Is the cerclage as effective with twins than with a singleton pregnancy? I lost my first baby at 18 weeks due to pprom. My next pregnancy i got a preventative cerclage at 12 weeks that held until I had to deliver at 36 weeks. Im pregnant with twins now and just worried the cerclage wont hold as well due to the pressure of two babies. Any stories or advice are appreciated.

I lost my daughter Alexandra at 22.5 weeks on May 6th.

At 17 weeks I went for an ultrasound and OB check, everything looked fine. On the first anatomy scan at 14 weeks my servix was measuring 38mm, the pregnancy was considered low risk. My first pregnancy was also low risk. Everything perfect, I was induced at 39+2 weeks, ended up having an emergency c section and I have a healthy almost 3 years old boy.

I didn't make it to my second anatomy scan with this pregnancy that was scheduled for May 7th.

On the days previous to the loss I was perfectly fine, no spotting, no bleeding, no pain, no contractions. I didn't do anything weird, no heavy exercise, no heavy lifting, no sex, just went on short walks. The only thing I had was constantly wet underwear and white discharge that had no smell and wasn't much at all so I didn't think anything was not right. It turned up being the amniotic fluid leaking and parts of the mucus plug coming out 😮‍💨

I woke up as usual on May 5th, had breakfast, did some coloring with my son, went upstairs to change to go grocery shopping. I was constantly tired so I sat down for a minute and when I got up I felt a little bit of warm liquid coming out. I thought it was blood and immediately went to the bathroom. The liquid was transparent and had no smell. I started peeing and when I was finished I kept leaking a little I thought it was weird. I got up and it's when my water broke completely.

We went to see my OB and she confirmed I had no amniotic fluid and the servix was shorter than it should've been, I forgot what it measured. The baby girl was ok, with a strong heartbeat and moving a lot. Basically she said there was no was of saving the baby. She was too small. I felt so crushed, I just couldn't believe this was happening. An hour ago I was going grocery shopping and instead I had to be induced to give birth to my beautiful baby girl just for her to die. I was induced with oxytocin and had my baby 12 hours later. She went to be with Jesus shortly after birth.

The did all the tests and the placental pathology and everything came back fine. There was no infection in the urine nor in the uterus, the placenta was perfect. My doctor says there could have been an infection in the membranes or in the amniotic fluid itself, but I understand there's no way of knowing that. Also they don't think it was an insufficient servix, because I didn't have it with my first pregnancy and also I didn't have any contractions until about 3 hours after being induced with oxitocin.

It's so devastating not knowing what really happened and why. And the worst part is that even knowing that wouldn't bring my daughter back. She was so loved, she still is and always will be 💔 I know she's in the loving arms of Jesus, but it hurts so much not having her here with us.

It really is the worst pain ever and you never really understand it until it happens to you. My husband is very supportive, but I feel so alone in this. I miss my baby so much.

Has anyone experienced something similar? Have you been able to have a successful pregnancy after? I'd really like to connect with people who's also going through loss to walk this road together.

Hi I’m currently 27 weeks pregnant and since the last few days I have white and pale yellow snotty discharge it isn’t smelly or itchy at all.. just want to know if this is normal nearing the third trimester? I also have a stitch in

This is an IVF pregnancy after years of infertility and one loss.

I was traveling back home to see family and even did an ultrasound on 22w4days all was perfect , cervix was closed and long. When I hit 23 weeks something felt off, I felt strong pain under my belly near my pelvic area it came in waves and would last 1 min…at the time I thought it was round ligament pain. But it wasn’t , it was contractions. The only reason I went to the hospital was because I saw some bleeding later that night.

I got to labor and delivery, they do an abdominal ultrasound baby is ok and everything seems fine, but the dr said let’s do transvaginal to rule out anything. When she did the scan, she was shocked you could tell from her face.. she stayed quiet . Then told me I was 2-3 cm dilated and my cervix was completely gone… & I have bulging membranes . I didn’t understand. She told me you are losing this baby. I quickly let her call my dr and my dr writes up a list of medications to take and I’m admitted to the hospital…basically saying I’m going to give labor any moment.

My dr said he would come in the morning , as it was midnight and nothing could be done now. I didn’t sleep at all.

Next day I’m told we need to wait 2 days to see if the bulge would decrease , to see if can do the cervical cerclage. The 2 days pass they seem to think they can do it and I go into surgery & wake up and told there wasn’t enough cervix to perform the surgery. So we are on bed rest and meditation now. I’m now 24w+1day. The bulge changes in size everyday.

