short cervix - is this normal for me?

Hi - I'm new here and just joined today. I'm 21w4d pregnant with fraternal twin boys and I already have an 18 month old son. At 16 weeks they noticed that my cervix was dynamic and in the course of a 45 minute ultrasound (that I had done as part of my amnio) it was lengthening and shortening from 2.0 to 3.8cm with some funneling. I was told it was probably nothing but to follow up with my doctor. At 18 weeks my doctor checked me and my cervix was 3.0cm with no funneling. At 20 weeks I was down to 2.1cm with funneling and most recently at 21+ weeks I was 1.6cm with funneling.

My cervix was not an issue at all in my last pregnancy and I made it to 39w3d with my son. I asked if any measurements were taken with that pregnancy. Turns out at 18 weeks I was 3cm! So, my cervix was short last time, too. Nobody said anything to me about it and no further measurements were taken.

The doctors and I are still confused about whether this is something that is normal for me or if I am in fact at risk for PTL. As a precaution, I am on bedrest at home. Is there anyone on here who had a normal first pregnancy but then the cervix became an issue with a second, twin pregnancy?

I'm totally confused.

 

This is my first pregnancy so I can't help in that department, but I am on modified bed rest for short cervix and PTL. I am totally confused about it as well and when I ask my high risk dr he confuses me more. Are they expecting your bed rest to last the duration of your pregnancy? I wish that I would have sought a second opinion and now I just think I am too far along. Good Luck, this is a wonderful site to get some much needed support!

 

Welcome to Twinstuff! :welcome: Congrats on your twins.


I think anytime your cervix is short you are at risk for PTL. If you are 1.6 at 21 weeks, I would think you need to take it very easy. :hug: I think bedrest is a good thing for you right now.

I can tell you that with my first pregnancy, my singleton, I didn't go into labor with her until 41w and I had no PTL at all. But with the twins at 24w my cervix was short and I ended up delivering them early, no one knows why.

 

I'm on bedrest myself since I was 28 weeks pregnant thats when my cervix started to get shorter. I have a son who was born six years ago and I had no issues and made it full term with him. Just relax and everything will be ok, after 31 weeks they usually dont check your cervix anymore seeing as its a safe zone and your cervix gets shorter anyhow.

 

How are you two surviving bed rest? :grr: I am going mad!

 

:welcome: to TS! And congrats on your pregnancy!

 

Thanks for your responses. I guess I'm on bedrest for the duration of the pregnancy. If my cervix length drops below 1.5 cm they're going to put me on hospital bedrest and then I would really go out of my mind. I've only been on home bedrest for three days and I'm already going crazy. The hardest part is not being able to do things with my son. Even though I see him more often since I'm home more often, I just can't interact with him the way I used to. It's also proving difficult to manage everything that needs to be managed without a whole lot of help. I feel like I need someone here full time just to take care of me! Not to mention, how does everyone deal with the mental/emotional aspect of something like this? I find myself getting more and more depressed and ordinarily I would see a therapist but I'm not allowed to drive anywhere!

Anyway, I'm going to continue to hold out hope for a positive outcome. I've got 10 weeks to go to get to 32 weeks. Let the countdown begin!

 

Be sure to visit our bedrest forum here!!!


I know bedrest is hard, BTDT. And yes hospital bedrest is even harder, BTDT!! I also had a child at home when I was on bedrest, but I am lucky in that I have family around that would come and take her to preschool and stay with her or take her to their house, they really did help a lot with that. Do you have anyone that can help you out with your DS during the day?

As for getting depressed, I didn't feel that way on bedrest, but hospital bedrest yes! I was getting extremely depressed and I'm very surprised the hospital did not send anyone in to talk to me, looking back they definitely should have.

It's not easy, but hang in there. :hug: It will all be worth it in the end.