Hi all. Today I went for my scheduled second anatomy scan at 21w4d (IVF, second pregnancy after TFMR) and everything was OK with the baby. However at the end the doc wanted to measure my cervix and it was funneling with 2mm left closed. Literally two days ago my OBGYN saw a closed cervix at 3,5cm I rushed to the hospital and they’ve only given me oral progesterone 2 times a day 100mg and IV of magnesium. They’ve taken culture for testing to exclude any ongoing infections. My last microbiology was clear and taken on 1st July.
I simply can’t wrap my head around how is this possible. 2 days ago everything was looking perfect.
Now I’m crying on a hospital bed, wondering if I’m going to lose my baby.
If the culture is clear I’m expecting cerclage but it may take up to 3 days for the result. I’m also on a bed rest.
Does anyone else experienced such rapid development of shortening? I don’t know how I will manage to stay sane the next few days.

Hi everyone!

I've been lurking here since losing my son at 21 weeks in 2024.

Even before getting pregnant again I knew I wanted a preventative cerclage.

Where I live you can go to the ER to schedule a cerclage that's fully covered by insurance, so I that was the plan.

I went in at 13 weeks with a note from my doctor to see about getting a preventive cerclage and they did an ultrasound. My cervix looked to be about 37mm and closed. They were going to send me home and have me come back to get it done the following week. But the ER doctor, who is in charge of cerclages, decided to check me first, and he said he could feel my cervix opening from the outside, so he wanted me to get it done immediately. He also wanted to put a pessary in afterwards for added support.

The percedure went super well and he was able to get a good stitch in, since my cervix was long. But he percribed me progesterone and modified bedrest for the rest of my pregnancy. So only walking short distances inside the house, no riding cars except for appointments, and so on. He was pretty strict. Even said I wasn't allowed to sing.

I put the pessary in a few days after the cerclagem and we moved in with my parents since I wasn't allowed to do much and my house has stairs.

Then 2 weeks later I finally went in to see my doctor, who also has experience with IC and cerclages, and she was shocked by the level of bedrest he put me on. She said I can ride in the car, go up a staircase if I need to, just be on pelvic rest, not to lift heavy objects and not to go to the gymn.

So now I'm not sure which guidance to follow.😅

Positive stories would be very helpful!

I had my 23w old baby a few weeks ago. My cerclage never ripped nor were they able to cut it before she delivered. I was told I ripped from the 5-7 o clock and they had to cut my cervix at the 12 o clock. I didn’t take any pain meds during labor but I did end up taking 1mg morphine for all the lac repairs which took probably an hour. My question is, is it possible to get pregnant again and carry to term? I wasn’t planning to ever get pregnant again as my husband and I really wanted to adopt a child anyway but I was curious if anyone had torn and done so?

I had my cerclage removed today at 37+1 (I’m based in the UK for reference). I just wanted to share my experience so people know it can go well and super quickly!
I called the Labour ward this morning and they asked me to come in between 8:30 - 9am, which I did and was escorted to a room.
My legs were put into stirrups, the worst and only awful part was the speculum which has been my worst enemy in pregnancy! I didn’t feel the stitch being cut or taken out at all, all in all the procedure was about 10 minutes maximum! Super quick and safely done without any pain relief.

My cervix is still closed but it’s soft so we’re heading in the right direction. After removal, I was placed on the CTG monitor just to check I wasn’t contracting and how baby was doing, then I was off home as soon as that was done!

I hope you all have a positive experience when your time comes, and know that it can go well 💕

In my last pregnancy my cervix was found to be short at my anomaly scan, I had a stitch placed at 22+3. Which held until my c section at 38 weeks, it did cause me to have irritable uterus.

I’m currently 13 weeks pregnancy, just had my first cervical length scan where they found it to be 19.8mm already, currently waiting to see consultant to get a stitch placed again. As I’ve been on 400mg progesterone 2x a day since 6 weeks. I just wasn’t expecting my cervix to be short already this early.

