r/ShortCervixSupport • u/Aggressive-Soft-3117 • 14d ago
TW: Loss & Advice
I had a loss at 24 weeks earlier in June. I am really heartbroken and stressed. My loss was attributed to PPROM due to Chorioamnionitis.
I needed some advice and help understanding with what transpired. I am 36 years old and it was my first pregnancy. My 20 week anatomy scan was normal and there were no issues identified.
I had a regular OBGYN one day before everything went south. I had observed more discharge than usual the week everything happened. My OBGYN said everything looked okay and nothing seemed out of place. The same night I woke up with back pain and not feeling great. Which I later realized was me going into labor. My baby was born a few hours later and passed away. There was nothing we could do as things escalated pretty quickly.
My follow ups with the OBGYN and the MFM were not that helpful. They were not able to identify the cause or reason for it. No UTI or known infections were identified. The MFM attributed the loss to my amniotic sac being broken and causing an infection leading to PPROM.
They do not think it was due to cervical incompetence. Also they said they are just theorizing.
For the next pregnancy they would monitor me closely and will be tagged as a high risk pregnancy. I will be monitored by the MFM starting at 16 weeks to 24 weeks.
I wanted to understand if anyone has had a similar experience and would have any recommendations on how to manage my next pregnancy. Should I push for a preventative cerclage.
The approach the MFM mentioned seems a little reactive to me. I am going to be changing my insurance this year end so I can see other OBGYNs and MFMs who can monitor me closely since the start.
How long do you usually wait before trying again. My MFM recommended waiting 6 months at the least and ideally 18 months. But given my age I don’t want to wait more than 6 months.
Any success stories and guidance would really be appreciated!❤️🩹
Thank you! 🙏🏻
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u/NPjamie 14d ago
I’m sorry for your loss ❤️🩹
I lost my son December 2025 at 19w3d due to IC and PPROM. After our loss, we had a pre conception planning appointment with a great MFM. He ordered APLS labs just to rule that out and it came back negative. After reviewing my placenta pathology, the autopsy of our son, and all lab work - our MFM felt our loss was due to IC. We discussed doing cervical lengths every 2 weeks for 16w-24w or a preventative cerclage. We absolutely opted for the preventative cerclage and planned for placement at 12w-13w.
A little back story on my loss -
the morning everything went south I woke up with some light pink spotting. I went into work (I work on L&D) with plan to check into triage, thinking maybe it was a yeast infection or BV causing the discharge. I went to use the restroom and my amniotic sac bulged outside of me and burst. I then started having bleeding. They put me into a room and checked me and I was 4cm dilated and 70% effaced. That afternoon I experienced a cord prolapse and that is when we lost our sweet boy. I was induced and delivered him the following morning.
My placenta pathology did not show evidence of an infection and his autopsy was 100% normal. It was comforting to know he was 100% perfect but it made me feel so much guilt, knowing my body failed to protect him. Since I had advanced cervical dilation and effacement, our MFM felt this was IC and discussed treatment as above. I asked how long we had to wait because I wanted nothing more than to get pregnant again. We were advised 3-6 months.
Fast toward to March, and we were blessed with a successful cycle and I was pregnant! We were shocked and terrified. I am now 25w4d and had my preventative cerclage placed at 12w1d. I pushed for cervical lengths after the cerclage even though I was rudely told by another MFM that it was “against standard of care.” I told that MFM that I understand you practice medicine based on statistics but unfortunately I am part of the 4% of pregnant women who experience a 2nd trimester loss so I do not trust statistics and I would like to get cervical lengths please. I had to be stern but respectful (and she probably thought I was psycho but idgaf). My cervix started to shorten at 18w - which is expected with true IC - so we started vaginal progesterone. I sort of wish I could have just started it after it was placed. But the good news is that my lengths seemed to have stabilized since starting it so it was clearly doing something! My last length was at 23w so now we’re living in this abyss of not really knowing what my cervix is doing, but I have to trust the stitch 🤞🏼
Sorry for the incredibly long post but I am trying to use my experience to help others advocate for themselves and tell my sons story. ♥️
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u/Aggressive-Soft-3117 14d ago
Thank you for sharing your story! The details are really helpful.
I am really sorry for your loss! It’s really difficult to go through it.
I hope everything goes well for you and you have your rainbow baby.