I’m so scared and worried . I just don’t know how to feel.

I didn’t have this issue in my last pregnancy and doctor said it’s not usually seen in someone who’s carried full term before.

My anatomy scan was at an mfm clinic and she started with measuring the cervix. She spent so long and I swear took like 6-10 measurements. I could see on the screen the measurements were not good— all under 3cm with most being about 2.6cm but the shortest being 2.2. The mfm didn’t seem concerned (maybe just really good bedside manner?) but I am starting progesterone and have weekly ultrasounds for the rest of the month. Mfm didn’t say anything about restrictions, made it seem like not a big deal and that only 10-20% (20% being untreated) of cases have preterm labor/birth. Everything online sounds way more serious and women are talking about bed rest and hospitalization. I have a son turning 2 this week and so I am pretty active between going on 30m-1hr walks, playing with my toddler, house work, and errands. My husband works long hours, if I can’t do my normal tasks our life is going to fall apart.

I did just have some food poisoning the past 2.5 days before my anatomy scan where my symptoms were abdominal cramping (felt like bad gas and constipation), nausea, and loss of appetite. I’m wondering if all of that irritated my uterus and led to some cervical shortening. I’m hoping I get better measurements next week.

Hi,

I’m currently 8 weeks pregnant so probably getting way ahead of myself but I’ve always been a worrier and a planner.

Last year I lost my daughter at 20 weeks due to pprom. Drs aren’t sure why it happened but said this pregnancy to air on the side of caution they will treat it as being due to a shortened cervix.

My consultant very briefly mentioned after my loss that they would measure me frequently and have methods they use but I think I was just too in shock to process what was being said and ask any questions.

I’m just wondering what to expect this pregnancy treatment wise. I live in the UK so hoping some UK ladies can share how the NHS treatment plans went for them.

Does anyone has pubic hair area pain like down there with discomfort? I'm currently 27 weeks with rescue cerclage at 22 weeks

For those who have gone through IVF, I wanted to get an idea on what was the recommended and implemented timeline between your TAC to FET.

Our TAC surgeon said we could go into an FET right away. Our RE/IVF doc said she would want us to wait one cycle.

I’m scheduled for my TAC later this week. I’ll either be on my cycle by then or will start right after. And I’m thinking in my head, is that my one cycle wait?

Given that our protocol is nearly two months long before the actual transfer (one month of BC and then meds), I’ll have almost 7-8 weeks to heal before the transfer. And I’ll ask my RE but she’s new for us because our last doctor left the practice and I’m not that comfortable with her yet. I wanted to hear about other people’s experiences too.

I’m trying to gather info rather than let my emotions win because my goodness, I just want to get my baby in my arms now. But I also don’t want to throw away a cycle or lose an embryo because of my emotional impatience.

To start: Cervix is measuring 20.9 mm or 2.1 cm.
I am 16 weeks pregnant today. Had a loss last year at 25 weeks (they suspect I may have ppromed but i was also already one CM dilated when I went into labor & delivery to get induced after no heart beat).

I’m currently waiting to get checked into the hospital so that I can be monitored for contractions to see if I’m a candidate for a cerclage but the MFM is also offering progesterone if I want to go that route instead.

Yesterday, a different MFM measured me at 1.5 cm and on Friday I was measured at 2.3 cm. The week before I measured at 2.6 and the week before at 2.8. I was put on medication to stop any contractions cause I had been cramping.

I’m sitting at the hospital waiting to get taken back for monitoring and questioning everything.

Would love to hear thoughts and opinions.

I am 6 weeks pregnant after experiencing a 22 week loss in December 2024. Although it was undetermined if it was cervical insufficiency. I am scheduled for an 8 week ultrasound but I am scared of having anything inserted near my cervix. How have your experiences been?

Hi all,

I just had my anatomy scan yesterday at 21 weeks. The scan was reviewed by the MFM who told me that I have a dynamic cervix. I was kind of flustered at first, so I didn't think to ask details about length and stuff.

Fast forward to a lot of googling, and it seems like everyone here has access to their cervix length. I called my ob office and she said that the Dr didn't out in thr length, and just stated "Dynamic", put me on modified bed rest and 400mg of progesterone daily. Anyone else have a similar experience?

