Warning Signs for Incompetent Cervix and Pre Term Labor - Page 3

stacya35 · 07-01-2006, 02:23 PM

Ok, I have to say this IC thing is freaking me out. I am 10 weeks pregnant. At almost 9 weeks my RE looked at my cervix and said it was a 6 and that was good. When do I need to worry about this? I started feeling different yesterday. I have been cramping the whole time, but now it is lower. I am afraid that I am feeling pressure, but I don't know what that means. I feel pressure in my lower abdomen. Is 10 weeks too early for IC. I don't go to my OB/GYN until July 11th.

saluki_fan · 07-01-2006, 03:08 PM

Stacy -

I am no expert, but from what Viv has told me - 6 is like a super-cervix. (I was 5.2 cm at about 22 weeks and Viv said I had a super-cervix, so I guess yours is a super-mega cervix.)

I **think** 10 weeks is considered too early to be in the IC danger zone. I bet what you are feeling right now is your uterus and ligaments stretching to accomodate your growing baby. BUT I am no expert and you should always discuss these things with your OB!

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LaurAnnHere · 07-01-2006, 09:59 PM

Yeah, Stacy, 6 is really awsome! If you want to read up a little on IC anyway you can check out Viv & my website at
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. I believe everyone should know the facts. Even if you don't need it, you never know when you might be in the position to help someone who does.
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AdoreMsK · 07-23-2006, 02:37 AM

Hello ladies,
Last Friday at my 25th week appointment, I saw my NP instead of my doctor. I explained to her that I was having a little pressure and what felt like braxton hicks contractions. So she decided to check me out and found out that my cervix was short and immediately had a ultra sound ordered and was taken off work for a week. My my cervix ultrasound came back mesuring 3cm I'm not sure if I were safe or not, but the tech thought I would be ok and would be able to go back to work.

This past Friday I went back to the doctor to follow up. My doctor did a cervical exam and said that my cervix is a "little soft" and short (and it's not due to any surgury of any kind). She didn't care what the peri's office said that I am to be off work on bed rest until my little girl gets here.

I am devastated, scared and surely not knowledgeable about IC. The thing is my doctor didn't say that I had a IC. Would you consider her actions to be precautionary or a confirmation of an IC? Not only did she put me on bed rest until the baby comes but she prescribed Terbutaline which is suppose to supress contractions. Have any of you ever had to take this? Also at the Peri's office they want me to go to their office twice a week for NST testing until my babys birth as well.

I'm a little overwelmed and still in my stage of shock, any answers would help out a great deal.

LaurAnnHere · 07-23-2006, 02:52 AM

Hello, Adore. It could be IC. 3cm is on the low side, but doctors usually don't start to worry until it gets to 2.5, which to me is a bit of mistake. 3 seems short enough for concern. The fact that you are almost 26 weeks is a good thing. If this is IC and you suddenly find yourself in PTL, the baby's chances of survival are good. Typically IC happens by 24 weeks, but can happen early in the 3rd trimester as well. It's all about how much weight your cervix can take. You don't have to have any risk factors to have IC. I didn't, to my knowledge. Many people I've spoken with haven't. Are they going to check your cervix again on Monday. That would be important. If you have any more shortening without real contractions, then maybe a cerclage could be placed to help you get to term. Though I've researched IC quite a bit, I know very little about it after 24 weeks, so I don't know the protocols for that. I'm working on it, though. Definately stay in bed. I mean, really stay in bed. I wouldn't sit up to eat, shower, nothing. Use the bathroom and that's it. 26 weeks is still VERY early. Be watching for any changes. If you feel pressure or feel like something is in your vagina go immediately to the doctor. This pressure may feel like you need to have a bowel movement. Take colace to make sure you never need to strain to go. If you have increased discharge of any kind go to the hospital immediately.

I took trebuteline from the time that I was diagnosed with IC at 24 weeks until 36 weeks when I gave birth. I took it in pill form at home and got it by injection at the hospital. They didn't even play around with Braxton Hicks contractions with me, lol.

AdoreMsK · 07-25-2006, 07:37 PM

Thank you so much LauraAnne,
I'm trying very hard to stay in the bed but at 110 degrees with humidity it's so hard. I'd rather lay on the couch downstairs where it's cooler. So I totally missed my appointment on Monday. I thought we had agreed on every Tuesday & Thursday, when I got there, it was closed. I looked at the paper and it was Monday. So I will need to call and reschedule the one I missed. Based on the paper, they will just monitor the babys heartbeat and check for contractions and do a minor ultrasound to check for amniotic fluid. I'm not sure when they will be rechecking my cervix, but it's a darn good question that I will have to ask at my next appointment. Also, thank you for putting me at ease about the medication. I was so scared to take it. I get a little gittery, but not too much. I notice I don't feel the tightness as much.

However, my baby was up from 12 to 3am kicking and moving around. Was that because of the medication or just her changing her patterns?

