What is Incompetent Cervix?

What Is Cervical Incompetence

When you are pregnant, the canal of your cervix fills with fluid that will eventually become a barrier (known as the mucus plug) protecting your baby from going into the birth canal. The job of the cervix is to remain closed until a woman is in her third trimester when it becomes time for the body to ready the cervix for birth by softening, growing shorter, and dilating the cervix. When a women has an incompetent cervix, the weight of the growing baby puts too much pressure on the cervix and it begins the process of readying for birth before it is time, usually without any contractions or signs until an impending miscarriage is already happening.

How will I know if I have an incompetent cervix?

Unfortunately, incompetent cervix is not routinely checked during pregnancy unless a women had signs in a previous pregnancy. Generally, incompetent cervivix is not diagnosed until a second or third miscarriage. An incompetent cervix will occur in the second-trimester from the weight of the growing baby.  If the cervix has started to open and an impending miscarriage is happening, a woman may experience one or more of the following symptoms and should call their doctor right away:

• Vaginal spotting or bleeding
• Change in vaginal discharge
• Cramping
• Pelvic Pressure or heaviness

What is a cerclage?
A procedure called a cerclage can often be performed if the incompetent cervix is caught in time. A band of strong thread will be stitched around the cervix to reinforce the cervix and help hold it closed. If a woman has been previously diagnosed with an incompetent cervix many doctors will put the cerclage in place as a preventative measure usually in between the 13th and 16th weeks.

The Doctors: http://www.thedoctorstv.com/

Risks?
The procedure can lead to preterm delivery, uterine infection, ruptured bladder, and uterine irritaton leading to contractions.


Benefits?
In many pregnancies the success rate of a cerclage is much higher if placed during the 13 to 16 weeks before the cervix has experienced any changes.  Cerclage is a life saving procedure and the statistics show that the risks are very minimal. When cerclage is performed early in pregnancy there is often an 80-90% success rate. Emergency cerclages have a lower success rate due to other complications that arise once the cervix has already started to open such as buling membranes from the cervix, infection, etc.  Also, an emergeny cerclage may not be performed if a woman is more than 4cm dilated.
Compiled using the following sources: 

1. Baby Center: www.babycenter.com
2. American Pregnancy:  http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/incompetentcervix.html
3. March of Dimes: http://www.marchofdimes.com/
4. The Doctors:  http://www.thedoctorstv.com/main/show_synopsis/135?section=synopsis
5. Pregnancy.org
6. Video from: babyssentials.com