He didn't mention any funneling or dilating, and although he's a high risk ob at a hugh risk hospital, he didn't seem too concerned. I have another u/s in ten days, but my questions aren't answered. I'm panicking that I can go into labor now

Hi I’m curious for women who didn’t have a cerclage but were diagnosed with short cervix, when did you end up delivering?

For context I’m 31+5 now and I was diagnosed with SC at 19 weeks. Been on modified bedrest and vaginal progesterone since then. I’ve experienced more shortening but want to have a realistic timeframe of when I might go into labor.

I know of course everyone’s experience is different but appreciate any responses thank you 🙏🏾

Hejj!

So it's my third pregnancy. Cervix length issues during all three of them. A lot of fears and months of bed rest but two fullterm deliveries at 40 and 38 weeks.

Only with progesteron and no other interventions.

This time it started to shorten at 17+0 weeks at 2.7 cm. It continued dropping and stopped at 2.2 cm at 23 weeks. One measurement at 23+2 weeks was 1.9 cm...really scary. Although it prolonged the following weeks ul to 2.8 cm. Now the last four weeks it shortens again. At 30+2 weeks it's been at 1.9 cm. No funneling. Baby is healthy and gains weight. Everything is fine..but this weekly measurements are driving me crazy.

I mean it gets better week by week, but still fear begins to grow one day before appt. I am today at 31+1. Modified bedrest since 17+0.

When did you begin to relax and how long do they even measure CL? My docs are on the veeeery safe side with weekly appt.

Thank you🌸🌺🌺

update: had appt today at 31+2 and dr said its not necessary to measure anymore bcs even if i were dilated it would not predict preterm birth

I lost my baby girl at 20 weeks and 2 days, and I am struggling to understand how everything changed so quickly.

Just days before, my anomaly scan was completely normal. My baby was healthy, growing well, and my cervical length measured around 3 cm. I left the appointment feeling reassured and excited for the future.

A few days later, I started experiencing some back pain and noticed a small amount of brown discharge. When I went to the hospital, I was told that my membranes had ruptured. My cervix, which had appeared normal on scan, had opened from the inside. Within hours I was 3 cm dilated, and the doctors told me there was nothing they could do to save my baby.

I delivered my beautiful daughter at 20 weeks and 2 days.

What makes this loss so difficult is how unexpected it was. I didn't have severe pain, heavy bleeding, or any obvious warning signs that something was so wrong. I keep replaying those final days in my mind, wondering if I should have gone to the hospital sooner, whether the back pain meant something more, or if there was anything that could have changed the outcome.

The doctors suspect cervical insufficiency, but I am struggling to accept how a cervix that appeared normal could open so suddenly.

I feel heartbroken, lost, and overwhelmed by grief. Some days I find myself searching for answers, and other days I simply miss my daughter and the future I had imagined with her.

If anyone has experienced a similar loss due to cervical insufficiency, painless dilation, or membrane rupture in the second trimester, I would be grateful to hear your story. How did you cope with the grief? Did you go on to have a successful pregnancy afterward?

Thank you for reading. Right now, I feel very alone and would appreciate hearing from others who understand this kind of loss.

Background: emergency cerclage placed at 22w4d. No measurable cervix-.8cm left. 1-2cm dilated at the time.
Currently: 29 weeks with funneling to the stitch. 1.5cm remaining cervix left
Since my Cerclage I have been on modified bed rest for 7 weeks now. I plan to return to work in 20 days which is when I’ll be hitting the 31.5-32 week mark. I have prolonged my return because of my gut feeling that being off of my feet has really helped. However, I am terrified of going back and going into early labor. I’m a Speech Language Pathologist at a rehab facility where I have to give speech therapy from client room to room. I’m just terrified of something happening when I go back. I feel angry at our system that I can’t just take the remainder of the pregnancy off without fear of losing my job. To me, the fear of losing my baby is far worse and I want to say screw my job but I have bills to pay. Can anyone relate? Any success stories about returning to work and the Cerclage still holding strong?

Hi, just feeling devastated and felt like just pouring my heart out here. Please read it till the end..

I got married recently in Dec and we were not planning for a baby atleast for a year. But in Jan we found out that we were pregnant. We were shocked but then decided to continue after listening to baby’s heartbeat in the ultrasound.
Since we were recently married, we had moved to a different city and only me and my husband lived together. My husband used to work till late night, so almost all the days it was just me and the baby. I used to go for walks, listen to music, sing for the baby and what not. Even we both started dreaming about our future with the baby which made us feel very blissful. But at times I was getting thoughts like maybe I won’t get much time to spend with my husband after our baby arrives, and sometimes get questions if this is too early for us but always believed that the baby is god‘s gift and everything is going according to god’s plan itself.

