i asked the ob about my bh and he said that bh do not bring on pre term labour etc.

He showed me my cervix on the screen and said it looked good, however i noticed on the referral to the other sonographer for my next 24 wk growth & measurement scan (am also having a scan with OB at 22 wks just to check fliuds) that he made a note to check cervical length.

Just wondering if this is routine or if maybe he noticed something on my scan that he didn't tell me about. I am only petite and he has told me previously that i wont go to my due date,

does anyone know if it is usuall to check for cervical length at 24 wks, can it be done thru normal u/s or does it have to be done trans vag.? and what is your cervical length medant to be at this stage of pregnancy?

 

Hi Natasha,

It sounds like you are doing great! BH's are normal...keep that in mind! As far as the Cervical checks go...it can be done at this stage with either u/s and yes they check mine every appointment...so far so good! It is great that they are keeping an eye on you!


Missy
:wavey:

 

They started checking mine around 25 weeks, per ultrasound, vaginally, because I felt like I was having too many contractions. Mine was found to be 3.5 cm one week down to 3 a few weeks later. Doc wasn't too concerned because there was no dilation. Since then they have not checked it via ultrasound- but I did have a manual check last time I was in. I think some docs just routinly measure at each ultrasound- and they can get a view of it from your abdomen. I think he is just taking extra good care of you :icon_biggrin:

 

They check mine at every appointment!

I did have progressive contractions a few weeks ago (left for L&D they were 6 minutes apart, by the time the monitors were hooked up they were 2 minutes apart and lasting over a minute each, so right on top of each other) but at my next appointment, my cervix measured over 5 centimeters, so they actually don't worry so much about frequent contractions in my case, but they like to keep an eye on my cervix anyway, because things can change quickly.

If you are having a lot of BH contractions, even if that is normal for you, be sure to discuss their frequency with your doctor or midwife at every visit. If they need to make changes to your prenatal care they will want to know what is normal for you.

 

Ok, not to sound like a voice of caution, but pay attention to those contractions. For me, what seemed like braxton hicks did end up shortening my cervix. This happened in my first pregnancy and this time also. My Dr. checks my cervical length with abdominal U/S every appointment and tries to avoid doing actual checks if possible - - because that starts contractions up again for me. It's not quite as accurate to check with external U/S, but it can give you an idea of length and help to make sure there is no funneling/bulging bag. Also, cervical length can be dynamic and can go back up to a better length after it has shortened already. I guess it's because it's twins, but my uterus is very irritable this time around and the Dr said that was common with multiples. In the beginning (before my preterm labor) he said that I could expect to contract quite a bit and it isn't necessarily a concern, but that they would keep a close eye on my cervix just to make sure the contractions weren't changing anything.

 

They checked mine via transvaginal u/s at every apt. after my 20 week peri apt. At my 20 week level 2 scan, my cervical length was only 2.5.

 

They have checked my cervical length at every u/s which has been every appt. This is my third pregnancy and I've never had cervical problems (as far as shortening, dilating..etc.

I say it's better safe than sorry. Mine has ranged from 4.85-5.00 cm (long and closed) and they still monitor it. Things can change quickly. They can check it with the abdominal u/s or the transvaginal. The transvaginal is more accurate but if it's measuring long and closed with the regular abdominal then they may not check with the transvaginal one.

 

It was standard practice at my peri's office to started checking cervical length through u/s at 18w.

 

My Dr. started rountinely checking my cervical length around 20 weeks. My Dr. did mine Trans-vaginally because its more accurate. Hope that helps!

 

My cervical length is also checked at each visit via transvaginal u/s. I'm currently 20 weeks and my ultrasound yesterday showed that my cervix had gone from 4.1 cm 2 weeks ago to 3.3 cm yesterday, so even though that length is well within the normal range for this point, because there was a change, I'll have another ultrasound to check length again in 1 week just to see if it has stayed the same, gone back up or shortened more. If it had not changed since my previous appointment, they would have just checked it again at 24 weeks, as your doctor is doing.

 

thanks for sharing your advice...it's good to know what you all had done...sounds like he is just taking good care of me.

thanks once again, tash