Dr. Marjorie Greenfield
Specializing in pregnancy and birth.
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 Ask Dr. Greenfield
Having a Short Cervix | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Greenfield,
I'm 30 weeks pregnant and was recently put on bed rest because my cervix is short one cm. However it is closed. Please tell me what has caused this and what I should look for from this point.— Short Cervix in Maryland | | | ANSWER |
August 17, 2001 | | | Dear Short Cervix,
It can be very frustrating to get information like "your cervix is short" without really knowing what it will mean for you and your baby. Unfortunately, it is not possible to foretell what this will lead to in your individual situation. Sometimes a short cervix indicates that the baby is going to come early, while other times (in retrospect) it turns out that the length of the cervix was probably normal for your body.
When the cervix is found to be short, doctors usually have to treat you as if the baby is threatening to come early, because it is better to err on the cautious side. Although this may result in some women unnecessarily diminishing their activities (and worrying a lot), it's better than being cavalier and having a preemie.
That said, your practitioner will probably have you to avoid activities that put pressure on your cervix in an attempt to prevent contractions, including:
- avoiding sex and exercise,
- working less or taking a leave for a few weeks,
- and maybe even going to bedrest for a period of time.
If the baby is born early, or shortly after the restrictions are lifted, it may become clear that the short cervix was a real sign of risk; if you go to your due date (or beyond) you will know that it was a false alarm.
Good luck to you, and take care.— by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. |
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