I see a perinatologist at least once a month because I am high risk due to my heart. They do ultrasounds each time - basically a full anatomy scan and then extra views of the heart.
Today they noted I have a short cervix. At my stage under 3 is concerning and it measured at 2.
So now I'm in labor and delivery being monitored for pre-term labor. Completely unexpected. I feel fine. They are already tossing around the idea of bed rest.
When was the last time that they measured your cervix? It can mean a lot, it can mean nothing. With #1 I had a great cervix, but still went into PTL. With #2 it started off crazy short and then grew longer. Any contrax?
Yes. I get cervical length checks every 2 weeks (it was every week this past month though) due to a prior 22 week loss. I had a random ultrasound and found out I was 4cm dilated with bulging membranes. Typically, anything over 2.5cm is considered a good length. I'm currently at 3cm (checked yesterday). I actually don't think yours is really concerning because you're already 28 weeks, which unfortunately many people with an incompetent cervix strive for. They say in the 3rd trimester, the baby is bigger and isn't resting on the pelvic area as much so there is less pressure on the cervix. The length of the cervix apparently changes all the time. Typically people with a short cervix or incompetent cervix (not short but shortens over time) get a cerclage (cervical stitch) placed early in the 2nd trimester. Did you have any signs of pre term labor though or do you just have a short cervix? Is this the first time they checked the length?
When was the last time that they measured your cervix? It can mean a lot, it can mean nothing. With #1 I had a great cervix, but still went into PTL. With #2 it started off crazy short and then grew longer. Any contrax?
They don't see notes about cervical lenght on my other ultrasound reports. Ugh!
I have had a lot of BHs at night lately. But that's it. I think.
Most people don't get cervical checks, which is why I asked. So this could mean that your cervix has been short the whole time and it's not a huge deal, or it could mean that it's shortening which is a bigger deal. How many is a lot of BH? The only true way to tell between a BH and a "real" contraction is that BH don't change your cervical length, so they're probably going to want you to be more careful about counting those. Take a deep breath. Hopefully everything is fine. Hugs!
The perinatologist seemed really concerned, but I don't know if that's just because I'm high risk due to my heart. They're doing a protein test early next week if the monitoring today goes okay. They can't do the protein test today because of the lubrication used during my internal ultrasound. They went internal to get a better measurement.
We were supposed to drive 5 hrs each way to see my family this weekend for "Christmas". The trip has been pushed back every weekend for a month due to snow. I was told I can't go at all now between today and my due date regardless of what happens today/after the protein test.
Post by dcrunnergirl on Jan 3, 2013 16:02:10 GMT -5
Yes, I know lots about short cervix. Last time, my cervix started going down around 22w, and was less than 3, so they put on me on home bedrest. At first, it was just working from home while in bed, trying to stay off my feet, just leaving the house in the weekend, not sitting upright in the car for long, etc. After 2w, they noticed my cervix was still going down and was below 2.5, so they put me on strict home bedrest. I did fine at home, but in retrospect, I probably was still doing a bit too much. At my 28-w appt (so just where you are), my cervix was 1.9-2.0 and they admitted me for hospital bedrest. I had VERY conservative perinatologists and OBs, and they told me there would be a good chance that I'd be there until I delivered.
I was in the hospital for 4 weeks. During that time, and all the previous time at home, I never had more than one contraction, and I was monitored at least 3x/day in the hospital.* They were just really conservative, and since my cervix was decreasing, even on home bedrest, they wanted to have me close by. Over the course of the 4 weeks in the hospital, my cervix never changed and I was still at 2.0, so when I got to 32w, they sent me home to finish strict bedrest there, and I was much better about it (and I can give you more details on what that meant if you want). I basically didn't leave my bed and laid on my left side for 3 weeks.
At 35w, I was still at 2.0, and they let me off bedrest to get my energy and legs back. I delivered at 36w4d, which is nearly full term for twins, and only due to rising blood pressure and not my cervix. I really credit my conservative dr's for getting me that far.
My short cervix and bedrest time was an experience that has stayed with me, and I'm happy to answer any questions, talk, give tips, etc. I actually go to the peri next Tuesday to start my cervix checks for this pregnancy and discuss a preventative cerclage (you're too late in the game for one now).
*The only time I had contractions after 22w was at my 26w peri appt, where they kept me waiting too long, wouldn't let me have water, and I was dehydrated and started contracting. They got nervous about it, made me stay overnight, and gave me the steroid shots, even though after a glass of OJ and some crackers, I was fine.
ETA: I did have a bunch of BH contractions around 20w when I had a kidney infection/stomach flu and was vomiting a ton. I always felt in my gut that those BH's (which may have been real contrax) were the start of my cervix issues.
The perinatologist seemed really concerned, but I don't know if that's just because I'm high risk due to my heart. They're doing a protein test early next week if the monitoring today goes okay. They can't do the protein test today because of the lubrication used during my internal ultrasound. They went internal to get a better measurement.
We were supposed to drive 5 hrs each way to see my family this weekend for "Christmas". The trip has been pushed back every weekend for a month due to snow. I was told I can't go at all now between today and my due date regardless of what happens today/after the protein test.
Is that the FFN? Yea, they can't do that if anything has been placed in the vagina within the last 24 hours or something like that. A negative means you're NOT likely to go into pre term labor. A positive is inconclusive.
Not to scare you or anything, but the best position for you is placing as little pressure on your cervix as possible (ie, lay on your back). They could always tell a noticeable difference when I'd been sitting up more. I'm assuming they're giving you the steroid shots just in case?
Not to scare you or anything, but the best position for you is placing as little pressure on your cervix as possible (ie, lay on your back). They could always tell a noticeable difference when I'd been sitting up more. I'm assuming they're giving you the steroid shots just in case?
When the doctor comes to talk to me I am going to ask about this.
They are putting a line in to get me really hydrated to see if that helps. They said again I can't have the standard meds because of my freaking heart.
I'm waiting for the doctor to come by and tell me what they are going to do.
yeah, most of the meds made me feel like a speed freak because my heart beat so fast. What about procardia - I know a lot of docs don't use it anymore for this, but it might be an option for you. I'm really sorry R
yeah, most of the meds made me feel like a speed freak because my heart beat so fast. What about procardia - I know a lot of docs don't use it anymore for this, but it might be an option for you. I'm really sorry R
I took procardia. It made my blood pressure really low (which makes sense since it is really a bp drug). Will they not give you mag? Mine docs refused to give me terbutiline b/c of the black box warning for cardiac issues.
-we finished the nursrey over the weekend, early, but I was sick the past 10 days or so and at home so I finished sewing, etc.
-i even packed my hospital bag and tossed it into the corner of the bedroom so i could start setting aside things like my spare camera/charter, etc. so if i spend the nightmy husband can grab my stuff (some yoga pants and toiletries, omg i can't believe i packed those already, what a fluke)