Incompetent Cervix

What can be done to fix an incompetent cervix?

Incompetent Cervix

During pregnancy, the cervix is supposed to be tightly closed until right before delivery when it will begin to dilate. A growing baby not only puts pressure on your back, abdomen and other muscles, the weight also puts pressure on your cervix. Sometimes the pressure will cause the cerivx to dilate prematurely. This condition is known as incompetent cervix or weakened cervix. An incompetent cervix occurs in approximately 1 out of 100 pregnancies. Because doctors do not generally check for an incompetent cervix during an exam, it is usually not diagnosed until a miscarriage has occured. However, this is not always the case. Some women will know ahead of time that their cervix is weakened. A doctor can diagnose the condition with a pelvic exam or ultrasound exam if there is reason to believe that an incompetent cervix might be an issue.

An incompetent cervix can be caused by damage during a previous birth or a previous surgery on the cervix. A previous D&C from a miscarriage or abortion may also lead to an incompetent cervix in some cases. Some women are born with a defect in their cervix that can cause the condition as well. Women that have been exposed to DES (Diethylstilbestrol) are more likely to suffer from an incompetent cervix as well.

Women that suffer from an incompetent cervix have a higher chance of miscarriage and preterm delivery. To treat an incompetent cervix doctors will perform a cerclage. A cerclage is a procedure in which the doctor will sew the cervix closed with sutures to reinforce the cervix and prevent it from dilating to early. Most doctors will perform the cerclage when the mother is in her 14-16 week of pregnancy and remove the stitch once she has reached the 36-38 week. If the cervix has already dilated to 4 cm or the amniotic fluids have ruptured, a cerclage can not performed. Although rare, there are a few complications that are involved with a cerlcage. Having a cerclage can put a woman at higher risk for uterine and bladder rupture, premature labor or early rupture of membranes.

Comments: Incompetent Cervix

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spurskath82 - 76 days ago.
elliel- thats the thing i haven't had any bleeding. i wear pantyliners to keep an eye on it all and nothing. a little brown.cream discharge but no more than i've ever had. definately no blood. and i couldn't see it in the urine it was just picked up on by the paper sticks they use to test it. its got me so so worried.xxx

elliel - 76 days ago.
spurs - I had bleeding in my pregnancy - never a lot but enough to scare me - but they could never work out what it was. All was fine in the end!

kjslover - 76 days ago.
I had some pretty intense contractions last night, but s it turns out Labor Day really is only a holiday

spurskath82 - 76 days ago.
i went to see my consultant today and baby is fine and cervix is 3.5cm on normal ultrasound (usually a bit longer if they do internal one) so happy with that. thing is when i gave a urine sample there was a lot of blood in it. we've sent a swab and urine sample off and consultant has said to call tomo morning and if white blood cells are up i can start anti-biotics tomo. anyone else had this? thanks xxx

elliel - 76 days ago.
due in oct - wow - so you haven't long to wait to see your LO's face!. DS was born at 35.5 and he was perfect apart from some jaundice - it's a safe stage to be at!

due oct 2009 - 77 days ago.
Yah Made it to 35 weeks with cerclage dialited to 1cm just lost mucus plug. gotta make it one more week then stitch will be removed!! Elliel-- no cus i have hardly anyroom left for the baby to grow and also have cerbral palsy

Mrs R - 77 days ago.
Thanks for the congrats debbie1 and elliel - and you're right elliel, we ARE definitely very lucky that it was not an unpleasant experience to have the cerclage removed. Thank goodness for no growth over that little stitch :)

debbie1 - 77 days ago.
Hang in there, you'll adjust. I was told side affects are mostly common during the first trimester when the genetals are forming and even then the chances are fairly low. I too have concerns about some meds, however after loosing a baby ...I'm willing to try just about anything to have a different out come. My Peri thinks terabutaline is very effective and I'll have to trust that he know what he's doing. I guess we'll find out in about 7 weeks when he takes me off of it and removes my cerclege, he thinks I'll be in labor within 48 hrs.

adriana03 - 78 days ago.
thanks for the responses. i got put on it and i feel horrible on it. i cant breath and my heart rate is high. i hope the symptoms go away and it works at least for a while. i hate taking risky meds especially heart ones that i dont need.

