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

Comments 176 to 199 of about 1999.
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Mrs R - 67 days ago.
Mama2B 01-10-10 like everyone is advising - insist to be checked at the hospital. But you must stop self-examining. Like someone mentioned, the risk associated with bacteria entering your uterus (especially if you are dilated) are far too GREAT.

Mrs R - 67 days ago.
due oct 2009 a giant congrats on making it past the 36 week mark. Enjoy every second remaining of your pregnancy.

kayandrysmom - 67 days ago.
I had a normal 41 week pregnancy with not 1 problem with my first. With my second i just had this odd feeling about it since day 1. Then after my 20 week scan i started to feel like something just wasnt right...no symptoms and only a good history...sure enough my cervix was shortening and funneling...this is against all odds bc i had no risk factors and even a fuill term pregnancy 3 years before. After 13 weeks of bedrest i gave birth to my healthy baby girl in jan :) Elle and i delivered within days of each other and were on bedrest together the whole time...the support of women going through the same thing at the same time is priceless

elliel - 67 days ago.
momma2b - insist - your instinct is everything....and if they won't do it - go somewhere else. But you really need a trans vaginal scan - not just a manual exam.

Minuetta - 67 days ago.
Mama 2 B - Insist! Lie if you have to, tell them you're feeling some contractions or something! I was 3cm and 26 weeks when they finally checked me. I had no cramping, bleeding, pressure or anything, just a thick discharge that I wasn't sure about. I called on a Thursday and they also told me they were too busy and no one would be there, so I had to wait until Friday. I insisted they check me for infection since the mucous was kinda yellow-y. They acted like it was no big deal They went to go take a swab, and saw with surprise that I was 3cm dilated and the bag of waters was bulging out of my cervix! They rushed me up to Labor and Delivery even though I wasn't feeling any contractions. NOW it was a big deal as soon as they saw I was dilated. I stayed in the hospital for 40 days and now, 10 weeks later, I'm still 3cm dilated, still pregnant. It was and has been 95% effaced, or as they doctor's tell me, 'like wet tissue paper' Like you, I didn't have any indication of incompetent Cervix before, nor any of the risk factors they list, and I still don't have anything but the occasional Braxton-Hicks. I am sooooooo glad that I finally got checked out because otherwise they told me it would have been a stilborn at 26 weeks. This is my first pregnancy, so there was no way to see this coming. Now, I'm technically a high-risk pregnancy. I had debated for almost a week when I saw the discharge if I should go in or not and I'm soooooooooo glad I did, even though I had to wait an extra day for them to fit me in. They showed the same lack of concern that you were expressing. Of all the doctors, nurses, and residents and even med students that work there, nobody had a spare minute just to take a look. After they saw, they were all like, "oh crap, something really IS wrong!" and now they take me seriously whenever I call with anything. Since you can tell, see if you can't even lie your way in to getting examined. Tell them you lost your mucus plug, or that you're feeling regular contractions or SOMETHING. And then, fire those doctors and get new ones ;)

mperez - 67 days ago.
Hi girls i just saw my ob today and he measured my belly i am 25 weeks pregnant and my belly is 30 cm its that normal is my baby too big. I need some advice.

Mama2B 01-10-10 - 68 days ago.
charli--i was also wondering how much you were dilated when they found out.

Mama2B 01-10-10 - 68 days ago.
to answer your questions, no... i haven't had any previous pregnancies or miscarriages, and i dont have any of the other conditions associated with incompetent cervix. i also haven't had too frequent of contractions, discharge, or strong pressure in my pelvis. these are the reasons that no one will check me out right now... and to a certain degree, i can see where they are coming from. however, i do know what my cervix usually feels like. if anyone is wondering, you can (sometimes) feel it way up high in the top of your vagina. usually, it is quite firm, and it is closed tightly. it should be this way until close to the end of pregnancy. my cervix right now is very soft, and can fit a fingertip inside of it, which means i am 1 cm dilated. charlihadley--did you have any other symptoms of IC or did they just discover it through an exam or US?? my hospital only does 1 US around 18-20 weeks, and does not perfom any vaginal exams until much much later in pregnancy. they just don't feel it is necessary. so basically unless i order them to check me, they just wont do it.

charlihadley - 68 days ago.
umm..mom to be..aytime your only 23 weeks pregnant, and dialating already, there is something obviously wromg..i was 23 weeks when my dr found i was dialating and was rused in toanother bigger hospital for an emergecy cerclage. i say go to the er, or saitch drs. thats rediclous...geez...dont risk your baies life!!! just cause ur dr acts like its no big deal...im so srry ur dealin with this!