LaurAnnHere · 07-25-2006, 08:50 PM

Your routine changes, her routine changes. It probably is a little bit of the meds, though. Jamie wasn't a mover and shaker so I barely felt him anyway. His hiccups were much more noticeable than his kicks. Maybe it was b/c of the low fluid and not having much room to move around. I'm not sure.

misdh · 07-29-2006, 12:02 AM

I've never really worried about IC b/c I had a full-term baby w/out a difficult delivery (but she was only 4 lbs). It took several hours of labor before I dilated at all. I am now 20 weeks preg. The past couple of days I have felt like I have something in my vagina. I know you're not supposed to check your cervix yourself when preg, but I had to make sure. My cervix felt closed, but very soft and seemed shorter than when I was TTC. Some things I've read say a soft cervix is normal and actually just a sign of pregnancy. Others say it's a bad thing. Should I be worried? I have an US on Monday. I think the feeling of something in the vagina may have been my rectocele (weakness in the vaginal wall allowing the rectum to protrude slightly against the wall of the vagina) acting up from my first delivery.

Cindypaggs · 08-05-2006, 06:27 PM

I'm not sure that I'm worried about IC but more worried about preterm labor. I've had some "pressure" over the past few days but it's more on my left side today, actually under my ribs. I also keep getting spams in my back, I've tried to time the pain but the are really sporradic. Can anyone tell me what I should be looking out for as far as preterm labor? I have no discharge or spotting. Thanks.
Cindy

Huggies · 08-06-2006, 01:17 AM

Cindy, is the pain in your upper or lower back? If it's rib pain that wraps around to your upper back it makes me think of gallstones which sure is painful.

Cindypaggs · 08-07-2006, 09:21 PM

Huggies - Thanks for responding. The pain was in my lower back but so far today, no pain in my back, but sharp twinges in my lower abs below my belly button. I'm still worried because I feel like she has stopped moving. I've only felt movement for the past couple of weeks and some of the ladies have told me that it's normal for the feelings to decrease at the begining. I dunno, maybe I'm just paranoid but... yeah... I'm PARANOID!!!!!!

Ingrid,UGADAWG · 08-07-2006, 11:19 PM

Cindy, I have a little plastic card that my insurance co sent me that lists warning signs for preterm labor:

4 or more uterine contractions (or tightening) in an hour, with or without pain.

Low, dull backache, pressure, or pain

Menstrual type cramps

Pelvic pressure that feels as if the baby is pushing down

Intestinal cramping, with or without diarrhea

Vaginal discharge, any change, esp if mucous-like, watery, or bloody

Your water breaks

A sense that "something is just not right"

It is so difficult not to worry. Any time you have concerns, call your dr! I have called mine over numerous symptoms and so far everything has been fine. Normally my doctor is mostly interested in if there is any bleeding or cramping.
I was told by my ins co that if I call my dr and they think I am fine, but I don't just to go on to L & D, that most of the time, the ins co will cover it even without the dr sending you.

Your aches and pains may very well be normal, but call your dr just in case. It is normal to feel the baby's movements come and go. I was told by my doctor that if the baby is turned around to where the back is to your belly that you prob won't feel anything while the baby is like that. I get paranoid too whenever I go a number of hours without feeling any movement & I am just paranoid anyway, too!

AdoreMsK · 08-08-2006, 02:08 AM

Cindy,
I think I'm border for IC, but was definately put on bed rest for preterm labor. My symptoms were mainly that something isn't right and the pressure and tightning of my stomache. They put me on medication to control the contractions and I go to a fetal medicine doctor twice a week to monitor my baby's heartbeat, amniotic fluid levels and contractions. I guess today was one of those days a contraction showed up on my reading. The nurse helping me called my doctor and they changed my medication times from every 6 hours to every 4 hours. So if you have any doubt at all, tell your doctor. That what I did and found out that my cervix is short and I was contracting. I didn't have any sharp pains, but to ease your mind I'd go get it checked out. Take care!

Lubby23 · 08-13-2006, 07:26 AM

I know I am prolly too early for IC but who can explain this?

For the past 2 days when i put the progest supp in at night my opening to my cx seems very open, more than when I O, I can stick the tip of my finger in easily. Also today I had a big chunck of EWCM one time when I went potty and not since. I am freaking out and its sat so I wont be able to call the doc till mon morning, I dont know if I can wait that long, can anyone explain whats going on?

LaurAnnHere · 08-13-2006, 09:33 PM

Lubby, I'll be honest, I have no idea. It shouldn't be open. 8 weeks is too early for IC, but maybe it's a congenital prioblem. Have you asked your OB or RE to check you out? I definately would. It might indicate that you will have IC. I really wish I had more answers for you. Since I have never felt my cervix, I don't have a clue what mine usually feels like or what it felt like during pregnancy. What your feeling may be normal. Why don't you post this question in a new thread on the pregnancy forum.