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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NonhlanhlaM - 1 days ago.
All the best alex!

alexis0321 - 4 days ago.
hello all im 22 weeks pregnant and i had a my daughter at 28 weeks. i didnt get a stitch but i am recieving progestrone shots every week. as weel as the doctor checking my cervix every two weeks. i hoping with the shots and me not working i will have a full term baby .. good luck all

ttc3yrs - 4 days ago.
Post Cerclage Update- It has been 1 week since my cerclage. The stitch and baby are doing fine. I am still on bedrest to make sure of that. We are 17 weeks along now and when they checked my cervix yesterday they also checked baby & told me It's A Boy! Having the cerclage placed wasn't as bad as I expected. Thanks to everyone who responded to my posts about what to expect!

spurskath82 - 6 days ago.
roosa - i have had 2 preterm births at 23 and 24 weeks. this time i had a stitch placed at 12 weeks. my doctor didn't tell me to go on bedrest but after speaking to many ppl on here i decided that at 20 weeks i woud seriously limit any activitiy i did. i stopped driving, sleep with legs propped up on pillow and have spent the last 5 weeks more or less sat on the settee. i'm now 25+4 and scan on monday showed a closed cervix. i would definately ask for the progesterone,. i use it in pessarie form on a daily basis. i have everything crossed your little one stays put for a long while yet. Kathxxx

roosa - 7 days ago.
Hi, I am 24 1/2 weeks pregnant. I lost my last baby girl at 19 weeks when I went into early labor but the causes were unknown. I was told though that IC could be the cause. In this pregnancy I have had my cervix length tested from week 9 to 16, and it was about 3.5 but I hadn't had it tested since. Not that I am having any symptoms but I was just getting nervous and asked for an extra ultrasound which I had today. My cervix now measures between 2.6 and 2.9. I was sad to hear I was funneling.. My doctor did a swap to test for the protein Fetal Fibronectin and should get the result today to see if I am at risk for labor within the next two weeks. I will have another ultrasound to check the cervix in two weeks. My doctor didn't mention any other precautions, like progesterone or bed rest. I know he is not a fan of bed rest but I can always make my own decision on that.. Guess I will ask him about progesterone shots. This pregnancy seems like it has already lasted forever. I just want to hold my precious baby in my arms, but at fullterm of course.

adriana03 - 7 days ago.
I'm gonna be 36 weeks this sat. I've never lasted this long pregnant before. Terbutaline and progesterone work miracles. Hope everyone is doing well!!! But I'm ready to have this baby. Never knew how uncomfy it was after 34 weeks.

nicholasmom - 8 days ago.
Hi ladies! I haven't been on for some time now. Just wanted to wish everyone luck! I used to be on here several times a day, trying to kill time on bedrest. It was also so nice to hear other woman going through the same things. Makes you feel like your not alone! I had a lot of complications... every pregnancy, but want to give you all a little hope. I have my 5 year old son and our newest addition, Michael will be 4 months on Wednesday! Good luck to you all and try to stay positive... I know bed rest is HORRIBLE!! :)

debbie1 - 11 days ago.
always blessed- How are you? still preggers?I swore I was going into labor last night it was braxton hicks so unless things change soon I'll be induced at almost 39 weeks next week Tuesday.

pregnantnprayin - 12 days ago.
Ashley ~ i am glad you had a good appt. I know where you are coming from. I too had a stupid doc with my last pregnancy I went in at 17 weeks my cervix was long and thick and closed. But little did he know if he would have done a tvu he would have saw that i was funneling and my cervix was in a danger zone causing me to lose Collin at 18 weeks. Now i am getting weekly tvu with this pregnancy. I pray that they follow you instuction heck we all can be doctors now lol

ttc3yrs - 12 days ago.
Ashley- I am happy to hear you are ok! Your doctor's office would really tick me off. I would try calling other doctors to see if they could offer you more than that one. Unless of course you are comfortable with your doc. I pray all will be well for you! Rest! Stay off your feet!

ashley-blesseddaily - 13 days ago.
Ladies thanks for your support. I just got back from my apt. I didn't see the doctor I see the Nurse Practitioner again...one day it would be nice to meet my doctor!!! Good news is she checked my cervix and it is closed and thick, so I am very thankful for that. But still very disappointed with the situation b/c she then told me she didn't feel it necessary to do an ultrasound since my cervix is closed. I honestly do not know if she is simply uneducated about incompetence cervix and how it actually starts from the inside of the cervix rather than the outside, or if she was just busy and didn't want to take the time or if she is just plain careless?! I don't know but it is disturbing! On one hand I feel good knowing I am not dilated at all and my cervix is nice and closed but on the other hand it doesn't give me much reassurance everything is okay inside. I go back in 2 weeks at my regular apt and if I am having any issues I will address them then if not sooner.

charlihadley - 14 days ago.
im 21 weeks now...i feel amazing...ive had my cerclage for 7 weeks and things seem wonderful!! :)..! i dont have many contractions, and im doing okay on bed rest....people from church bring me food all the time..its soo sweet...i just pray everyone stays healthy!! and keep them babies in for good..im going to put supper in the oven....hope all is well girls..

corrin - 14 days ago.
oh i would!!! lol...you would think they would have compasion for people who are worried and given your history of miscarriage..some woman have been at their jobs too long and its very obvious that they dont care for it....so they should do us all a favor and quit!!! HAHA i swear im not a mean person..i just dont like people who disregard a simple request..and for a good reason too!!