One day my husband was feeling a bit feverish but then I slept next to him inspite of him asking me to stay away. Then the next day I caught cold which eventually turned into cough. The cough was severe for more than a week but I refrained from taking strong medicines since I did not want anything to harm the baby.

After 4-5 days of severe coughing, I started noticing relatively high discharge and kept on texting my doctor. I just wanted to go and get the scan done, don’t know why. Finally my doctor asked me to get blood test for CRP. We then found out that CRP was 19 and the doctor asked me to visit her for checkup. I went alone and when the doctor checked, she told me that the cervix is completely open and there is very very high chance of miscarriage. The doctor then called my husband and told that she can do cerclage immediately but the chances are still very low. I wanted to save the baby at any cost so I went ahead.

The doctor performed cerclage the same day and suggested me to take complete bed rest. I then requested them to do anomaly scan there itself as i wont be able to travel again for that. They did the scan on an evening and the baby was very healthy. Since the baby’s position was not upright, they could not check the facial features and heart. So the remaining half scan was scheduled for the next day after which I was supposed to be discharged. At night I felt like a lot of discharge came out but did not think much because I was very positive. In the morning while doing scan, they told that the water has broke and the baby won’t be able to survive. I was so heartbroken because even on that day, baby was responding to my husband’s voice.

Then my stitches were removed and pain was induced. They pulled the baby out and told me that it was a girl. My husband saw her and then told me that she was like me, had my nose and eyes. I couldn’t stop crying because I couldn’t say goodbye to her. All this happened three days ago. I still feel the guilt that my body could not provide a safe environment for her to grow. We wanted her so badly and this loss feels so unreal.

My husband also went to the cremation ground and told me that the ground was in the area whose name was the same name out of many which we had thought for our daughter. We then named her the same.

I still feel that our life is incomplete without her. It’s not even been 6 months to our married life and so many things happened. Sometimes I feel like maybe I could have avoided the cough which could have caused this and she would still be with us. So many thoughts run in the mind and I don’t think we will ever be able to forget this in our life.

I still try to think that she came into our life for a reason but I’m not able to justify it. Also I’m already worried about my future pregnancies as I love kids a lot and have dreamt of having a lot of kids. But the world turned upside down in a moment for us. At times I also feel that maybe because we were not sure in the beginning about her, she left us. I just don’t know what to do. Just filled with grief and guilt.

I'm still seeing like 95% of posts say their doctors (OBs and MFMs) prescribed limited activity, pelvic rest, no travel, and minimal walking for a short cervix.

Regardless of whether they're starting at 2.6 cm with no dilation or funneling, or 1.4 cm and funneling...

I've been told absolutely no restrictions except no Olympic weightlifting.

Has anybody else basically lived life completely normally, aside from not lifting weights, and only been on progesterone? If so, what was your outcome?

Hello! I had my first baby spontaneously at 36 weeks, 1 day, along with a very quick labor!
With that pregnancy, my cervix was 2.56cm at 20 weeks, and though I had my anatomy scan with an MFM that was never discussed as a concern! In retrospect, we suspect that is likely why I gave birth early!
But since that pregnancy ended prematurely, my midwife is a little concerned about #2; My anatomy scan this time shows a cervical length of 2.6cm, so borderline short.
She wants me to recheck in a month, and do light activity only and possibly pelvic rest.
I wanted to get some opinions on this protocol - It seems some OBs recommend ~2 week interval for remeasuring when concerned about cervical length?
Also, am I really at an increase chance of having a premature labor? I found it interesting, as with my first the MFM didn’t even mention any concern, but this time my midwife is warning me of signs of preterm labor/suggesting pelvic/activity rest, so that has me quite stressed! Being that this is my second pregnancy, does that increase my risk of preterm labor even more?

For those who were prescribed vaginal progesterone for an and were instructed to stop it at 36 weeks, how long after stopping did you go into labor?

I'm curious whether labor started soon after stopping progesterone or if you still went several weeks before delivery. If you're comfortable sharing, I'd also love to know when you delivered (e.g., 37, 38, 39+ weeks).