debbie1 - 78 days ago.
adriana03-I've been on tributaline pump for about 6 weeks. It took me about 48 hours to get use to it. I thought I was gonna have a heart attack but my body did adjust. I've heard from many medical professionals that it works well to prevent preterm labor.

elliel - 78 days ago.
MRS R - congrats - how exciting. So glad someone else didn't find it too painful. I remember posting here that I found it bearable as well only to be told by quite a few people that it as horrendous for them! I think it must be something to do with if skin has grown over the stitch - I guess we must have been lucky! I know what you mean about feeling emotional about the stitch (!) - one of the other ladies (can't remember who) asked her dr if she could keep it - he thought she was mad but I do understand her thinking - that thing helped keep her baby safe after all!

elliel - 78 days ago.
dueinoct - won't they leave the stitch in a little longer? With my DD they left the stitch in till 38 weeks (even though I was desperate for them to take it out at 37 weeks!!!). With hindsight I'm glad they did - another few weeks felt like a lifetime during pregnancy but it was so lovely to give birth to a full term little one.

kjslover - 78 days ago.
No, I was already taking a calcium channel blocker for my heart so she just left me on it since it's supposed to help with keeping the muscles relaxed as well but I heard it can make your heart race.

adriana03 - 78 days ago.
Anyone have any experience with terbutaline??? Just got put on it for a while? Tia!!!!!!!

debbie1 - 78 days ago.
Congrats Mrs. R and good luck!!

spurskath82 - 78 days ago.
ladybugpeace- hi, my consultant is a gynocolgist (i think). he has an anti natal clinic and put my stitch in and does c-sections etc. have they spoken to you about having a stitch? would they consider doing one as soon as they see a heartbeat? xxx

ladybugpeace - 79 days ago.
spurskath82- i've been going to my OB GYN- they took another blood test this morning, they r still trying to figure out if the preg is viable... what type of consultant?

Mrs R - 79 days ago.
kjslover congrats on getting to full term. That is wonderful. I am 38 weeks today and had my cerclage removed about an hour ago. It was so much easier than I anticipated. It felt like a pap. No pain at all, just felt like some poking. The weird thing is that I got a little emotional when my doc removed it b/c it made me appreciate that little stich all the more knowing it's kept my baby safe and in my belly all this time.

due oct 2009 - 79 days ago.
elliel- thanks i have a drs appointment next thursday i will be 35 weeks and 5 days keeping my fingers cross they will remove my stitch.

adriana03 - 79 days ago.
how are you ladies that are on bedrest handling kids in school? My daughter is starting first grade which is all day but my son is starting prek and its only two hours. Im getting worse and worse everyday. My bh's are increasing alott, and i have alot of butt pressure. Ive been on modified bedrest so far but i have a feeling my doc is gonna tell me not to do anything!... and my sons baptism is on sat what the heck am i gonna do?? i feel so helpless. I wish i could just make it another 8-9 weeks :(.....

spurskath82 - 79 days ago.
ladybugpeace - sorry i'm not entirely sure. i know i had a stitch put in at 22+6 last pregnany when ny cervix had already started to funnel. my stitch held for 10 days but i know ppl on here have had stitch when cervix opening and its held for longer. are you going to see the consutant? xxx

ladybugpeace - 80 days ago.
So, my blood test have just come back that i'm preg and the second test was 3 time higher than the first but i'm between 2-6 weeks along and i have an open cervix.... will i lose the baby or is there something they can do? ty for any response

charlihadley - 80 days ago.
i get my stitch in about 2 weeks, give or take a few days........eeeks...i hope i am able to be nkrmal after tha....i hatte bed rest....and my family hates me when im on bedrest hahahah......i drive them all crazy cause i get so bored lol.....welp love ya girls and take care!

kjslover - 80 days ago.
when I wake up in the morning i will be full term! Yay!!! good luck to all you other ladies, I hope you all make it to full term also :o)

spurskath82 - 80 days ago.
elliel - i've not discussed with my consultant about taking my stitch out yet. think after everything i've gone through we're both too scared too look that far ahead! what you said about the weight distribution does make sense, i can vaguely remember someone else also telling me that after that time period the baby shifts upwards and so less pressure on the cervix. my cervix has always gotten me to 23 weeks without a stitch trust it to give up just before the baby lifts! i'm 24 weeks on the 7th november and 28 weeks on the 5th december. i just hope i'm still on here moaning that stitch is out and baby still won't come!!! xxx