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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elliel - 81 days ago.
congrats to all the ladies who are defying the odds - I've said it before and I'll say it again - I really believe this is a 'lucky' forum . We've had so many wonderful success stories. DUEINOCT - you are doing so well and 34 weeks is a very safe time for your baby to be (my DS was 35 weeks and didn't need any time in ICU) though of course I know you want to go longer...I'll be thinking of you.

debbie1 - 81 days ago.
Ti- tell that's awesome, I was wondering about you. I was also thinking of missymix, hope all is well with her too. I just came back from my OB, he said everything looks good. My cervix is thick and closed, the cerclege is doing it's job. IM SOOO HAPPY TODAY I'M 28 WEEKS!!!

elliel - 81 days ago.
spurs - I never really understood that until someone explained that the stage where IC really is at it's most dangerous (the 18-24 week time) is when the baby suddenly starts getting much bigger quickly - excuse the crude terminology but it's rather like a ballon being blown up - so there is a lot of growth quickly but after a while when the baby is bigger the weight is spread differently as well (until it drops down just before labour). I'm not sure if this is absolutely correct but it made sense to me at the time. You mention your visit at 35 weeks - is your consultant taking out your stitch then?

spurskath82 - 81 days ago.
i just read the article and can't believe that on average its 14 days after having cerclage removed before baby comes! is that why so many of you seem to be having your cerclage taken out about 35 weeks? i'm really worried about this as when i'm 35 weeks with this pregnancy the day that i would go and see my consultant is the day of my angel son Dyfan's first birthday. i want that day to be about remembering him. is it just thought to be because of the scar tissue? as if my cervix wasn't able to hold in a 1.14lb baby how does it hold in a 5lb+ one after stitch has been taken out?

due oct 2009 - 81 days ago.
Update ladies i am 34 weeeks and 3 days I started having contractions last night about 8 pm i took my procardia and lyed down they keep coming so at 2am took more. by6 still having contraction went to l&d at 7 only dialited to 1 cm stitch still holding they sent me home. If i had hold out til next thursday they will remove my stitch. ya what a crazy night and day its been. so pray for me.

ti-tell2000 - 81 days ago.
I am 30 weeks, yay! My doc kept saying he hoped I would make through all of August and I did. Now I am on a countdown to cerclage removal day. I get my cerclage removed at 35 weeks, so I hope I'm able to hold her in for more than 2 days. I just read an article that states the average interval between cerclage removal and delivery with preventative cerclages is 14 days. With ultrasound induced cerclages delivery is more likely to occur in 48 hours. http://www.analesdemedicina.com/ginecologia_obstetricia/noticia.php?noticia=83501

NicholasMom - 81 days ago.
Just wondering if anyone has heard from missyminx? She hasn't been on in along time and she was in the hospital. I hope she and the baby are okay!!

kayandrysmom - 81 days ago.
My first pregnancy was a perfect pregnancy. I never got sick...was induced and had my 7 lb 12 oz daughter 12 days late. My second pregnancy was completly different! I had some weird feelings at 21 weeks...had a can and had a 1.9cm funneled cervix. I will NEVER know if i have IC...My dr didnt scan my cervix in my first pregnancy so he says that could be normal for me we will never know. But i was on bedrest for 13 weeks as a precaution. About weight gain...I only gained 13 lbs with my second while on bedrest...I do believe that you lose muscle weight so your weight gain seems lower. 2 days after i had my daughter i weighed 10 lbs less then i did before i was pregnant. I had my daughter 2 days before she was do (i did an old wives tale and it worked!!). She was only 6 lbs 9 oz and 19.5 inches...so not all bedrest babies are big!!!!!

awaitingmother2b - 81 days ago.
debbie1-Yeah i am pretty sure I lost my mucus plug. I haven't had a recent ultrasound. I am 18 weeks and I have my next ultrasound on Friday. I have been diagnosed with HG and the last 2 weeks I have been feelings very good so I went to the fair this last Friday and may have done too much walking for being ill. I don't know. Thanks for the help.

debbie1 - 81 days ago.
Waitingmother- I had 2 children with no complications before i was diagnosed with IC last year. Are you sure you lost your mucus plug? I was told by my doc that you can loose some after ultrasound and it can grow back if it's early. With that said, If you don't feel well trust your instincts and go to the emergency room. It's better to be safe than sorry. Hope this helps rather than scare you.

awaitingmother2b - 81 days ago.
Hello ladies, I have some questions and please answer if you can. My mother in law had IC and is worried I might have it as well. I have one other child who is now 5 and I had no difficulties with that pregnancy but this one is completely different. I have lost my mucus plug and have been having cramping in my back and lower stomach. She had the same thing when she lost her first. Can you have IC if you had a successful pregnancy before?

