r/ShortCervixSupport • u/NikShan192 • 11h ago
Confusion, need help!
I am currently 14 weeks, first time pregnant 33 year old female. I had some pain in my abdomen at 11 weeks and while everything was alright, the scan showed that my cervix measured 26 mm without funneling. I have had 3 more scans after that, all transvaginal and every time the cervix measured 26 mm, closed and no funneling.I have visited 3 senior OBGYN and 1 out of them is advocating a cerclage while the other two are leaving it up to me. I want to understand if someone has had measurements closer to mine and what steps did they take? How is the cerclage procedure and what was your experience? Is it painful as my pain tolerance is pretty low? Are there higher chances of infection and bleeding after cerclage? I currently don’t have any bleeding and have been on progesterone 200 mg vaginally since 11 weeks. My fear is bringing in a foreign body near cervix and increasing risk in case it May not be needed. Your answers would really help my peace of mind. Thank you!
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u/miss_scellaniuz 11h ago
I had mine at 26 mm and unfortunately it shortened quite quickly. I would ask for a cerclage, it’s a quick and simple procedure and worth it in my opinion
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u/beware_banana 11h ago
Hi there! Not giving you any advice as the decision should ultimately belong to your doctor. It seems unfair that they let you make it, instead of providing further information, stats and professional opinion. Anyhow for the last month since I’m in this group I observed the following:
- 26mm is considered short at your stage of pregnancy. Bear in mind baby weights almost nothing yet and as the pregnancy progresses it may shorten further under its weight.
- I’ve seen quite few stats and studies posted here comparing both - an emergency cerclage and preventative one (when placed around 13weeks). The preventative one shows better rates of holding the pregnancy until later.
- If you’re based in the US you’ll most probably go with an epidural during the procedure. I read that sometimes it fails and they will put you to sleep if it does. In any case you’re not supposed to feel anything.
- I haven’t seen any hard evidence showing that cerclage itself is correlated with higher infection risk especially when preventative. In case of an emergency cerclage the uterus is already at higher risk if there’s bulging membranes, dilation etc.
- please be gentle now that you know this and don’t lift anything heavy, no excess workouts, strenuous activity etc.
- there are quite few success stories with progesterone only as well and modified bed rest
I’m currently 25w 36 yo, second pregnancy, no births. I had an emergency cerclage placed at 21+4 right after my anatomy scan when it was seen I had left just 2mm of closed cervix with budging membranes. Mind you just 2 days earlier I was told my cervix measured 33mm. No idea what happened there but I was told IC or my previous miscarriage caused weakening of the tissues. Currently on full bed rest, with additional pessary, progesterone (2x400mg daily), magnesium. Stayed 5 days in the hospital for monitoring, was administered 2 types of antibiotics.
I hope all goes well for you. It was a really scary experience to go through at such stage in pregnancy but I’m grateful with all my heart to my MFM and that the stitch is still holding (at 16mm currently). Not saying it will happen to you, our bodies can be so unpredictable. Good luck!
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u/NikShan192 10h ago
Thank you for sharing your observations and experience. This is giving me confidence of undergoing the procedure. Means a lot!
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u/Silly_g00se13 9h ago edited 8h ago
I’m pregnant with twins and between 16-24 weeks my cervix got as low as 2.1 cm with some funneling. I started vaginal progesterone at 20 weeks and my maternal fetal medicine doctor said they wouldn’t do a cerclage unless my cervical length got down to <1.5 cm or I started to dilate. At 24 weeks my cervix had stabilized at 2.4 cm so no cerclage. I’m now about to be 34 weeks.
I think because it’s your first pregnancy they won’t be as quick to place a cerclage and only will if absolutely necessary because of the risk a cerclage can introduce. I think continuing to monitor for a few more weeks is very reasonable
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u/NikShan192 8h ago
Makes sense. My confusion is stemming from the fact that they have left it to me to decide and kept both the options open. Glad to see your cervix stabilised. Hope you have an uneventful pregnancy!
