Cervical measurements

If I am going barmy or got the wrong end of the stick please say.


When I was on placement I was lucky enough to attend consultant clinics with women, I witnessed a discussion about cervical measurements because a lady experienced miscarriages in previous pregnancys. The reason for these routine measurements was to assess the need of a stitch or not.

How do you measure a cervix or is it a more complicated VE?

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I thought it was done by an internal scan, that is how many of my friends who have lost babies have had it done

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So its like a USS?

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Yea it is exactly that, like what they do for early scans, the put the probe inside the woman and measure the cervix. They like it to be above 30mm, and really begin to panic when it goes below 26mm

HTH

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I may have got the wrong end of the stick here, but i thought putting a stitch in doesn't really do much (from research articles etc that i've read) and that it's just peace of mind for the mum? someone correct me if i'm wrong! x

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"With my hands, i have felt the strength it takes to grow, and release new spirit......."
"All the best births are the ones where you only have time to record times on a paper towel..."- a midwife, somewhere in the middle

TBH I dont know, I have a few friends who have incompetent cervix and have lost babies due to it, had a stitch and gone on to have successful pregnancies, but then who is to say they wouldnt any way? With regular cervical scans, and if it begins to shorten plenty of bed rest/ a stitch.

I am not sure but is it the emergency stitch that has a low success rate?

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My sis had cervical cancer, and therefore had a rubbish cervix, so she had a stitch when she was pregnant. This was more to be 'on the safe side' and sure enough she didn't need it because her cervix held up well!

I've seen a cervical scan and they will monitor for 'funneling' of the cervix (where it starts to open up vaginally) as well. In my unit I've seen stitches used quite a few times. I think the psychological aspect for Mum can be of huge benefit.

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My cousin lost 6 babies before they finally put in a stitch. She then successfully carried her son to term.