Re: Incompetent cervix and D&E. Checked archives. Thanks.

• Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
• Next message: Traci: "Re: Am I pregnant and should I retest tommorow?"
• Previous message: L.: "FHR and Trisomies"
• In reply to: Martha: "Incompetent cervix and D&E. Checked archives. Thanks."

At Fri, 31 May 2002, Martha wrote: >A year ago I had a D&E at 17 weeks.
>Since then I have been worry about incompetent cervix, and now with the
>abnormal discharge, I'm more worry about it. My questions are:
>1) Do you think a D&E can cause incompetent cervix ?

Yes, possibly. A good friend of mine had one term pregnancy, a D&E at 12 weeks, then prolapsing membranes at 20 weeks in her third pregnancy. A rescue cerclage and total bed rest got her and her son to 36 weeks. Rescuse cerclages usually don't work that well, though.

Any trauma to the cervix has the potential to cause a problem . . . LEEP, conization, forced D&E, term birth injury, labor and delivery in the second trimester, etc.

My IC loss came from a severe uterine anomaly, and potentially from a congenitally weak cervix. I had my uterus repaired, but am taking no chances and will have a cerclage placed at 11 weeks, next week. My cervix is long (4.24 cm), and my maternal/fetal specialist wants to shore it up while it is still long.

> I already have a
>living kid, and had no problems at all during the pregnancy.
>2) Can this abnormal discharge be related to incompetent cervix ?

Potentially. I have another friend with a congenitally weak cervix and she was showing marked shortening and softening by 12 weeks, although her case is fairly rare. The weight of the pregnancy doesn't cause much trouble until further into the second trimester.

FWIW I have been having a bloody discharge, too--quite old and slow. No idea where it is coming from.

If you are concerned about IC, why not talk to your physician and have your cervical length checked by US? In addition, the internal opening of the cervix can be tested for strength . . . these things can be monitored and a cerclage done if necessary. I doubt anyone would want to place a cerclage based on a history of D&E and staining alone, though.

Good luck!

--
L.

>
>Thanks, thanks a lot for everything.
>
>- Martha

• Next message: Traci: "Re: Am I pregnant and should I retest tommorow?"
• Previous message: L.: "FHR and Trisomies"
• In reply to: Martha: "Incompetent cervix and D&E. Checked archives. Thanks."