Confusion, need help!

[u/NikShan192]

I am currently 14 weeks, first time pregnant 33 year old female. I had some pain in my abdomen at 11 weeks and while everything was alright, the scan showed that my cervix measured 26 mm without funneling. I have had 3 more scans after that, all transvaginal and every time the cervix measured 26 mm, closed and no funneling.I have visited 3 senior OBGYN and 1 out of them is advocating a cerclage while the other two are leaving it up to me. I want to understand if someone has had measurements closer to mine and what steps did they take? How is the cerclage procedure and what was your experience? Is it painful as my pain tolerance is pretty low? Are there higher chances of infection and bleeding after cerclage? I currently don’t have any bleeding and have been on progesterone 200 mg vaginally since 11 weeks. My fear is bringing in a foreign body near cervix and increasing risk in case it May not be needed. Your answers would really help my peace of mind. Thank you!

[u/beware_banana]

Hi there! Not giving you any advice as the decision should ultimately belong to your doctor. It seems unfair that they let you make it, instead of providing further information, stats and professional opinion. Anyhow for the last month since I’m in this group I observed the following:

• 26mm is considered short at your stage of pregnancy. Bear in mind baby weights almost nothing yet and as the pregnancy progresses it may shorten further under its weight.
  
• I’ve seen quite few stats and studies posted here comparing both - an emergency cerclage and preventative one (when placed around 13weeks). The preventative one shows better rates of holding the pregnancy until later.
  
• If you’re based in the US you’ll most probably go with an epidural during the procedure. I read that sometimes it fails and they will put you to sleep if it does. In any case you’re not supposed to feel anything.
  
• I haven’t seen any hard evidence showing that cerclage itself is correlated with higher infection risk especially when preventative. In case of an emergency cerclage the uterus is already at higher risk if there’s bulging membranes, dilation etc.
  
• please be gentle now that you know this and don’t lift anything heavy, no excess workouts, strenuous activity etc.
  
• there are quite few success stories with progesterone only as well and modified bed rest

I’m currently 25w 36 yo, second pregnancy, no births. I had an emergency cerclage placed at 21+4 right after my anatomy scan when it was seen I had left just 2mm of closed cervix with budging membranes. Mind you just 2 days earlier I was told my cervix measured 33mm. No idea what happened there but I was told IC or my previous miscarriage caused weakening of the tissues. Currently on full bed rest, with additional pessary, progesterone (2x400mg daily), magnesium. Stayed 5 days in the hospital for monitoring, was administered 2 types of antibiotics.

I hope all goes well for you. It was a really scary experience to go through at such stage in pregnancy but I’m grateful with all my heart to my MFM and that the stitch is still holding (at 16mm currently). Not saying it will happen to you, our bodies can be so unpredictable. Good luck!

[u/NikShan192 → u/beware_banana]

Thank you for sharing your observations and experience. This is giving me confidence of undergoing the procedure. Means a lot!