Hi, I have been put on 7 days course on Clotrimazole tablet as my one time tablet did not improve yeast infection at all.

The dr had noticed inflammation inside vagina so she put me on 7days course of Clotrimazole tablet (one each day) to be put inside vagina.

I’m now day 3/7 and saw red spotting. Has anyone experienced this before? Is it something to worry about? I have cerclage placed at 13w. I don’t have any tightening or rhythmic cramps. Just usual pains which I wouldn’t have paid attention to otherwise thinking they’re growing pains.

Could Clotrimazole/canesten cause irritation and might make you bleed? I see usual chalky discharge throughout treatment due to those tablets. Today it was mixed with red blood.

I had my first TV ultrasound today and my cervix measured 2.5cm and closed. I have a bicornuate uterus and was aware this was a risk (I’ve been following this sub for a few weeks). I’ve also had a past LLETZ, but the obstetrician was less concerned about this because the tissue removal was only 10mm.
For context, I’m 37 and have never been pregnant before. It look 16 months to fall pregnant and we were due to start IVF when I discovered my spontaneous pregnancy.
I don’t really know what to think or do. I’ve been given progesterone pessaries and omega 3 and have 2-weekly scans, but I feel so frightened of losing my baby. I have read a number of others’ stories on this sub and I’m trying to find hope in my situation, but I can’t help but fear the worst.
I’ve also been very active so far, so I feel a bit lost as to how to approach exercise now. My obstetrician was a bit vague and is heavily accented, so I don’t always understand what he’s saying to me.
I’m not sure if I’m looking for advice or just reassurance really!

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some hope and positive stories from anyone who has been in a similar situation.

5 years ago I lost my baby girl at 21 weeks and didn’t see it coming.

I’m currently 20 weeks pregnant with my baby boy. I had a preventative/history-indicated cerclage placed at 13 weeks after a previous second-trimester loss where my water broke early (PPROM). I’ve also been on daily vaginal progesterone since 15 weeks.

At my ultrasound today, baby looked perfect — strong heartbeat, moving around, and even got to see his sweet face on 4D 💙 — but my cervix measured around 1.5 cm with funneling with little to no change from last Thursday. My water is intact and I’m not having leaking or obvious labor symptoms. My OB put me on bed rest/taking it very easy and wants MFM to evaluate the cerclage.

I’m terrified because of my previous loss, but I’m trying to remind myself this pregnancy is different — this time we already have the stitch in place and we caught changes while being monitored.

I would really love to hear from anyone who:

had a cerclage and still shortened/funneled around 18–22 weeks

had a cervix around 1–2 cm (or even less)

made it weeks further or to viability/third trimester

had funneling to the stitch but the stitch held

How far along were you when you shortened, what did your doctors do, and when did you deliver?

Please share your positive outcomes — I really need some hope while I wait for MFM. 💙

Although it sucks to relate, I’m so glad this group exists. Pregnancy loss is not talked about and I am so thankful for all of you who have posted and gave their vulnerable testimonies. You are all super women.

My world fell apart when I went in for CAS on my 21+6 and found that I have bulging sac, open cervix 1cm and sludge (infection). So much happened after that, we didnt go home and got admitted to the hosp the same morning. Antibiotics (thru IV) were given to me for the sludge, they also given me oral progesterone and Duvadilan to manage the labor even though I dont have any contractions at that time. Then, on that same day, I had a watery leak. Its not a gush, just enough to fill a panty liner. My ob suspected I pprom-ed. We used Actim Prom kit to verify if I really pprom-ed and unfortunately I got positive. The leak repeated at 22+2.

I was supposed to have a cerclage but since I pprom, it’s now out of the window.

At 22+2, they provided me shots for baby’s lungs even though they said that it’s usually given at week 24. They said that they want to at least give my baby boy a fighting chance if in case I deliver him early.

I am now 23+3, I feel blessed that my body allows me to hold the pregnancy longer. So far no contractions, no uterine tenderness, no further leak. All vitals seem stable - bp, temp, fhr, and pulse. I also feel my baby boy moving so thats a good sign.

What’s still on my mind is how exposed we are with infection. I didnt have cerclage so my cervix is still open for any bacteria. I was prescribed oral antibiotics for 7days as protection, but I still worry. I dont want to think about it, but lets face it… it’s possible and I worry for my baby and for myself.

Any similar case and advice to lessen exposure to infection?