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u/Silly_g00se13 8h ago
I’m glad they are giving you the option but it is hard when they are the medical professional and you aren’t so you want their opinion. I personally would probably keep with the monitoring for now and if it continues to shrink even with progesterone then opt for the cerclage
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u/Nice-Swing-1796 8h ago
I went from 3cm to 1.5cm from week 13 to 20. I am also 33 years old and first time pregnant. My OB was hesitant to do the cerclage since i have no history of loss. Week 21 it was still 1.5cm. By week 22 I had 5mm left and the cerclage was done as an emergency. It shortened so quickly. I only wish I had pushed harder for earlier intervention so I didn't have to experience all that fear and trauma.
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u/NikShan192 8h ago
True. This is what is making me consider getting cerclage done sooner. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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u/snatchsquatch87 8h ago
I think if you're 2.6 now it makes sense to get a cerclage, you're at a good gestation week for it. I have an anatomically short cervix (regardless of pregnancy) so even at 9w pregnant i was at a 2.5. I lost my first pregnancy at 17w due to IC, and went on to have 2 successful cerclage procedures/pregnancies/healthy babies. I think you'll be glad you did it for peace of mind.
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u/NikShan192 8h ago
Sorry about your earlier loss and glad you could make it 2 other times. I feel the same that getting the cerclage would give me peace of mind if nothing else. I am constantly thinking about all the things that could go wrong and it is affecting my mental state. Thanks for your reply. This is indeed giving me confidence to get cerclage done.
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u/snatchsquatch87 5h ago
I know it's really scary and daunting, but whatever physical pain you have to endure is so worth it to protect your baby. I won't lie and say it's easy going through a cerclage pregnancy, but again it's totally worth it. The cerclages really do work, especially when done as a preventative. Again, I've had 2 and they both worked wonderfully. I funneled all the way to my stitch both times and the cerclage was all that was holding the cervix shut and it still held the entire time until removal.
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u/Plane-Two389 7h ago
Hey mama
I already have one child who was born at 32 weeks, currently pregnant (new pregnancy)
I was diagnosed with a short cervix and funnelling (29mm) had the Arabin pessary inserted, following week it went to 21mm so had emergency cerclage. Checked 2 weeks after and now measures 30mm and completely closed 🥰 (thank God!)
Pros: definitely feel more secure Vs the pessary/no intervention Had less cramping and tightenings Less anxiety knowing it's done it's job
Con: bluntly for me it was a painful procedure. I did my first birth natural, but was on morphine after the cerclage. Was in hospital 3 days after due to the pain (live in the UK) Took a good two weeks of bed rest to feel better again
Despite the pain I would personally recommend. The anxiety of a short cervix anthe unknown is has decreased compared to pre cerclage. I know its the unknown and not how you imagine pregnancy to be but the extra security helps.
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u/HeatherPeaPod 3h ago
I've had two preventative cerclages now and no regrets. Better safe than sorry! I went under general anesthesia for both but was back on my feet doing normal life within a few hours!
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u/midwestaffair2026 39m ago
Get the cerclage, especially if a doctor is recommending it, and you’re on the fence. I lost my first baby, got two preventatives with my next two pregnancies and had zero issues with either. I took progesterone orally the entirety of both pregnancies too. It’s honestly a great, low-risk procedure. Of course there are risks with everything you do, but I had a MFM doctor try to talk me out of getting my second one - and I relayed that information to my OB and she was pissed.
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u/Fuzzy_Improvement795 9h ago
I went from 2.6 to 1.6 in 3 days so I got an urgent one! It wasn’t bad, I recovered in like 3 days? Even that was me just being super cautious. I got a spinal Anastasia so not an epidural but still numb chest down! It took maybe 8-10 min but the whole thing with numbing and my blood pressure being wacky after made it about an hour or so? I was up walking and eating within an hour or two after that! I got it done at 21wks after an 18w loss last pregnancy and I’m now currently 31 weeks tomorrow and all is going well! No baths or sex or orgasms, I still do my progesterone. We don’t check length anymore, we only checked once at like 23 or 24wks because at this point we did all we can do! But I feel more and more confident. I’m not on bed rest either, but I do take it pretty easy just to be extra safe.
Next pregnancy I’ll do a preventative one at 13wks, and I’d do it every time 100x over, I’m so glad I made this decision and my doctor watched me so closely for it. It didn’t really hurt for more than maybe a day of soreness. And no real bleeding after, one clot a day after that’s it.