calling all incompetent cervix experts long post

[lynz85]

I'm 18 weeks preg with my first. All straight forward so far

when my mum was pregnant she had me and my brother with a stitch following a 20 week loss.

I have two questions. First she started bleeding at 12 weeks and progressively bled heavier and heavier, having two major bleeds requiring blood.0her waters never went? She was induced at 20 weeks for infection. Does that sound like ic? My consultant feels it was most likely separation not cervical. Both my brother and i were 36 weeks with the stitch.

Secondly, my doc's have assured me it isn't a hereditary condition and were not keen to monitor me. Well i was worried about it so i was checked at 17 weeks and lengt was fine at 3.6cm being checked again at 20. Did anyone have experience of it being inherited?

Should i listen to my doc and stop worrying myself to death?

 

[Maybump2]

Hya,

I'm not an expert on this however unless you have had damage to your cervix from either prev pregnancies/abortions/D&C/ERPC or either Loop/LEEP the likelyhood of just having a weak or incompetent cervix is highly unlikely and i have never in any of my reading heard of it being inherited...

It does sound like your mum possibly suffered a placental abruption due to infection from what you mantion but that's just a guess..

Your measurements are on the very good side, your cervix will shorten normally as pregnancy puts weight on it but your's sounds more than long enough at this stage of pregnancy - i'm sure some of the more experienced posters in this field will clarify measurements (or check the other posts on this page).

I would stop worrying and try to enjoy your pregnancy xx

 

[muddyoneshoe]

Hi ya,

I am risk of having an incompetent cervix due to having a cone biopsy a few years ago. I was checked at 14 weeks and it was 3cm, am being checked again next week to see if its any shorter.

My consultant at the time said that its not a hereditory thing, its mainly caused i think by trauma or surgery to the cervix, but some woman also just have a shorter cervix.

I am sure your Dr is right and that you don't need to worry too much, especially if they are checking you again at 20 weeks just to be safe. Easier said than done thou I know!

I am sure all will be fine!

 

[Susanah]

Its not hereditary. Would be rare to that to be the case.
Most cases are secondary to trauma in one way or the other.
Some cases are natural, whereby no cause is found.

Id try and relax and enjoy things

 

[Semanthia]

I am not an expert but I have incompetent cervix. I don't think it's something you inherit and I also think since you had a normal measurement at 17 weeks you are fine.

I was born with an incompetent cervix which is very rare, but I have never had surgery or anything on my cervix and have never had a rough delivery as this is my first. In fact I'm finding it hard to understand why I was born this way and finding people with similar stories as mine.

If you doctor isn't worried and your have a normal measurement just relax you are fine. They usually find an incompetent cervix around 17 weeks (give or take some weeks).
In my case I just happen to have an ultrasound at 10 weeks and 6 days to find out how far along I was because of irregular cycles. They noticed it was a few cm too short and wanted to check it at 16 weeks. Well They didn't schedule me until 17 weeks and at that point my cervix was open and filled with the amniotic sac (dilated 2 cm). The doctor is going with her gut and not giving me a stitch but I understand her concerns. I am now just waiting to see what God has in store for us. Also no one in my family has ever had this problem. There have been only a few miscarriages and they were very early on.
I think you are fine, you would have known already.

 

[lynz85]

i really hope so i can't help but worry and and constantly thinking its going to happen ... I'm sorry to hear your having a rough time of it and hope that baby stays put for a good few weeks yet!

 

[lynz85]

oh dear semathia i have my fingers crossed for you and baby!

Well i had a fright today! Have pelvic pressure and increased discharge? Got checked out, doc did an internal and said cervix is fine and is happy to wait until 20 weeks to measure. Turns out i have a uti

 

[lizziedripping]

Hi Lynz. If your Mum had IC, then it is unlikely you have inherited it - cervical weakness is due usually to trauma and/or previous cervical surgery. At 3.6 your cervix is within normal ranges, and will fluctuate throughout the pregnancy anyway, as it does in any woman in any pregnancy. If it has shortened significantly i.e. below 2.8 at the next scan, then is the time to push for a stitch - but that as an outcome is unlikely.

Keep us posted, and if you need any extra help then get in touch. I've just carried two very large twins to term with a stitch having given birth to my second child at 24wks due to IC. There isn't anything i don't know about IC and cervical stitches xxx

 

[lynz85]

well i had my 20 week scan today and cervix measured 38mm at the shortest so i guess i should just try and relax. also I'm team pink hee hee. So glad i found you guys have kept me sane from worry.