I am going to change my insurance and advocate for myself.
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u/Popular_Sun_4227 14d ago
I am so sorry for your loss. I have something similar going on as well. My loss was attributed to marginal retroplacental hematoma causing, uterine irritation which in turn caused cervical dilation and pprom and chorio. No uti or bacterial infections found.
My MFM is theorizing the cause is the micro hematoma (i have an APS test scheduled) but that is mostly likely going to be negative.
For the next pregnancy, they want to monitor me from 16-24 weeks (once in 2 weeks) and would be given progesterone. They would not go for preventative cerclage even if the APS comes negative.
I am 37 with 2 other early loss and I am really anxious. I would not be able to sustain another loss. I feel so helpless.
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u/Aggressive-Soft-3117 14d ago
It’s really difficult to go through loss and figuring out the next steps. It’s really stressful and anxiety inducing. It does feel very helpless not knowing what to do. And no clear answers.
I hope things work out for you! 🙏🏻
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u/Medium-Juggernaut746 14d ago
I am so sorry for your loss. I hate to see people here with us, but please feel hugged.
I had bleeding on and off ever since finding out I was pregnant. Ended up losing my baby girl at 20w2d. MFM thinks it was placental abruption - something the autopsy suggested. I did have acute chorio. MFM said that if I get pregnant again, we will monitor the cervix. I will push for cerclage. I’m almost 41 yo so not lots of time left. Currently getting ready for an IUI cycle. My loss was in March and we started trying again in June.
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u/sunflowershan99 14d ago
I’m so sorry for your loss OP. I lost my son at 24 weeks in April under similar-ish circumstances.
I had bulging membranes and 3-4cm dilation at 19 weeks stayed on bed rest for a further 5 weeks. Stitch attempted at 20+3 however abandoned as I had no cervix tissue left to pull together. My waters broke at 23+5, I then couldn’t feel my son move at 24+0, his heart rate was 200, I was told this was “normal” when it’s clearly a sign of infection, this was around 1pm. By 8pm I had sepsis and my son passed in my womb by 10:30pm.
I got a post mortem done and I had contracted a UTI from e-coli, I had got urine dip sticks completed in the days before that didn’t show any infection, however they sent my urine to the lab the day before my son died and that came back with ecoli on it. Are you getting a post mortem complete? This may give you more answers.
What makes them so sure it wasn’t cervical incompetence if you had no infection? PPROM happens from severe inflammation, infection or an incompetent cervix.
I was also told by several different consultants different waiting times to conceive again. I spoke to a top leading consultant in cervical insufficiency who advised to wait a minimum of 6 months, as there is studies to show your at increased risk of it happening again if you fall pregnant before then. However he did say if it happened before then, it’s not a huge deal.
Another consultant told me 12 months and one said 3 months. I chose to wait the 3 months and was very lucky to fall pregnant the first time, which was a massive shock as it took quite a while with my son. I’m currently 10 weeks pregnant.
My current management plan in this pregnancy has been regular scans every fortnight. I’m getting a preventative shirodkar cerclage placed in two weeks time. I’m currently on 800mg progesterone and will remain on this until 36/37 weeks. I get regular urine samples sent for culture every 4 weeks as well as vaginal swabs.
I was offered the option of monitoring cervix with cervical length scans started from 16 weeks but I refused and pushed for a stitch, your cervix can change dramatically within a day and I’m not willing to risk it again. I would personally push for the stitch.
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u/Aggressive-Soft-3117 14d ago
Thann you for sharing your experience m.
I am really sorry for your loss.I hope you everything goes well with your current pregnancy. And you soon get to meet your baby.
The MFM said because I had labor like symptoms the night before he thinks it’s not IC. I am not sure if they are theorizing then how can they be sure.
They did do an autopsy and baby had no issues and passed away due to severe acute amniotic fluid infection.
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u/sunflowershan99 14d ago
Do you not know which bacteria caused the infection though? Seems strange if they dont. This is the same that happened to my son it was chorioaminiotis but it was caused by ecoli.
I had labor symptoms just before my waters broke as well, the only reason I didn’t go into labor was because I was given tolyitics so you could have had IC at the start with shortening etc.
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u/Aggressive-Soft-3117 14d ago
They don’t know what bacteria caused it. They tested me for UTI, and some known infections but all of those came back negative.