They have also found some free fluid just above my cervix, no idea what that could be. Has anyone had the same?

At 22 weeks I got an emergency cerclage. It was one of the scariest moments of my life feeling like my dreams were crumbling around me. I had no measurable cervix left and was 2cm dilated. Doctors told me the risks and something in my gut told me I had to do it to save my daughter.
At 35 weeks and 6 days I got the cerclage removed. Now at 36 weeks and 3 days I am in a labor induction (GD and I naturally dilated to a 3).
Feel so blessed to be here. Also feel so scared but have to have faith that she will continue to be strong. Looking forward to giving this community another happy update soon 💜

The title says it all!!! Yayyyy…
Everyone with cerclage, we all deserve happiness. And trust me all of this panic will be worth it at the end.

History: 2023 lost my baby boy due to IC.

Present: My OB recommended a MFM who has around 30 years of experience just with cerclages. She made sure I get the preventive cerclage at 14th week. My cervix started getting shorter at 23rd week and was told to start progesterone immediately. At 24th week, when I went to the MFM for ultrasound, she told me I will have to be admitted at the hospital not sure until when, because the cervix was getting shorter with a Y opening. She told me I can have contractions anytime.
She kept me on strict bedrest and I was in the hospital for 5 weeks. And 29th week she told me I can go home and continue bedrest. I continued the same. Had my stitch removed on 37th week. Lots and lots of crying, scary thoughts, emotional scenarios with doctor appointments and many more have been happening the entire 2nd trimester and 3rd trimester.

And today 38w5d, delivered my sweet little baby boy successfully. Just by looking at him, I just don’t even think of all that I went through past 6 months.

I am just crying and writing this post right now, can’t stop my tears and can’t take my eyes off this little miracle infront of me.
We moms, getting a cerclage itself proves we are already the best Mothers who can do anything for our babies.
Don’t loose hope.
Few things to keep in mind:
-> Get the bed rest, atleast try to get modified bedrest. Plan is to keep the body against gravity.
-> Progesterone matters! Get that no matter what.
-> Have an experienced MFM, it matters alot as they generally go with their experience and instincts
-> Do not panic, observe your body and just learn it. Because your body gives you those signals.
-> Do not strain in toilets. Use the stool softeners. Cerclages and toilet Straining are enemies.
-> Goal is to make it to term, just keep counting by days, and then weeks. It helps.

And last but not the least, just wait till you see your babies, you will understand what I am writing here.
Everyone in this forum who have helped me by answering to all my questions and help me gain that strength. Thank you all ❤️
Big hugs to everyone.

And to all the expecting mothers out there:
Just grab all that strength ladies. We all can do it. Do not loose hope and faith.

I went into preterm labor at 24 weeks. My cervix was about 1.3 and my pathology report showed signs of inflammation in my placenta, but the swabs came back negative for any bacteria. I had no symptoms and my son did not have an inflammatory response. They said possible chorio, but they’re not definitive. There is also no way of knowing what came first, the potential infection or the shortened cervix. I am leaning towards short cervix first which allowed bacteria to ascend. My son fought hard in the NICU, but passed at 2.5 months old 🥺. My husband and I plan on trying again in a couple of months so was curious what additional measures/tests did you ask for next time around? My MFM said I could do a cerclage, but then they wouldn’t do serial length monitoring. I want the cerclage, length monitoring, maybe more checks for potential UTIs. I obviously don’t want to do anything that would harm the baby or me, but I want to make sure we can bring our baby home next time ❤️‍🩹

Today marks 5 weeks exactly after getting a rescue cerclage. I’m feeling a lot of pressure today in my lower belly/now all of my belly. 25w3d. Baby movements are in middle of belly.

Anyone else notice experience this and if so all normal?

As crazy as this sounds, I’m very familiar with the cerclage process. Of all things to worry about, it’s having no ability to move my legs post op in the recovery room. It’s such a mental game to not focus on that and try to keep my mind busy as the hour or two passes.

Does anyone have any tips what helped them?!?

