Very short Cervix @ 26W6D....Need Advise

Hi all,

This is my first Question on this forum. First, let me give you some background....

TODAY: 26W6D with Fraternal Twins.

(1) At 24W3D I was admiited to hospital for 24 hr monitoring b'coz of pre-mature contraction and cervix lenght of 1.8 cm(with funneling on pressure). The FfN was negative. Was given the Steroids and put on 5mg of Terbutalin while in hospital. Released from hospital with 2.5 mg of Terb. I was also put on a home monitoring machine and on strict - strict bed rest.
(2) At 24W7D we went back to my high risk doctor. Surprisingly the length had gone up to 3.5 cm.
(3) At 25W6D the length was still 3.5 cm. The doctor was very happy and so were we. Thought the bed rest is helping.
(4) Today at 26W6D we were shocked to see the cervix length reduced to 0.9 cm with funneling. Don't know how this happened ? Around a week ago one of the baby was head down kicking real hard real low. Do you think this could have caused the reduction in length ?. Fortunately though, today the baby is back to breach now. Also the FfN came negative.

My contactions currently is at around 2/hr. The doctor said that, their's nothing much they could do at this point of time, then to continue the way things are going currently.

We(I and my husband) are extremely extremely worried !! Don't know what i should do ?

 

Hi! WElcome to TS!! I am so sorry that you are having to go through this. :hug:

The first thing I would do, if your Dr hasn't already done it is be on strict bedrest. I would also be drinking a TON of water, dehydration can cause Pre-term labor. Also remember to go to the bathroom a lot to empty your bladder, that can also can uterine irritability.

Has your Dr given you the steroid shots for the babies lung development?

I went into the hospital at 24 weeks for PTL, funneling, and positive fFN. I was on strict hospital bedrest, and I was able to make it to 28 weeks. My girls are perfectly healthy now, and you would never even know that they were 12 weeks premature.

Bedrest is so hard, but every day you can keep them in is 3 days they don't have to be in the NICU. You can do this!! Good Luck!!

 

Thanks a lot Kyrstyn.

As i mentioned earlier in my post, i am on strict bedrest. Only getting up for restrooms. I was also given the steroids while i was in hospital at 24WD3. I also monitor my contractions at home, through a machine provided by Matria.

 

QUOTE(flgirl @ Oct 22 2008, 08:31 PM) [snapback]1038125[/snapback]
Thanks a lot Kyrstyn.

As i mentioned earlier in my post, i am on strict bedrest. Only getting up for restrooms. I was also given the steroids while i was in hospital at 24WD3. I also monitor my contractions at home, through a machine provided by Matria.

That is great!! It sounds like you are doing everything you can. I strongly believe that a positive attitude goes a long way. Just stay strong for those babies!! :hug:

Every week that passed that I didn't have the girls my MIL would always come over and we would celebrate Non-Birthdays. It was so much fun! She would bring in cupcakes and we would share with the nurses (they loved it too!).

I also kept a blog, so everyone could keep updated on how me and the babies were doing. Not only did it pass the time, but it helped in the fact that I didn't have to tell the same story over and over again. Its kind of neat to look back at it now and see how far we have come.

Good Luck and Keep us posted!

 

i had a short cervix at 24 weeks and i have been on modified bedrest now for about 6 weeks.... i am 29 weeks today and last they checked my cervix was shorter.... at 1.2 and i was admitted as well with trebuteline shots also. i also have alot of u shape funneling! everytime i get a cervical length check which is every week as soon as baby a's head pushes down onto the cervix, it funnels more and looks way shorter so i believe it has something to do with it, yes! i hate going into the hospital every week cuz i know its not gotten any longer and i am always prepared to stay. so just keep your head up high and hope for the best. no sex....no work.... no stairs....no nothing. lots of water! no gravity! that is what the dr. said about my incompetent cervix....gravity causes most of the changing! good luck.... you are not alone with all of this!

 

Hi and welcome to Twinstuff!

Unfortunately at this point there is not much you can do except continue to do your strict bedrest and drink lots of water. Did your OB mention the possibility of hospital bedrest? I'm glad you got the steroid shots, they will help! Please know there a some of us that have had our babies very early and we have many success stories!!! Please keep us posted. :hug:

 

Has your doctor discussed hospital bedrest? I think that would be the next step. I had basically the same issue at 22 weeks (short cervix with funneling) but that was with a cerclage in place. I was put on hospital bedrest at exactly 24 weeks and stayed on it until 28 weeks. I was stable that entire time, to the great surprise of my peri, so they let me go back home to strict bedrest at 28 weeks.

