Warning Signs for Incompetent Cervix and Pre Term Labor

[MMA]

Several Cysters have been asking that this be made a sticky so here it is. Feel free to add stuff that is missing. Also if you can think of a better title for this thread let me know. I also wanted to add that the info was sent to me by Meghan saluki_fan and I think vivcrayton put the infor together.



Symptoms of Incompetent Cervix (usually appears between 16 and 26 weeks)

-Abdominal pressure

-Sudden change in discharge (especially if it becomes thick mucous)

-Bloody discharge

-Feeling a lump in your vagina (may be protruding membranes)

-“Hunch” that something’s wrong



Note: With incompetent cervix, you will usually NOT feel contractions. If you think anything at all is wrong, please go get checked out. If you have any of the above symptoms, insist on a cervical ultrasound (A manual exam often misses incompetent cervix). The earlier incompetent cervix is caught, the better the odds of a successful rescue cerclage being performed.



If you fall into any of the following categories, insist on extra cervical ultrasounds:

-Your mother took DES while pregnant with you

-You have a prior history of second-trimester loss

-You have a prior history of traumatic birth (and your cervix was damaged)

-You’ve had any traumatic procedure performed on your cervix (cerclage, biopsy, LEEP)

-You have a history of repeated abortions, or a prior late-term abortion

-You have an abnormally developed cervix





Symptoms of Preterm Labor (appears before 37 weeks)

-More than four contractions per hour, or contractions are becoming stronger or more regular

-Abdominal pain or pressure (may be crampy)

-Lower back pain, especially rhythmic

-Sudden change in discharge (may become watery, mucousy or bloody)

-A rush of fluid, or regular seeping fluid from your vagina (signifies broken water)



Note: If you think anything at all is wrong, please go get checked out. Again, the earlier preterm labor is caught, the better the odds of it being stopped before a preterm birth.



If you fall into any of the following categories, you may be at higher risk for preterm labor:

-You have hormonal imbalances (that’s all of us here, unfortunately)

-You have high blood pressure'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">blood pressure'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes, or heart disease

-You have a multiple pregnancy

-You have an abnormally developed uterus

-You have fibroids

-You have a past history of preterm labor

-You are younger than 18 or older than 40

-You have a vaginal infection

-You are stressed or depressed

-You don’t follow a nutritional diet

-You smoke, take drugs, or drink excessive amounts of alcohol

[LaurAnnHere]

Oh, thank you so much for making this a sticky!!!

[[stephanie]]

Great info...thanks!

[saluki_fan]

Michelle - could you change the thread title to "Warning Signs for Incompetent Cervix and Pre Term Labor"?

Also, here are some websites about IC:
http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/incompetentcervix/a/aaincomp.htm
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/incompetentcervix.html
http://www.hygeia.org/poems3.htm
http://www.dhmc.org/incompetent_cervix.cfm

Here is the homepage for an IC Support Group:
http://groups.msn.com/IncompetentCervixSupport
http://www.storknet.com/complications/incompetentcervix/
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/incompetentcervix2/

[sterling_rose]

Thank you very much for the links. Hearing positive stories really make me feel better about my cerclage and our chances.

[enits]

This is a wonderful thread! Thank you for stickying it!

I have a couple of questions, and I hope some of you will find the time to give me some insight.

1. For those of you had 2nd trimester losses and your doctor told you that you may have IC, what was your treatment plan during your next pregnancy?

2. Did your doctor keep an eye on your cervix?

3. Were you put on any kind of restrictions in the first few weeks of the first trimester before a preventative cerclage?

Thanks so much in advancE!

[LaurAnnHere]

1. For those of you had 2nd trimester losses and your doctor told you that you may have IC, what was your treatment plan during your next pregnancy? I had a previous 2nd trimester loss, but I was not diagnosed with IC until my pregnancy with Jamie. He was saved by a rescue cerclage. I have not had another child yet, but was told that when I do I will get a preventative cerclage at 12 weeks.
2. Did your doctor keep an eye on your cervix? I know after my preventative cerclage they checked me very frequently. At first they checked every few days, then just once a week. I'm sure you don't have to be checked as frequently with a preventative cerclage, but I would expect more cervical checks.

3. Were you put on any kind of restrictions in the first few weeks of the first trimester before a preventative cerclage? According to my doctor, during my next pregnancy I will not have to be on bedrest unless there's a problem.

[enits]

LaurAnnHere, I greatly appeciate you answering my questions! THANKS!

[saluki_fan]

One more question - what is the "risk period" for IC?

[tammyr]

Here is a link to a site I found that sort answers your question.
http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/incompetentcervix/a/aaincomp.htm
"This incompetence generally shows up in the early part of the second trimester, but possibly as late as the early third trimester. "

[Bunnyscott]

Meghan, my peri told me 16 to 28 weeks, most common between 18 and 24. I just had my last cervical u/s at my 28 week visit!

[naomi123]

Hi- do you think you would be more at risk of IC if your mother suffered from this? My mum lost 3 babies, one at 5 months, due to IC. When she had me and my brother she had a stitch- if it wasnt for that she believes we wouldnt be here. Do you think I would be at a higher risk of IC because my mum had it?

[LaurAnnHere]

I don't know. I don't think that any definate causes of IC have been identified, except in the cases of trauma to the cervix, like because of surgery. Certainly, this was not the cause of mine. There seems to be a lot of women on Soul Cysters who have suffered from IC. I believe that there is a link between IC and PCOS. IC may be in part due to hormone deficiencies in pregnancy, but I can not find any studies to support this theory with the exception of one that has concluded that low progesterone during pregnancy may be responsible. However, I have learned that many of the women on here who faced IC were taking progesterone supliments. I think it may be possible that progesterone is just an indicator and not the total cause. I'm fighting to learn all I can. I'm going to do some studies with the help of my fellow IC Soul Cysters. Many of us are quite interested in this cause. Perhaps with information obtained from various people we can get someone to take our information and do a study. We want answers.

[Reebekah]

i am a member of the MSN IC Support Group, where that same question was asked recently. there were a number of responses....some women had no family history, while others clearly had a family history....which means that there is no definate answer to the question. you may want to ask your doc to do a cervical length ultrasound at around 16 or 17 weeks to see how your cervix looks from the inside.

[LaurAnnHere]

Reebekah, can you give us the link the that support group for the people who need it.