AngelaKate - 81 days ago.
Debbie1 - I'm not on strict bedrest, I get up during the day to have a shower and then I lie on the couch until hubby comes home. Just to let you know that I haven't put on much weight either. Nobody has been concerned about it though as baby is measuring good for dates.

debbie1 - 82 days ago.
corrin-Please forgive me for asking, how much weight did you gain the first pregnancy? I'm only asking because my Peri wants me to gain more weight than i have at this point .(13-14lbs at 28 weeks) I'm not a thin person but I do eat healthy. I know lots of rest can make a baby a little larger, I'm hoping my weight will not cause me to have too small a baby. right now my baby looks like his weight gain is good, but I'm just a little concern.

kjslover - 82 days ago.
9lb 10oz..wow! I'm terrified of having a big baby. All I'm familiar with is birthing a 1lb baby and I know how much that hurt...so I can only imagine a full term baby! I did read that there is a full moon Friday so with any luck that old wives tale will work out for me LOL I'll be 37 weeks Thursday but I'm thinking she's too comfortable to come out right now...

corrin - 82 days ago.
kjslover- i didnt have a cerclage my first tme around i just had tons if bedrest until about 35 weeks...i was induced at 38 weeks and had a 9lb 10oz baby boy.... and i tried everything ot make him come out naturally...go figure when i want him to come out and hes safe he wont....!!

kjslover - 82 days ago.
Thanks elliel you guys really made me feel better! I started walking last night...I didn't even go that far but my lord..my hips and pelvis HURT!! Now if I could just get hubby to do the BD (doesn't help that my mom is living with us and we can't get any privacy)! LOL elliel what things did you do to get labor going?

blessedx4 - 82 days ago.
I had my doctors appointment last Friday, and my cervix measured 3.4 cm I am 30 weeks, it seems to get longer as I go, she talked about 36 weeks, and the removal of the cerclage, and said she would'nt be suprised if I still went overdue (my first one I went 17 days overdue, without a cerclage)I just can't imagine worrying so much, and it then just dragging on 10 more days past 40 weeks. But it definately seems to happen quite a bit. Good luck to all of you that have your cerclage out, that you may go into labour soon, and hold on to your healthy precious bundle.

elliel - 82 days ago.
kjs - kaysmom is right - we had quite a few ladies on our fourm that took quite a while to go into labour after stitch removal - I think we all imagined that we would give birth very quickly after. We all thought it was slightly ironic - after spending so long desperate for our babies to stay put - some of the ladies ended up desperate to go into labour! I was lucky, I had my stitch out at 38 weeks and went into labour 2 days later. But I did tons of things to try and bring on the labour as I was so desperate to see my LO!

debbie1 - 82 days ago.
angelakate- are you on bed rest?

kjslover - 82 days ago.
thank you kayandrysmom that's reassuring and debbie you're right it doesn't matter if i know the exact reason or not i just like to feel like i can control things even though i know i can't...

AngelaKate - 82 days ago.
Just got back from the specialist. He thinks 16mm at 29 weeks is fine. He wants me to rest as much as possible and said if I could last another good 2 or 3 weeks he would be very happy. Hope everyone else here is doing well.

debbie1 - 82 days ago.
KJLover-I don't know if knowing or not knowing helps moms like us. There are so many things I think about too and we'll carry it with us always try to remember that there's a reason for everthing and you definately have god on your side. Good luck

kayandrysmom - 82 days ago.
I didnt have a cerclage but some of the ladies that were in here with me did and their cervix did not dilate right after removal...Also i had a short funneled cervix..got off bedrest at 34 weeks and didnt have my LO until 2 days before she was due! That was with NO CERCLAGE so you just never know! But the ladies that did have it, like i said, took a couple weeks to go into labor...scar tissue can be abig thing too good luck!

kjslover - 82 days ago.
went to the OB today and am only 1cm dilated and 60% effaced 1 week after cerclage removal. makes me wonder if the IC diagnosis is correct. the thought of it not being right makes me sad to think i still don't know why i lost my little boy. what were you other IC ladies at after cerclage removal?

AngelaKate - 83 days ago.
Thanks for that debbie1. I'm off to see my specialist in a couple of hours. Will let you know what he said.