Really, strict bedrest and tons of water is best. But being on hospital bedrest is beneficial in case the babies decide to come, everything needed is there close that way.

 

Everyone has given good advice. There is also something called a dynamic cervix, which is something to look into. This is when your cervix spontaneously changes all the time from long to short.

 

Mine was just about that short! I, too, was on bedrest at 18, cerclage at 19 weeks, the whole thing.

I was a total FREAK about bedrest. My doctor put me on bedrest but said I could get up to make food and I could sit in a chair. NO! I stayed on my side the entire time!

*stay put, on your side
*drink TONS of water
*I know I said stay put, but get up to go to the bathroom frequently, as a full bladder can irritate the uterus
*have people bring you food and eat it on your side (no kidding), keep that pressure OFF the cervix

I got the steroid shots at 26 weeks. I was having some contractions, not a lot. Keep taking that medicine. I wasn't on any medicine for contractions, just really strict bedres and a lot of water.
I made it to 36 weeks (one day shy actually). You can too!

And, even if they come early...look at all the girls on here who had their babies early and how everything turned out just fine, their babies are beautiful and healthy.

Let us know how you are doing!

 

Hi there,

Hi there, it sounds like you are doing everything you can!
I went on bed rest at 24 weeks with a dynamic cervix down to 6 mm with funneling. I had the steroid shots and went on procardia. I was sent home after a week for strict bed rest. I was on strict bed rest for 10 weeks and modified BR for 2 weeks. My cervix increased and stayed around 1.5 cm. I delivered them at 36 weeks. They spent 3 weeks in the NICU and are home and doing well. I know I was lucky, but I did follow the BR guidelines strictly. Hang in there, it is possible to get much farther along than you are now! Every day inside is good for your babies. take care, Beth

 

Thanks ALL for your advise. This is a real plus getting to know your personal experiences. I have been fourtunate to have a wonderful husband who takes good care of me at home. He has the flexibility to work from home and thus has been doing his office work and at the same time looking after me. He is a good cook !! I am able to (and he ensures this) do a strict BR.

I am 5"2' and very skinny.......may be that's why I am in this situation...Or may b not !!!........

Anyways feeling much better now...Will keep you all posted with my situation..

Cheers.

 

Your situation sounds very similar to mine. I had an u/s at 24 weeks and they discovered my cervix was 2.4 and funneling. I was put on bed rest to be reassessed in a week. The following week despite the bed rest my cervix was 1.9 with some funneling. I was then promptly placed on hospital bed rest. They did not see any contractions but put me on Nifedipine anyway. After 3 days in the hospital my cervix was miraculously up to 3 cm, but then back down to 2.3 a few days later. I was released on home bed rest, and my cervix was stable between 2.6 and 2.3, no funneling. I am 30 weeks now, and per my peri's permission went to the mall once in a wheelchair. We'll see next week what the cervix is.

 

oral terb was no more helping. Was moved on tern pump yesterday evening. Do u think it will help ? Anyone having pump experience ?

 

QUOTE(flgirl @ Oct 29 2008, 12:57 AM) [snapback]1046594[/snapback]
oral terb was no more helping. Was moved on tern pump yesterday evening. Do u think it will help ? Anyone having pump experience ?


I don't have any experience with the terb pump, but wanted to send hugs and tell you to hang in there. :hug:

 

Is it too late for a cerclage?
Sorry I can't be more help.

 

QUOTE(flgirl @ Oct 28 2008, 11:57 PM) [snapback]1046594[/snapback]
oral terb was no more helping. Was moved on tern pump yesterday evening. Do u think it will help ? Anyone having pump experience ?


No personal experience with the pump, but these drugs aren't proven to work for more than a few days at a time, so I'm not exactly sure what the benefits of a pump are. Try to just stay calm and zen and focus on cooking those babies some more!

If it makes you feel better at 26w 6 days I had a cervix length of 1.8. My doc hasn't checked me since because he sees no need to "mess" with things down there, but I am 30w 4d now and just had a negative ffn test today again. So just because it's short doesn't mean that you will deliver super early!

 

QUOTE(Charly @ Oct 29 2008, 10:48 AM) [snapback]1046981[/snapback]
Is it too late for a cerclage?

Yes, Dr's won't do one pat 24w.

 

I am going through a similar situation. Yesterday I went in for a routine ultrasound and learned that my cervix is measuring 1.8 cm. I was sent to L&D to be monitored for contractions but luckily there were none. I was given a steriod shot and started on Procardia every 8 hours. Today I am 25 w 5 d. I have to be back at the hospital in an hour for more observation and the 2nd steriod shot. I am on strict bedrest as well. Hopefully everything goes well at the hospital today while they are observing me. I will keep you posted!