debbie1 - 68 days ago.
mamatobe, I'm sorry you're so worried about this. I was wondering did you have any prev pregnancy with this type of complications? and also wondering how can you gauge the softness or length of your cervix. Is a doctor tellng you about these changes? I hope that you're worried for no reason.

spurskath82 - 68 days ago.
mamma2b- thankyou for your reply. honestly i think you should insist that you have another check. not because i think that anything may go immediately wrong but because your peace of mind is so important at such a crucial time in your pregnancy. you stressing is not going to be good for your or your bump. you go and insist that either they give you a check over or they bring forward your appointment planned for next week. xxx

Mama2B 01-10-10 - 68 days ago.
kath-- that sounds like braxton hicks contractions. i really need advice from you all going through this. so i mentioned earlier that i discovered i was dilated at 1 cm. not only i am around 1 cm, but my cervix is much softer than it usually is. i am only 23 weeks, so i was concerned and called 2 nurses and they said that i should be fine. well, according to all of the research ive done it sounds like this could be a problem. so i went to my clinic and asked for an exam, and they basically said that no one had time to do one either today or tomorrow (these are my days off from work). they said it's not urgent basically because i am not in labor. i am kind of upset and don't understand why not a single nurse or doc can take 10 minutes to look at me just to check me out. when i called last week, they said that i could ask for an exam anytime if i was concerned. so now i have to wait until my regular ob appt next week and i really just think that they will say no again when i ask for a cervical check. do you all think that i have reason to be concerned, or am i just completely being a hypochondriac?!?! i just feel its better to be safe than sorry, but no one is concerned at all.

spurskath82 - 69 days ago.
hi all, just looking for some advice. i'm just over 16 weeks pregnant and i had a cervical stitch put in at 12 weeks and am progesterone pessaries daily. early this morning i woke up desperate for a wee and i felt my tummy tighten. is this ok? it only lasted a few seconds and wasn't painful. i moved position and it went and i went to the toilet and not had one since. Kathxxx

debbie1 - 70 days ago.
Nice!! You ladies did soo well. I can imagine how great that must feels. I can only wish that for the rest of us:)

elliel - 70 days ago.
dueoct & momof - how lovely to check the forum and find such good news -

due oct 2009 - 70 days ago.
i am 36 weeks!!!!!!!! with crclage.so happy

momofqtpies - 71 days ago.
Mrs R and Elliel Thanks for the encouraging advice. I went to the OB thursday and thank GOD all is well My cervix measured at a good length and measure the same as before so it has not changed. They also started my injections for my baby boy's lungs, so I feel alot better. I feel like I can breathe again and I can make it to FULL Term or close as possible.

due oct 2009 - 71 days ago.
elliel-THANKYOU for you responses youre a big help and a kind person

due oct 2009 - 71 days ago.
debbie1- on bestrest only last week. they only check for dilation. ti-tell2000-cus i will be almost 37 weeks which means full term. i have had 2 children 1 born at 34 weeks and 1 born at 35 weeks. i am guess they want me at full term since i am doing great with this one. I am so happy the end is in sight.

ti-tell2000 - 72 days ago.
Dueoct09- I was wondering what made them decide to wait until next week to remove your cerclage. My doc is planning to remove mine at 35 weeks but I really would prefer to wait until 36 weeks.

debbie1 - 72 days ago.
dueoct- How exciting!! Enjoy being pregnant for few more days. Were you on bed rest? Do they still measure your cervix or tell you if you dilated or thinning? I was planning to do a little more at 341/2 weeks but I'm not sure now if that's a good idea.

due oct 2009 - 72 days ago.
debbie1- i am not sure why they are doing it at the hosptial. unless they think i will go into labor after the removal?

adriana03 - 72 days ago.
i just have a question. Again about the terbutaline for anyone who can help. Ive been reading really bad things about it. I almost want to stop taking it. My doctor didnt tell me anything about the risks to baby. What made you decide to take it anyway??it really sucks because it seems to be working for the contractions but i dont want all those horrific things to go wrong with baby. TIA

elliel - 72 days ago.
Dueinoct. Great news Momma2b. I really agree with Debbie. I did so much research on ic and it is really not advised to exmine yourself as you risk causing problems such as infection particulalry at that stage in the preganany. If you are at all worried insist your dr gives you a trans vaginal scan which will show if there are any problematic changes in your cervix

debbie1 - 72 days ago.
DueOct- I have a feeling my doc will do the same if I make it that far. What was the reason for doing it in the hospital?