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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debbie1 - 47 days ago.
Jbtd_ I'm so sorry...I did have a rescue cerclege at 20 weeks with my pregnancy before dispite my doctors concerns and unfortunately it doesn't always work. I did loose my baby a few days after from PROM. I 've also had friends that it did work for them so it's hard to say what the outcome would have been. I understand you are looking for answers and I can feel your pain. Payers help.

debbie1 - 47 days ago.
Ti-Tell2000 That's great that your cerclege is working so well. Att my last visit my cervix measured 1.5cm with little funneling and my cerclege in tact so I was happy to hear that. I'm still pretty strict w my bedrest but I'd like to do just a little more. my doc is strict about what I can and can't do, I have an appt tomorrow so I talk with him about the stairs.

ti-tell2000 - 47 days ago.
jbtd-I am so sorry to hear of your loss.

ti-tell2000 - 47 days ago.
NonhlanhlaM- I too had bleeding during early pregnancy (7, 9, and 11 weeks) and was closed and thick. No one ever told me they were connected, however I have read studies that have connected them. There are also a lot of other causes. I have posted a link to a site that list some reasons. http://www.ganfyd.org/index.php?title=Bleeding_in_early_pregnancy

ti-tell2000 - 47 days ago.
Debbie1- 33 weeks, you are doing awsome! My doctor actually released me from strict bedrest at 26 weeks after the u/s showed only the stitch holding things together. I stuck with strict BR until 30 weeks though. I am still on extreme 'take it easy' mode and most times lay in bed most of the day. Stairs are one thing I haven't had to deal with. I would definitely ask the doctor.

jbtd - 47 days ago.
I lost my baby at 23 weeks due to IC and or preterm labor. I am reading the comments about women having emergency cerclages and now wish my doctors would have done one on me. They told me because I was contracting they couldn't do one. I know I was treated by one of the best specialists but it scares me to even think the cerclage could have been done and maybe my baby boy would still be in my belly.

NonhlanhlaM - 47 days ago.
Ladies, I'm new on this Forum and i'm 12.4 weeks. I was bleeding the other day and was even admited because of it, Dr. said everything is closed (womb and all) but just out of curiosity, can an incompetent Cervix cause the bleeding?

debbie1 - 47 days ago.
blessedx4- I thought it was your miracle I read about a few months ago, but I wasn't sure. Ti-tell2000- OMG!!! 35 weeks, wow that's amazing. I following you, I'm almost 33 weeks. Are you still on strict bed rest? I hoping go downstairs once a day when I get to 35 weeks just to spend alittle more time with my kids, would you advise that? Glad to hear all is well.

ti-tell2000 - 47 days ago.
WorriedNanny- I am sorry to hear your daughter is going through this. I am currently pregnant with my first baby and a lot like her story at 19.2 weeks went in for u/s to find out the sex and was immediatley taken to hospital to recieve an emergent cerclage the next day. My cervical length was 0.5cm with funneling. After the cerclage I remained on strict bedrest but still lost all the length gained with the cerclage by 22 weeks. At 26 weeks I was dilated with funneling past the cerclage. From the begining my doctors were sure I'd deliver very early. I am now 35 weeks pregnant. Miracles do happen! The doctors do not have the final say in what will happen. You all will be in my prayers. Oh, and make sure they get steroids on board, usually around 24 weeks!!

blessedx4 - 47 days ago.
worriednany- my last pregnancy I went for an ultrasound at 20 only to find that my cervix was 0.9 cm, I was put on bedrest, but at my 23 week appt. I was completely thinned out, and 4 cm dilated. They did an emergency cerclage, and managed to pull everything back together,and my cervix went back to 0.9 cm, and with very strict bedrest, that is were it stayed until at 33 weejs my water broke, and for safety sake they took out the cerclage, and delivered my twins. Miracles do happen, I don't think my doctor every thought that Iwould have made that far. Bedrest does work, so make sure she stays put. Good luck, and believe in miracles!!!!

debbie1 - 48 days ago.
worriednanny-I'm so sorry about your daughter...I'm sure you and her are scared, but try to encourage her to think positive even when the docs are not. a friend of mine was about 22 weeks and 3cm dialated when they placed her rescue cerclege, she got to 34 weeks and delivered a healthy baby wth only 4 days in the nicu!! I think there was a another lady with a similar story on this site. Pray that she gets to 28 weeks every week after that is a blessing. Is she having contractions? If so they can help her with meds to stop or decrease that. There are diffeniately things that can be done to help improve the outcome like steroids etc. It sounds like she's on the right tract with the cerclege and you on her side.