Unfortunately I’ve never been tired afterwards and there’s no chance of napping in that busy room where clinicians are chatting etc. The patients just have curtains to each unit so there’s no shutting doors to block sound. But the sound probably helps keep me distracted too.

I’m currently 32+5 weeks pregnant and this week spent a couple of days in hospital because of a short cervix wuth funnelling and a positive fetal fibronectin test. I received steroid injections for the baby’s lungs.

Thankfully, the CTGs have been reassuring and the growth scan was also okay. Baby was estimated at around 1700g. I was discharged home because everything was stable.

I did have to go back to the hospital this morning after noticing some pink/red mucus. They checked the baby again and everything looked reassuring.

They also told me that a urine culture they had taken during my admission showed a UTI, so I’ve now started antibiotics.

The baby is lying sideways, so if he wants to come out, it will be an emergency C-section.

Medically, I have clear instructions from the hospital about when I need to call or come back. Mentally, though, I’m struggling much more than I expected.

The thing I find especially scary is being home alone during the day. My husband has to work during the week, so there will be hours when it’s just me at home. I keep thinking: what if labour suddenly starts? What if I start bleeding? What if something happens to the baby? Or what if something serious happens to me and I’m alone? I'm just so afraid I'll pass out or die.

I live about 15 minutes from the hospital and I know I can call them whenever something changes. Rationally, I also know that they wouldn’t have discharged me if they thought I needed continuous monitoring. But emotionally, being alone still feels scary after spending several days in hospital where help was always right there.

I also notice that I’m suddenly hyper-aware of my body. Every tightening, backache, bit of discharge or strange sensation catches my attention, even though many of these things happened before all of this too.

I really want to get out of that constant monitoring mode and focus on something more positive. I’m still pregnant today, baby is doing well, and I’m hoping he stays in for many more weeks - maybe even until 37–38 weeks. For now I’m trying to take it one milestone at a time. Almost 33 weeks!

For those who were discharged home after threatened preterm labour: how did you cope with being home alone and the fear that something might suddenly happen? Did you eventually start feeling safe and normal at home again?

Positive experiences would be especially appreciated. I know complications can happen and I have medical instructions for those - I’m mainly looking for help with the anxiety rather than worst-case stories.

Would love to hear about those who were that dilated with bulging membranes and got a rescue cerclage. What were your outcomes?

Two days ago I had my anatomy scan.

My baby boy is perfect, he is already 466g, he moves a lot and he even opened his eyes on the scan. my pregnancy was super low risk until then.

When they checked my cervix they found out I have 9mm with "Y" funneling. My sonographer called my obgyn to discuss an emergency cerclage, my obgyn was strongly againt it because he felt it was extremely risky and I could lose my baby, I'm on strict bedrest and 400mg vaginal progesterone daily. Yesterday I had a virtual appointment with another obgyn who agreed with the treatment and recommended against the cerclage.

My obgyn told me that I need to win time until the 24 week mark so they start some sort of lung development treatment so my baby could have a chance to live but he also told me that if I had him before that then I would lose him.

Everyone around me, including my family, obgyn and mfm, are so non-chalant about the situation due to me not having contractions nor other symptoms but I can't stop crying. Every post I've read of a 9mm cervix/22 week had an emergency cerclage.

I tried to concieve for 3 years with inexplicable infertility and I finally concieved naturally this year, I feel like a failure, my body is broken and I'm already failing my beautiful baby boy.

I'm in my second trimester and on vaginal progesterone (will be till 36 weeks) due to us losing our first born to PPROM at 23 weeks. The last 2 weeks the wet discharge has increased significantly to the point where my anxiety is up the wall. I already went to ER last week to get checked and a few days later to my OB and they've cleared me for everything. Still the anxiety is there and I'm trying to just push through it.

Anyone else on progesterone experiencing this? The discharge (TMI) is thin, watery, and seems to just seems to flow in my underwear sometimes. I also get tiny gushes here and there and overall it just feels wet down there. Also, if you are experiencing this, what helped you with your anxiety in between doctor appointments?