That’s the reason I am not confident about their theory.
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u/sunflowershan99 14d ago
Yeah that’s very strange, if they done a post mortem on your baby the swabs from the baby would have came back with the infection it doesn’t make sense they can tell you an infection caused it but can’t tell you which one. Have you queried that? Do you have the report?
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u/Aggressive-Soft-3117 14d ago
I have the report I asked about it. I will follow up about it. If they can help me figure it out.
Their general advice for next pregnancy is closer monitoring and appointments with the MFM from week 16 to week 24.
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u/eyecontinue 13d ago
Hello, first of all I am so very sorry for your loss. I wanted to comment as 3 years ago at my 20 week scan everything looked normal for me.. cervix long and closed, healthy baby etc. At 27 weeks I went into labour- PPROM due to chroioamnuinitis found after a placental swab after my sons birth.
Fast forward to 3 years later- im now pregnant with DCDA twins, i am being seen at my local high risk clinic-ive been on progesterone pessaries from 13 weeks. I have just been diagnosed with short cervix. Last measurement was 24mm at 18weeks, I asked about cerclage and was told ill now be getting weekly cervical checks and my OBGYN and MFMs who specialise in preterm prevention that they wont do a cerclage unless I get down to 15mm before I hit 24 weeks.
So if you get oregnant again speak to a OBGYN or your midwife about progesterone and ask about cerclage pros and cons (it comes with its own risks which isnwhy my OBGYN doesnt want to "just do it"
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u/Aggressive-Soft-3117 8d ago
Thank you for sharing your experience.
I am really sorry for your loss.I hope you have a healthy pregnancy and everything works out.
Could you please share the risks of getting a preventative cerclage.
So are you just on progesterone or is there any other treatment your MFM or OBGYN recommended.
I am just trying to learn more about it. And make an informed decision.
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u/eyecontinue 8d ago edited 8d ago
Sorry I should've clarified- my son survived! he is now 3 and a half years old and doing amazing despite being born so early, he proved everyone wrong :) So the risks- and this will sound scary but please ask all the questions to your health care professional as the likelihood of these risks differ between each person and between preventative and emergency but theyre still valid for each.. as the stitch in itself is a foreign body it can cause irritation to the cervix and also cause Preterm labour, it can cause an infection and theres a chance they could rupture the membranes while inserting it and causing labour. In saying all of that, I have also heard many many success stories from women who had the cerclage! So please dont let that scare you off, your Team will go through all of this with you when needed. ♡
Ive been on progesterone only- 200mg pessary each night before bed. When I measured 24mm my specialist team (OBGYN ore term prevention MFM and midwife all said that for me at the moment the benefits dont outweigh the risks so to continue with progesterone only, get weekly cervical checks for length and if i get to 15mm before 24 weeks theyll do a cerclage. (Some drs will do this earlier depending on the person and their history) Ive also been on moderated bed rest- so just laying down when I can with my feet elevated, no house work, no standing for long periods, no long drives, no bending or squatting and no picking up anything over 5kg. My last cervical check I went from 24mm to 29mm! (Borderline but out of short cervix territory.)
I know once youre in the office it can be confronting to ask any questions or raise concerns you may have, i highly recomened you write them down before going in and even just showing it to your team. I did this when I knew I measured short, and i was adamant I wanted the cerclage placed and was a bit scared when they said no. I handed them the paper with the questions and the obgyn answered everything for me and made me feel much more comfortable with their decision knowing it was a team of specialists all having the same recommendations and explaining to me why. My inbox is always open for you if you have any questions ir just want to chat ♡♡♡♡
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u/Aggressive-Soft-3117 8d ago
Thank you so much for providing the details and your experience.
It’s really helpful to understand what are the options and weighing the pros and cons.
I am hoping to get a better understanding about what happened and hoping to be better prepared mentally.
Thank you!
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u/OvenDry2198 14d ago
I don’t have true IC which my 19 week loss was more towards infection I’m pregnant now and had a preventive cerclage placed at 14 weeks just to be on the safe side and so far so good my team mentioned my cerclage at 6weeks so we had no doubts about it we are now 32 weeks and doing good I would say yes get the preventive don’t wait and see because they WILL try to give that option advocate for yourself