Cervix scans
We had planned appointments to get Ben cervix measured, every two weeks from 14 weeks.
What is the cervix?
For those reader's who do not know the cervix is a strong tissue known as the neck of the womb that connects the lower uterus to the vagina. In pregnancy it directs the sperm up into the uterus and keeps the baby developing inside. Then slowly opens (dilated) towards the end of pregnancy to allow the safe delivery of the baby. But sometime the cervix can open to early causing preterm labour, opening to early can lead to miscarriages or stillbirths. This is know as cervical incompetence (IC).
Measuring the cervix is then important for those at risk of cervical incompetence. This involves a transvaginal scan where they use the camera to see how long the cervix is, whether their is any signs of opening also called funnelling or if it is soft. I feel that measuring the cervix should be a standard check in pregnancy to prevent baby loss in the first instance rather then having to wait until someone lost their baby in the second or third trimester for the health care providers to even consider. Some women have to wait until they have lost more then one baby, before their midwives will check for IC. We are lucky our specialist and ourselves pushed to get Ben's cervix measured. This was because we knew others with IC. Which is why I want to make it more aware so other people get the right care and prevent the loss of babies.
What is the cervix?
For those reader's who do not know the cervix is a strong tissue known as the neck of the womb that connects the lower uterus to the vagina. In pregnancy it directs the sperm up into the uterus and keeps the baby developing inside. Then slowly opens (dilated) towards the end of pregnancy to allow the safe delivery of the baby. But sometime the cervix can open to early causing preterm labour, opening to early can lead to miscarriages or stillbirths. This is know as cervical incompetence (IC).
Measuring the cervix is then important for those at risk of cervical incompetence. This involves a transvaginal scan where they use the camera to see how long the cervix is, whether their is any signs of opening also called funnelling or if it is soft. I feel that measuring the cervix should be a standard check in pregnancy to prevent baby loss in the first instance rather then having to wait until someone lost their baby in the second or third trimester for the health care providers to even consider. Some women have to wait until they have lost more then one baby, before their midwives will check for IC. We are lucky our specialist and ourselves pushed to get Ben's cervix measured. This was because we knew others with IC. Which is why I want to make it more aware so other people get the right care and prevent the loss of babies.
Our first cervical measurement, was booked for the 23rd of May when we would be 14 weeks 1 day. However we had another worry, on the Sunday night a week and half before this Ben started getting sharp pains very low, like pressure and pulling. He said it was weird and he did not feel well. I range 111 and they advised we went to A&E. So off we went at half 6 on Sunday night. Luckily it was not too busy. They knew us in there by now so the nurse took urine and bloods straight away. After about 2 hours we saw the doctor, who had a feel and explained that his urine did not show any infections, while his white blood cells where raised there is no obvious signs of an infections. That we would not get a scan this late also they are not worried because their is no bleeding.
This was reassuring but also not because as Ben was over 12 weeks, we know that from last time with Nico there was no bleeding, or no warning. He did not have any symptoms from the infection, Ben just got this sharp pain and his waters broke. Therefore we were still worried but they told us to go home rest and go to the early pregnancy unit (EPU) in the morning. This is what we did.
All night I just could not sleep, I was terrified that I would wake up and we would loss the baby. Every time Ben moved or got up to wee. It woke me up with this jump of terror, I just got no sleep and was so worried. I know that this will not be the last night I feel like this either.
The next morning we went to the EPU, it was very busy this morning and we were number 7. Ben was still in pain, he did the bacterial vaginosis (BV) swab and I took it round to Mel our specialist midwife. I told her what happened and she came round to see Ben and reassured him.
Thankfully one of the specialist Dr Ouma, who we were book to see for cervix measuring saw us and came over. She could see we were worried and said that she would take over and do a scan for us. So we went round to speak to her in the gynaecology room. She did an internal scan, we saw that the baby was healthy and happily wiggling around. That moment is always just so magical, it gives us a wave of pure love and relief. That our rainbow was fine, as we saw their heart flickering. She then did some swab's just to check for any infections and she measured Ben cervix too. It was closed and 2.8 cm (28 mm), which is a little short, as the average is 3-5 cm. regardless his cervix is closed and contracting like it should. So we were reassured and told to come back again on Thursday if we were worried and still having pains. We would get our results from swabs at the end of the week, so now just to rest and wait. Ben was signed off work for the week by her and the doctor so he went home while I had to go back to work.
Ben went back on Thursday for a quick re-scan and his cervix is still the same 2.8 cm and closed, swabs for BV come back negative, so we know he has not got that infection again. He saw baby wiggling around and that everything is all fine.
After some rest he was feeling a bit better, normal pains from the baby growing, sickness is still there but settled a bit. He still has hot sweats, headaches, dizziness and feeling achy. which all comes with pregnancy that no one quiet ever talks about just how horrible you can feel. Some people are lucky and do not experience many symptoms while Ben seems to have them all. Every time he smells most food he sick, especially bolognese in the fridge.
I think this pregnancy is just going to keep us on edge, we are going to worry no matter what, but at least we know our little rainbow is fine and clearly just letting Ben know they are there with all the aches, pains and sickness. I can not wait until we can start feeling our baby kick, when they can hear us and I will talk, sing and read to them. Being able to feel them myself and bond more when we are further into the pregnancy and know that we are safer (passed 24/28 weeks)
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