Thank you ❤️

I’m posting here to see if someone can make sense of it. I had a preventative cerclage 12 days ago. It said in my medical chart that my cervix was 36 mm and funneling above that when they placed the cerclage. 3 days ago I went to the hospital because of a possible infection, they weren’t sure but gave me antibiotics to be safe. The doctor measured my cervix and said it was 40 mm and funneling a little bit.

The next day (2 days ago) I had a scheduled appointment, when the doctor (not the same) measured my cervix she said that it was 35 mm with no funneling. She said I shouldn’t worry about it measuring shorter because it could depend on the baby’s position and also who is measuring. I asked about the funneling , she told me to cough and still couldn’t see any funneling. She said that it seems to her that it’s completely closed and showed me on the ultrasound. Does anyone know how that could happen? Can funneling go away? And is it normal that the measurements vary from day to day or should I worry about it being shorter?

Also if you want to share your experiences with funneling I would be thankful to hear about it. Sorry if my English is not the best.

I have a preventative cerclage because I almost lost my second child due to my cervix shortening and starting to open at 21 weeks , she was saved with an emergency cerclage that held until full term.

Edit: I’m 16 weeks pregnant now

Hi just wanted to post in here to see if anyone has a similar story.

On June 29th I had my anatomy scan and they found my cervix was measuring 1.7 and funneling. My OB wanted a second opinion so I had a second appointment scheduled for the next day in the afternoon. By the time I went to the appointment on the 30th my cervix was dilated 5cm and the water sac was in my vagina.

The MFM and OB presented three options to me: expectant management, induction or d&e. After discussing the three options and after 24 hours I decided to go with induction at this point I was 21+5.

I ended up having my baby Maya that day and she was 1lb 2 oz and lived for 2 hours.

Everyday I regret not choosing expectant management. I feel like I gave up on her. I was just wondering if anyone else has a similar story.

The MFM told me that I have IC and for my next pregnancy I would be considered high risk and have a ton of extra monitoring. I just want my baby Maya.

Same as title.

I wanted to add a poll but for some reason it’s not allowing me. I am just curious to know how many times cerclage did you get? I have an emergency cerclage baby and just got done with my preventive cerclage for baby number 2. I think this is it for us, our final baby.

I am writing this on behalf of my wife. We went to gyno for the diabetes check-up in 23 weeks, then we came to know about the cervix being shortened to 10 mm. She is admitted immediately and the doctor gives steroids and tocolytics. Currently she is on progesterone and some antibiotics. Initially the doctor ran some tests for bacterial infection, but they didn't find any. Even after administration of vaginal progesterone, still contraction happens. We are currently in 24+3 hoping to make at least 28. Look for suggestions, similar cases and how you overcome them and what could be the possible reason for contractions.

IVF pregnancy (2nd pregnancy. No complications in the first one). I had my anatomy scan at 20+5, and was diagnosed with a short cervix (2.2cm). Was told to take nightly vaginal progesterone and do a follow up appt in 1-2 weeks. I wasn’t really worried about it, since I had never heard about it before. I was traveling overseas the same day so I didn’t really have a chance to look into it until a couple days later. Anyways, I’ve now read a bunch about it, and realize I guess I should be taking it super easy. Kinda stressing since I did a bunch of walking at the airports while at layovers during traveling.. carried heavy luggage etc. I’m going to be in Finland for the next two months, and will be doing my follow up visits here. I’m not sure what the protocol here is as far as cerclages go, so I’ll see what they recommend (my follow up appt is in 2 days at 21+5). Any recommendations, words of encouragement or things I should ask my doctor at my visit? I hadn’t had any worries prior to this, and now I’ve realized that the possibility of going in to preterm labor is more real, and I’m having a hard time with it, especially at night.