ashley-blesseddaily - 14 days ago.
Just an update, I called my doctor's office back and asked if I could just come in to be checked. The lady told me my file was on the doctors desk waiting to be viewed and again told me it can take up to 48hrs to get a return call. I told her I was aware of that but felt it was unnecessary to simply wait 48hrs to be told to schedule apt, It makes sense to me to simply schedule an apt now! So after a couple huffy breaths and I am sure she rolled her eyes (little witch) she told me I can come in tomorrow at 3pm. Geeze why does it have to be so difficult to get quality care?! Oh well at least I can be seen tomorrow and hopefully I am just over-reacting and all is well! I am tempted to complain to the doctor and make a few suggestions, but we wil see how my mood is! lol

ashley-blesseddaily - 14 days ago.
Thanks : ) I am not scheduled to have a cerclage and I hope that I do not have to have one, but if that is what is necessary and will help get my baby here safe and sound......so be it! Hopefully all is normal and no need to worry but just in case (especially after 2 miscarriages) I want to be checked...or at least a darn return call!

corrin - 14 days ago.
i get pressure all the time...to the point where its uncomfy....i blame it on position of baby because my cervix is closed and tight..but with my first when i had all the problems i had no sign or symptoms at all...but if you are high risk def keep calling and buggin them!!! Are you due to have a cerclage??? 20+ weeks of bedrest sucks!!!! Good luck and i hope everything goes well!!

ashley-blesseddaily - 14 days ago.
Thank you! I woke up this morning and it is back. I called the nurse line again and talked to the front desk and she informed me that they have 48 hrs to contact you, I told her I am high risk for an incompetence cervix and was a bit concerned, she then seemed to take me more seriously and told me she would have them call me back. So now I am waiting, still having the pressure and cramping. Just staying off my feet as much as possible. i didn't think anything about it but I also am having more discharge, yesterday I went to the restroom just to check myself b/c it felt like I was wet down there and it was watery too

ttc3yrs - 14 days ago.
Ashley- If I were you I would call my doc and go get checked. I did have a similar feeling when I was 14 weeks and I freaked out thinking my cervix was opening. I told my doc and she actually checked me twice that week. The second time was because I was having thin discharge, like water. After I knew my cervix was ok, I felt SO MUCH BETTER. Express your concerns and ask to be checked. Tell them you don't want this to end up in another loss! At 8 weeks the baby/uterus isn't large enough to apply much pressure on your cervix. But as it grows, so does the pressure on your cervix.

ashley-blesseddaily - 15 days ago.
Ladies, I need some advice please. I am having pressure and cramping in my cervix today, my last doctor told me I would be high risk for an incompetent cervix after my last loss and 2 D&c's, but at my 8 week apt everything looked good, they did an ultrasound to check and they said my cervix was perfect. I am now 14 wks 4 days. I called the nurse line but have not heard back, just wondering if this is what anyone experienced? I have tried laying, sitting and walking, mostly I feel it while sitting but it is constant in any position.

debbie1 - 15 days ago.
ladies I'm almost 2 weeks post cerelege removal and waiting. If anyone would have said this would be the case about 10 weeks ago, I would not have believed!! While I'd like to be done being preggers, I know all the struggles that are still being fought by many of you. Just thought I'd share....No one knows what the outcome of their situation. I remember being 29 weeks getting the steroid shots and praying to make it to 32 weeks. I'll keep you all im my prayers!!

ti-tell2000 - 18 days ago.
I just wanted to say good luck to everyone who is still pregnant. Everyone is doing such a great job, keep up the good work. I have posted a pic of my little one and the birth story to my profile.

momof2qtpies - 18 days ago.
I am just reporting that I officially made it to 32 weeks with cerclage placement, Progesterone inj every week and so far 22 weeks of bedrest. I am feeling very blessed, but I also am prayin that I make it to 37 weeks. I don't have much longer to go and the success stories from this site keeps me motivated and lets me know that I can make it. So Ladies keep up the good work!

debbie1 - 18 days ago.
Corrin- Wooo, 10 lbs! I hope to god that's not the case with this little man my other two were between 6.5 and 7lbs. I'm hoping not to have to be induced on the 17th but if not I'm sure I'll be glad when that day comes!! I had a funny thing happened with my doc appt. I told him that I have heard that other women are able to check their cervix and I tried to do the same and it could not reach it or maybe I wasn't sure what to feel for. He thought is was funny and got a good laugh about it. he has the biggest hands i've ever seen he has to really go high in order to reach it. Any ways thought It's worth sharing, it's not a good idea to do it yourself even at full term!

alwaysblessed - 18 days ago.
debbie1- I am still preggers!! Ii feel the same way as you, I have wanted to keep him in for so long, and now all I want to do is have him so I can hold and spoil him, haha!! At my appt. on tuesday, I had no dliation, and cervix was long and hard. It looks like I am going to have to be patient awhile longer.

corrin - 18 days ago.
debbie i was like that with my son!!! When he could finally come he wanted NOTHING to do with it!! And i had to have pitocin to get him out!!!!! Little booger....and my cervix did pretty good becaiuse he was almost 10 lbs at 38 weeks!!!!