WorriedNanny - 48 days ago.
First time poster,but have been on here a few weeks now.Until 3 weeks ago never heard of incompetent cervix.I am a mother of 7 and our eldest,22 year old daughter is pregnant.I went with her at 20 weeks for ultrasound to find out the sex.Found out alot more that day.We were rushed from doctors office to hospital.She was started on antibiotics,laid head down,then next morning went for her cerclage.She was funneled completely effaced and 1-2 cm dialated. She has been on 24/7 bedrest.Last week we returned to specialist & he said prognosis was much better,than the 30%he first gave us.This past Thursday we returned to specialist and things have begin to turn other way.She has thinned more.Not sure at what size cervix is now but was rescheduled for this Tuesday to see if any change and if 24/7 bedrest is still gonna be only option or hospitalization.This site is great to hear about others with same situation and exspecially the GREAT outcomes for some.Our doctors hear are so skeptical that she will hold onto this pregnancy to a healthy delivery date.Until appointment gonna keep reading post & hope to get some advice and comfort along the way.Take care & God Bless!

elliel - 51 days ago.
corrin - 6 is AMAZING! So glad to hear it

corrin - 51 days ago.
so 2 more days and im in week 20!!! yay.. at this time with my son my cervix was dilating..contractions and strict bedrest with some hospitol time!! But this time around i feel great.. couple bh here and there but nothing to worry about..when i went last week my cervix was 6...so im holding out!!!!! so glad i got this..completly different expierance so far!!

elliel - 51 days ago.
thuy - when you get to 17/18 weeks it may be worth asking if you can move up to weekly scans so that you are covered during the high risk period - things can change so quickly.

thuy - 52 days ago.
Elliel - I talked to my doc at my appt on tues and at this point, they will not do a cerclage. I go in every 2 weeks to have my cervix measured. they did measure it on tue, but since i'm still early, the tech said the cervix and uterine tissue is not quite distinct yet. she did take a measurement anyway and said it was at 7 cm. I didn't ask about the 17P shots but I will ask when i go in again in 2 weeks. I will see how things look at that point and go from there.

elliel - 52 days ago.
THUY - let us know how it goes, I actually took progesterone till about 34 weeks. If you google progesterone/short cervix you'll find studies done show that the number of pre term labours seems to be reduced when you continue to take progesterone...so definately worth discussing that with your dr. DEBBIE - I felt exactly the same as you throughout my pregnancy - I had to fight for every treatment. I would go armed with research on stuff (I even used to pay to download some papers of research so I wasn't reliant on hearsay) to my supposed consultant. I know he used to get frustrated but to give him credit he did usually end up doing as I asked (scans, progesterone etc)....but it feels so scary that as a non expert you have to find all the answers....having said that I think we should feel a great pride that we are, as you so rightly say, advocates for our LO's.

momofqtpies - 53 days ago.
Mrs R, Congrats on such a wonderful blessing. A beautiful baby Boy!

adriana03 - 53 days ago.
Congrats MrS. R.. Thats a big baby boy! Awww!

ti-tell2000 - 53 days ago.
Congrats MrsR! 23.75", Wow!!

Mrs R - 53 days ago.
A giant CONGRATS to halina, kjslover and due oct 2009!! I had my baby boy on Monday, Sept 21st at 11:16pm. I was actually scheduled to be induced but baby decided to come on his own and I went into labor a few hours before my scheduled induction. Baby Blake was 9.1 lbs and was a whopping 23.75 inches long! I am so in love with my little man. For all you struggling with IC - hang in there and celebrate every day you progress through your pregnancy.

debbie1 - 55 days ago.
Thuy- I'm so sorry for your lost. My docs did not want to do a prev cerclege also because I did have 2 full term pregnancy and then had the second trimester miscarriage. I insisted that I'd rather have it and not need it. I convinced my perinatologist to do the cerclege at about 12 weeks and everything went well. At 17 weeks I started to feel preasure in my lower stomach so rather than wait and take a chance I went o the emergency room, then I found out that my cervix had changed from 3.2cm to 1.7cm with funneling. I was placed on bed rest immediately and then my battle for what I view as being my own advocate continued. I insisted that he should prescribe the P17 shots for me which reluctantly he did and at 23 weeks he also prescribed the tributaline pump as well. although i'm concerned about the side effects I'm willing to take the chance and try to give my baby every advantage by trying to carry him to term or as close as possible. I've also had the steriod injections at 29 weeks when my cervical length changed to 1.2cm. I'm not saying that these things are right for you , however you do have options. Good Luck!

thuy - 55 days ago.
Elliel - thank you so much for your response. That helps a lot. I think I may be in the same situation as my last loss was not proven that it was IC. I will ask about preventative cerclage and see what my dr says. I have been taking progesterone supplements up through this past weekend and now that I'm entering my 2nd trimester, my dr took me off of them.

charlihadley - 56 days ago.
pregnantnprayin- yay, i cant wait for u to get ur cerclage. i didnt get mine till i was 14 weeks this time, and i was so ready for it...i hope everything goes well for you! :)...its such a scary situation that i never even thought would happen to me..until it did...and now i just wish there wa s a way for us to share our stories with everyone, so others know what to look for and wont lose their children!!

pregnantnprayin - 56 days ago.
Hi ladies !! I am new here I am 7 weeks and 4 days !!! 4 more weeks to go until I get my cerclage !! I am scared every single day that something will go wrong. I lost my little boy in May 09 at 18 weeks 6 days do to IC. I hope and pray that the cerclage will get me my full term healthy baby this time around !