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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jbtd - 61 days ago.
Mama2be.....yes this just happened. We had the exact same due date 01-10-10. I don't know what to feel or think. I have no answers just an empty feeling. I can't try again for another 6 months. I just want my boy back and at the same time I can't function until we try again.

Mama2B 01-10-10 - 62 days ago.
jbtd--- this just happened a few days ago to you? i am so sorry to hear that, i cant imagine how you are coping with it. your doctors should take this pretty seriously from now on. hopefully next time they will check your cervix early and can prevent this from happening again with a cerclage. i am at 24 weeks now, and i can't imagine losing my little one. i freaked out when i found out i was 1 cm dilated. i do not think i have IC, because nothing has gotten worse yet... but it does sound like you may have it. don't lose hope and find a good high risk doctor right away. best of luck and hang in there.

kjslover - 62 days ago.
I'm right there with ya Mrs R! I'll be 40 weeks this coming Thursday and she does NOT want to come out! LOL Congratulations to all the other ladies that have made it so far. Had my membranes stripped today (keep your fingers crossed for me!) and it she isn't born before Monday the 28th, I'll be induced that morning. At first I was kind of sad thinking that I might not get to experience the waking up in the middle of the night labor thing...but then I remembered that I had enough of that when my water broke at 3am with my first pregnancy at 21 weeks (he was born 4 days later). So I think I'll be ok with it...I just don't want to wait another week!!

adriana03 - 62 days ago.
Thanks ti -tell and elliel for the motivation :)

ti-tell2000 - 62 days ago.
Adriana 03- 27weeks! That is something to celebrate. You are well on your way to your next goal. I have been sitting with no cervical length since 26 weeks and never thought I'd make it to 33 weeks, but here I am, still pregnant. So you can definitely make it there and beyond!

jbtd - 62 days ago.
I am new to this so I hope I am doing this right. I went into preterm labor on Sept 17th at 23 weeks 4 days and my baby boy died the same day. I had no symptoms until too late that my cervix was dilating. I had one little boy at full term and he is 5. I had a M/C in 2007 at 8 weeks baby on measured 6.5 weeks. I did not have a DC. I had another M/C in 2008 at 8weeks and baby measured 6.3 weeks and I did have a DC. I became pregnant this last time and took pegestrone until 12 weeks. I thought all was going great. I had my sono on 8/25 and was in the hospital on 9/11 and lost him on 09/17. I am so confused with no answers as to why this happened accept for a possible incompetent cervix. I am so scared to hope that I can have another healthy baby. I am searching for hope and answers. I have not had another other cervix procedures.

elliel - 62 days ago.
hurrah to all the full term ladies - AMAZING. ADRIANA - every extra week is a celebration in my opinion so well done!

adriana03 - 62 days ago.
im 27 weeks, yay which isnt much but i never thought id make it this far...6 more weeks till my goal.

due oct 2009 - 62 days ago.
Mrs. R- congrats to you. Today i am Full term ya!!!!!

Mrs R - 63 days ago.
due oct 2009 - it's time to celebrate! Enjoy your time with hubby ;)

Mrs R - 63 days ago.
So Friday I was 40 weeks - so hard to believe that I actually made it to my due date. I am being induced on Monday, which is ironic since I've been trying to keep baby in for months and months. I just wanted to let everyone know how thankful and grateful I am for this forum and all the great advise and sharing that goes on here. This is the only site I found with such vast info and honesty.

due oct 2009 - 63 days ago.
Well ladies when i wake up tomorrow 9-20-09 i will be 37 weeks FULL TERM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank god i made it. Finally get to have sex after no sex for 8 months little scared but very happy my hubby has no idea i might rape him in the middle of the night lol! my hubby hoping i have the baby on my birthday 9-23. That would be the best gift!!!!!

elliel - 64 days ago.
MAMA2b - changes in fluid are so difficult to judge as you get them anyway in pregnancy - they pretty much say that IC is a silent thing...you just have no clue until it actually happens which is what makes is so scary. Did you persuade your dr yet to give you a scan.

elliel - 64 days ago.
congratualtions due in oct - JIB - like you I had an emergancy one but have had no experience of a preventative one. However Kimmey who used to be on this forum during my pregnancy did and it went extremely well - she had a trouble free pregnancy (she did have moderate bedrest during the later stages just for safety sake I think) and she had her beautiful baby boy safely at full term.

jlb2022 - 65 days ago.
Anyone have any experiance with a Shirodkar? I will be having mine placed the beginning of October. i had one for my previous child but that was an emergancy and VERY scary so I just feel this will be a completly different experiance. Any info will be great. Thanks!

adriana03 - 65 days ago.
congrats dueOct2009 2 more weeks! yay. I wish i could say that! if your already having contractions you probably wont even need the induction. Good luck!

due oct 2009 - 65 days ago.
Update cerclage was removed but no dilation. They sent me home. The removal was mildly painful. i am having contractions. If i dont't have this baby by oct. 1st they will induce me oct. 2nd. so ether way 2 weeks to go!!!!!!!

spurskath82 - 66 days ago.
kjslover - lol you're going to have your hands full with your little one!!! i can't wait to be posting a similar story to yours in 5 months time! xxx

spurskath82 - 66 days ago.
due oct 2009 - how did it go with removing your cerclage? i hope you're ok.

kjslover - 66 days ago.
cerclage removed at 35w4d, I am now 39 weeks and she's still in there! I think that my cervix has a mind of it's own! I've been having contractions for 2 weeks, dilated 3 cm and as of yesterday 90% effaced and she still doesn't want to come out...I love my sweet little stubborn girl :o)

due oct 2009 - 66 days ago.
mrs r-- trying to but really want my baby out. i;m in alot of pain, i also have cerberal palsey

due oct 2009 - 66 days ago.
charlihadely-- thank for being honest with me.

charlihadley - 66 days ago.
DUE OCT- im not gonna lie..it hurt really bad for me i was in tears,,,, but as soon as its over its over,...dont be scared if you bleed a llooott....i went to the bathroom and had huge clots coming out..like one was almost the size of my palm..and they dripped all over the bathrrooom floor in the hospital!....but it stopped after a couple hrs!....adn teh pain of the removal ewnt away fast...just small crampin..thats all...but mine was embeded in my skin ...eeeeks...i should be getting my cerclage maybe next monday or tuesday

due oct 2009 - 66 days ago.
well ladies i get my cerclage removed tomorrow very happy and scared about the pain. i will be 36 weeks and 6 days. How painful is it??????

Mama2B 01-10-10 - 67 days ago.
thank you sooo much for all of the advice everyone! i'm sure many of you can relate, but it's frustrating when no one can at least understand where you are coming from! maybe i am fine and i am over reacting, and hopefull i am... but WHY take that risk.... you know?!? i have stopped the self exams, which is really kinda hard for me because i just really want to monitor it. i would like to know if there were any other symptoms you ladies had before you found out, even minor twinges or sensations. i've been monitoring everything, especially fluids. if i see a noticable change in that, i will be in the ER immediately! it has changed slightly in consistency, but i don't have a lot of it. it's kinda like you said yours was minuetta, but there isn't an odor or a large amount of it or anything. i just hope i didn't give myself an infection when i checked myself out!! ugh.... the waiting is killing me. the worst part about it is that i'm in that big danger week.... week 23.... so my baby would have A LOT better chances of surviving if something happened if in week 24 or later.. thanks again everyone.... i'll let you know if i find anything out.