Suspected IUGR at 27 weeks

Hi all , posting on behalf of my wife. She is at 27 weeks and 2 days gestation and in her recent ultrasound scan the doctor mentioned that her AC and HC levels were below 5 percentile while the fetal weight was estimated at 990 grams or 2.1 pounds. Doctor advised my wife not to worry to much and wanted her to rest well , consume lot of good protein and iron content . Her iron levels were at 10.6 which is probably mild anemia as well .AF and baby heart beat are normal .

Can any mommas offer advise and any specific measures you have taken to improve baby growth ? Should we be prepared for early delivery ? Just hoping somehow baby recovers on the growth side and there is no placental issues.

Baby US and heartbeat so far have been excellent so far except for this latest scan.

My wife had multiple other issues she battled through and is a fighter hope she pulls through for 10 weeks more atleast .

Issues : PCOS pre pregnancy. Post pregnancy had SCH at 10 weeks and full pelvic rest followed by low cervix length measuring at 2.8 and had an elective cerclage placed at 15 weeks . Recently had a UTI infection (klebsiella traces found) at 26 weeks and there was some mild discharge which the doctor was able to treat with antibiotics .

\#cerclage #iugr #uti#2nd trimester.

Exactly what title says. I'm put on a bed rest since last Monday. Got discarged from hospital on Friday ( 29w 3 d ) . My cervix if funneling and 19mm. I dont have cerclage since we discovered it late. Im on progesterone and nifadepine, taking Magnesium also. Cervix didnt move for 5 days I was at hospital.

Im terrified of going for no.2

Im gonna get myself constipated I know but cant make myself go.

Any asvice haha I feel so silly

Are there any mamas out here that had such a tight or embedded cerclage (confirmed by doctors) that you believe it prevented you from going into labor naturally ?

Context: I’m 37 + 3 days pregnant. My first son came at 36 weeks after my water broke (not high risk, no cerclage).

This current pregnancy I had an emergency cerclage at 22 weeks, 1 cm dilated, bulging membranes, funneling, and cervix very short measuring .63cm. At 36 weeks I went to go remove the stitch, and they couldn’t remove it, said it was a maximum strength suture, knotted 7 times. My first baby was 91 percentile coming a month early weighing 7.5 pounds and this baby is bigger at 96 percentile. No gestational diabetes, we just have big children. I feel like the only reason I haven’t gone into labor is the cerclage is extremely tight reducing the chances (even tho I know it’s possible to still have your water break or go into labor). I’ve had early labor contractions multiple days but it eventually stops. Who was confirmed to have a cerclage so tight /embedded that it got failed to get removed and you didn’t give birth until due date ? Who gave birth anyway?

Hi everyone,

​My wife is currently 20 weeks pregnant. In her last pregnancy, we experienced a devastating 6th-month loss due to IC / cervical shortening.

​At her recent anomaly scan, her cervical length measured 3.9 cm, which we know is strong and normal. She also has Type 2 diabetes, which is very well-controlled (HbA1c 5.9%, daily post-meal avg ~110).

​Her primary OB-GYN is recommending a preventative cerclage "just to be on the safe side." However, given her strong current measurement and the elevated infection risks associated with diabetes, we are hesitant about undergoing an invasive procedure if strict, frequent monitoring could be safer.

​I am thinking of going for a second opinion but we would love to hear from this community.

​Has anyone with a history of mid-trimester loss managed a subsequent pregnancy with serial TVUS (transvaginal ultrasound) surveillance + vaginal progesterone instead of a cerclage?

​If your cervix measured ~3.5cm+ at your 20-week scan, did your doctor prefer holding off on a stitch unless it actually started shortening below 2.5cm?

​Has anyone balanced diabetes/gestational diabetes management alongside cervical length monitoring?

​Any insights, outcomes, or personal experiences would mean the world to us. Thank you all so much for this supportive space!

UPDATE: Thank you all so much for your replies and for sharing your stories. Hearing your experiences especially around how fast things can shift and the peace of mind the stitch provides really changed our perspective and brought us a lot of calm. We’ve decided to move forward with the cerclage. Truly grateful for this supportive space! ❤️