U/S - FREAKING OUT!!

[Tanker Chic]

Okay, had my u/s today and got some alarming news.. apparently my cervix is dangerously thin.. and I am very high risk for preterm birth.  He acted like he wasn't going to let me leave but then checked my cervix and said it was closed and in the posterior position which is good but way too thin.. he told me to go straight home and rest and go to my dr first thing in the morning for some tests... He was calling the dr on call just in case something happened this evening and called my dr to arrange for the tests in the morning.  I was freaking out so I can't remember what the tests are called.  I've tried to google it but aren't getting good info on it.  i'm totally freaking out right now..

Any insight?  Anybody know what tests he said to get? There was two of them.  Anybody been through this or know anybody who has?  I've heard an incompetent cervix and how they correct that but that is usually much earlier in the pg.  HELP

[azqtpies]

Hannah,

Hang in there, all will be fine! they will probaly put you on bed rest to ease any pressure on the cervix!... Was this a ER doc that told you all  this???? when I was in the er at 14wk for spotting the doc says well the cervix doesnt look t hat bad! I am like what!! that bad? he said I had a large clot in the cervix ... I seen my Ob in 3 days he said everything looked great absolutely no sign of bleeding and no clots! I did not pass them, or the one he said he seen, so where did it go?? hmm I an just not comfortable with other doc, most have no bedside manner and dont care if they care the gibbies out of you! Please stay calm, all will be good you are getting so close to the great magic week of 36 when all will be perfect! Please keep us posted. I will say a prayer for you and your lil one!

Kell
21w3d

[melimeli]

tanker... good luck just take it easy and try not to stress out.. your baby is growing more each day and everything will be fine.. let us know what happens...

[40smama]

Hi hannah- I read your post in the middle of shooting you a pm and just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking of you!  I too had a thinning cervix at 32 weeks (long story) and was able to get to 38 weeks despite all of the predictions that I was going to deliver in a week.  You are in good hands and keep us posted!  I'll fill you in on the details of my story in the pm - jen (21w1d)

[LJ307]

Since your cervix is closed that is a really good thing!  I just read that they can do a stitch in the cervix to keep it closed, but since yours already is closed that's a very good sign.   Also, insufficient, or incompetent cervix is very rare, only about 1% of all pregnant women have this.   Your 29 weeks?  If it's at all helpful my mother was 29 weeks when she delivered me.  I'm still here alive and kickin'!  Not to say you are going to  have a premature delivery.  But wanted to ease your mind of thinking the worst.  Get lots of rest.  Please keep us posted after your dr. visit in the am.
Prayers.....Lisa    

[dainsey]

Hi there,
My friend had the same thing and she got that swab test that would tell if she was going to go into labor...She did the test 3 times and all times it came back fine so they told her not to worry...She didn't deliver until 37 1/2 weeks and delivered a healthy baby girl :-)

[AshleysMom]

Here's an article about it:  http://www.babycenter.com/0_preterm-labor-test-fetal-fibronectin_1511.bc

Also, one of my best friends had her baby at 29 weeks due to HELPP syndrome (they had to take the baby or she could have died from liver failure).  She turned out just fine, no complications at all.  In fact, she is brilliant.  Total super kid.   She did have to stay in the hospital for a few weeks, but like cpatow said, 28 weeks is a great milestone.  My doc told me the same thing when I reached 28 weeks with DD.

It looks like you're already 29, so that is great.  I'm sure everything will be just fine, especially if you are closely monitored.

Keep us posted!  We'll be thinking about you.

[Tanker Chic]

Thanks everyone for the support and kind words.  Ashleysmom.. i think you are close.. I called a friend and she said there is a swab test they do for an enzyme or something like that and if it isnt there, that means you will likely not go into preterm labor within the next two weeks.  

If you find anything else out, please keep the info coming.  

christina, very helpful information.. it does calm me a bit to know my baby is cable of surviving birth at this stage.  

Lisa, thanks and keep the prayers coming!!

[cpatow]

I was racking my brain trying to figure out where I'd heard this and it was an article I had JUST read in a high-risk publication at my doc's office. The lady was 29 weeks and her doctor became concerned b/c her cervix was very thin which was a risk for pre-term labor. They admitted her into the hospital for 5 days, had her lay on her side, gave her steroid shots to help develop the baby's lungs and then sent her home. At the article's publication time she was 33 weeks. The article said that 28 weeks was a major milestone for baby development and that after that time, they still want babies to cook for as long as possible because there is a lot of development that takes place but the risk for complications goes down dramatically at 28 weeks. They continued to test this gal every week w/ her cervix (she had triplets, by the way), but at 33 weeks she was still cooking.

So again, hang in there!! You are in GREAT hands

[AshleysMom]

Take care of yourself!

I think there's a bloodtest that tells you your likelihood of preterm labor.

At least it is closed!  Please keep us posted and rest!

[LJ307]

Oh Hannah!!  I'm freakin' out for you!  I hope that dr. isn't needlessly scaring you.  I'm sorry I know nothing about an incompetent cervix either.  Yikes.  I'll check around too.  Rest, try to imagine that healthy baby resting easy, warm and cozy, safe and sound in your very capable uterus.   I'm praying for you.
Lisa  

[cpatow]

I don't have any insight for you, I'm so sorry!!! I'm just lending some morale support as it looks like bed rest is in your future. I'll ask my preggo friends if they know anything as well. I know it's a crappy time of year to have this kind of stress but your doctors are professionals with this sort of thing ... this is exactly why they are there...to act quickly when there are issues that need to be acted on. ..they will take care of you. Trust in that! And if the "cure" means laying flat on your back just remember it's not for an eternity. You and your little baby will be okay. Try very hard not to worry!!