shortened cervix - need support

Hi - I'm 24w5d. I got my cervix measure this morning and it's at 2.7. Two weeks ago it was 4.0. So the doctor said it's still in normal range but is a little red flag and they will need to monitor me closely to see if it gets shorter.

I'm worried (this is another issue in a series of many).

Anyone have any thoughts, similar experiences to share???

Thank you.

 

I had a similar experience.... My cervix was measuring at 4.0 at my appointment in November with the Perinatologist. When I went back in 4 weeks later for my 20 week u/s it measured at 3.5. So, like yours, he said it was still in the normal range and could be a natural progression and not to worry about it, but that he'd like to see me again to double-check it in 2 weeks. So 2 weeks later I went back (at 22 weeks pregnant) and it actually increased to 3.6 so he was okay with it and told me not to worry. I'm going back again for my 24 week u/s and he will be checking it again. If it continues to stay at the level it is, he said it's nothing to worry about and is just the natural progression.

He did say though (at 20 weeks when it was suddenly shorter) to cut out all excercise and keep standing/walking to a minimum (i.e.: no long shopping trips or walks). He said at this point I need to start taking it really easy.

 

I found out at 21 weeks that we were having twins and at 23 weeks, I found out that my cervix was at 2.1 cm. I had to go in for weekly fetal assessments as well as have a manual cervix check done. The following week it had dropped to 1.4 cm, but then rose to 1.9 cm and stayed there for quite a while. I was just told to take it easy and stay off of my feet as much as possible. I believe that my last cervix check was done at around 30 weeks and at that point, I was at 1.4 cm. I managed to last until 34 weeks when my boys were born due to my water breaking.

Just take it easy and everything will work out!!

 

Hey there, I'm in a similar situation. In december my cervix was measuring 4.2 cm, 4 weeks later it was down to 1.8 cm. I was put on bed rest immediately and a test for fetal fibronectin (the protein that causes preterm labor) was done. The next day I was in the hospital on bedrest and put on medication to stop contractions, even though I wasn't feeling them at all. I'm still here and I have had two ultrasounds since last week Monday....on Thursday I was at 2.0 cm and today I was at 2.3 cm so my bedrest is definately helping out a lot!!! I would just say take it easy and try to get as much rest as you can and know that your doctor will do what he/she thinks is best for you and your babies.

Krista

 

Did your OB put you on any kind of bedrest? I went from over 4 at 20w, to about 1 at 24w, very unexpectedly. But I had a very happy ending.

 

i dropped from 4cm at 24w to 2cm at 27w. i was put on modified bed rest (ie stay off my feet as much as possible) & had NSTs twice a week (we have a home care program in our town where nurses come & do the NSTs at your house). i also got steroid shots for the girls' lungs, just in case i went into full labour super early but we made it to 34w1d & the girls only spent 2 weeks in the NICU feeding & growing.

:hug: you're doing great! and it's good that they'll be keeping an eye on you - just keep taking it easy as much as possible & follow your doc's advice.

 

[SIZE=12pt]So I have a question how does the peri check for that? I am off tomorrow for my first appointment with the peri who is doing my big ultrasound and the doc said they will just continue to see me and make appointments every month. What should I expect tomorrow? I told the doc last Monday that I felt like things were very low and lots of pressure and I was told that was normal (keep in mind this wasn't my doc this is the one you see every now and then as they rotate you). I just was wondering if this is something they can check for tomorrow?[/SIZE]

 

Me too, my cervix was long and everything was good but at my 22 week appointment my cervix had shortened to 2.3 and they told me to continue to work with my feet up but no more house chores grocery shopping nothing after work but in the bed or on the couch. I did go grocery shopping but used a little scooter cart thing... all in all I had my 25 week appointment yesterday and my cervix had actually gotten long to 3.0, so the rest really helps. They told me to continue to take it easy and really keep those feet elevated. Obviously I was doing too much trying to clean and doing house chores before hand. Also the pressure is common. I went in on an un-scheduled appointment because of it last week. I had so much pressure I couldn't hardly walk or get in and out of the car. Apparently with twins it's pretty common. My little girl is really low and that day she was really pressing hard so just the weight of the twins and fluid is enough to cause that plus with the BH contractions I'm having. I'm having about 7-10 a day but they said to only worry if I have 5 or more an hour..then the second hour go to L&D. GL ladies the rest really helps!!!

 

I was put in the hospital at 24 weeks because of a short cervix. Mine was over 5 cm at 20 weeks then at 24 it shrunk to 1.2cm . I was in the hospital until 28 weeks and my cervix continued to get shorter and shorter despite the strict bedrest. My MFM asked me if I wanted to stay in hospital or go home. I opted to go home at 28 weeks with a cervix measured in mm. I think I was 5mm measuring when I left the hospital (I remember the look on my Drs face during that u/s...it was not promising). I wasn't dilated at all and fetal fibronectin was negative. I was on strict bedrest at home for 6 weeks only getting up to go to bathroom and shower. My water broke at 34 weeks and 2 days after coming off bedrest at 34 weeks and taking a walk. My girls were in the NICU for 6 days as feeders and growers (although Taylor did need cpap for a couple of days). They are healthy 5 month olds now! Hang in there. You CAN go the distance with a barely there cervix.

 

Thank you so much, ladies. Your stories put me at ease. Nice to know others who were (or are) in the very same position and things turned out okay.
I think I really need to stop all activity after work.

I wonder...my mom and MIL are throwing baby showers for me when I'll be 28 and 29 weeks. My MIL's will be 4 hours away, where they live. I wonder if I should even go when I'm in this positon? I just took the FFN test yesterday. I guess we'll see how that comes out and what the doctor says.

krisdeb - I wondered about that. My doctor asked me if I was having contractions. I said no...b/c I didn't think I was. However, I wonder if I'm just not identifying them as contractions or just don't feel them. I've read about 20 different descriptions of how they feel and I just have no idea. I think I may ask the doctor to hook me up to a uterine activity machine.

Thanks again, everyone.

 

QUOTE(maksbabies @ Jan 28 2009, 05:43 AM) [snapback]1165300[/snapback]
I wonder...my mom and MIL are throwing baby showers for me when I'll be 28 and 29 weeks. My MIL's will be 4 hours away, where they live. I wonder if I should even go when I'm in this positon?


I would definitely plan on not going. I went from 4.5-5, down to 2.5 with funneling around 28 weeks, was put on bedrest for 9 weeks, and delivered at 37. After a week of strict bedrest(only getting up to use the restroom), my cervix had lengthened back to 4 and the funneling was gone.

 

QUOTE(maksbabies @ Jan 28 2009, 05:43 AM) [snapback]1165300[/snapback]
I wonder...my mom and MIL are throwing baby showers for me when I'll be 28 and 29 weeks. My MIL's will be 4 hours away, where they live. I wonder if I should even go when I'm in this positon? I just took the FFN test yesterday. I guess we'll see how that comes out and what the doctor says.

No, I would not go. I wouldn't want to risk it.


And I would try to limit work as well, JMO.

 

Thank you again, everyone. Much to think about.