r/ShortCervixSupport

Hi everyone, I’m currently 11 weeks 6 days and have a history of cervical insufficiency. I’m scheduled for a preventive cerclage in a couple of weeks.
Since yesterday, I’ve been having light brown discharge/spotting that I only notice when I wipe. I had some very mild cramping this morning, but it stopped after I rested. No red bleeding, no significant pain, and no other symptoms.
I already spoke with my OB. He isn’t concerned right now and said he’d be more concerned if the bleeding became red and was accompanied by cramping. I’m also scheduled to be seen tomorrow.

I’m mainly curious about other women’s experiences with IC: Did any of you have brown spotting/discharge like this in the first trimester, before your cerclage was placed? Was it related to your cervix at all, or did it turn out to be unrelated?
Not looking for medical advice since I’m already in contact with my OB — just hoping to hear from others who have been through something similar. ❤️

I got a preventative cerclage at 13 weeks after a full term pregnancy, followed by two 2nd trimester losses. I was measured at 16 weeks (3cm), and then only again this week at 22 weeks (gratefully still 3cm). I’m very relieved, by my OB hadn’t sounded like they’d be requesting another ultrasound after this to check.

I have an appointment next week, and I know if I ask to check again he’ll send me for an ultrasound no problem, but I don’t know if it’s “worth it”? I already have the cerclage and am taking progesterone so there’s not much more they could do if it does start shortening, except maybe me doing more bed rest?

I’ve been searching here and it seems usually checks are stopped either at 24 or 28 weeks, but mostly I saw for emergency cerclage.
Did anyone do checks longer and were glad they did?

Hi, for the past few days I’ve been experiencing sweating. At night, I wake up a few times feeling quite wet, almost as if I’ve been sweating a lot, and during the day I sometimes get sudden waves of sweating. I’m more concerned about the nighttime sweating.

I’m currently 34+1 weeks pregnant, I have a cervical cerclage and I’m considered at risk for preterm labor because of a shortened cervix. Last week I had blood tests: my CRP was 10 and my white blood cell count was 13. My doctor is currently on vacation, but she told me that the results were okay.

Since having my cerclage placed at 20 weeks, I’ve had to go to L&D a couple of times. Each time, they’ve recommended checking my cervix with a speculum and reassured me that it’s safe with a cerclage.
I’ve now had three speculum exams since my cerclage, and every single one has been extremely painful. I know they sometimes need to check for things like bleeding-which ended up being rectal bleeding , leaking fluid, or changes around the cervix, but I’m always scared that the exam could irritate my cervix or the cerclage.
Has anyone else had multiple speculum exams after a cerclage? Did you experience increased pain, cramping, spotting, or any other issues afterward? I feel like whenever I go to L&D with a concern, I don’t really have a choice because they need to make sure everything is okay.

Just told I have cervical ectropion at 22wks due to occasional light spotting. Never had this with my 2 prior pregnancies.

Feeling anxious about it.😭😩 If you have had this and have any birth experience and would like to share, please do!

I got a cerclage put in at 21 weeks and have been on progesterone since. I’ve been fine and have had no symptoms of pain, cramping, etc until recently. At 26 weeks I had bleeding with cramping so went straight to the hospital. Long story short, they ended up moving my cerclage as it was doing more harm than good and now they want me hospitalized until I deliver the baby. Has anyone ever gone through this? And if so, how long did you stay pregnant? I of course want to stay pregnant as long as possible but have a 15 month old at home and am missing her so much. 😓 just looking for some positive stories and advice.

I’m 6 months pregnant and, from the moment I found out I was pregnant, it has been non-stop worry.

We lost our son to a preterm loss two years ago at 24 + 3. He was born following a traumatic spontaneous labour and passed away a day later in NICU. Cervical shortening and placental issues were the two things potentially identified that contributed to early labour.

This time around, from about 6 weeks, I had the usual sickness and extreme fatigue, but it was coupled with constant worry because a specialised plan had been put in place for me following my previous pregnancy.

I’ve been under consultant-led care from day one. I started daily blood thinner injections, progesterone and multiple tablets. From around 3 months I was signed off work for 3 months while we had weekly checks on the length of my cervix, as cervical issues were identified as one of the possible causes of my previous preterm labour.

By 18 weeks, I had a double cervical stitch placed under spinal anaesthetic. I experienced some of the worst pain I’ve ever had while recovering from it and it took about two weeks before I started feeling somewhat normal again.

Just as I thought, okay, maybe I can finally have a little bit of normality now, I developed severe pelvic girdle pain.

I can’t walk very far, can’t drive, can’t bend down properly and can’t even lie down comfortably. There are certain exercises I can’t do because of my cervical stitch, so I feel limited in what I can do to alleviate the pain. I struggle with basic daily activities, and I genuinely mean the bare minimum.

I’m tired ALL the time. I want to go out and do normal things, but everything feels like it takes an enormous amount of energy. The stitch gives me tightenings and pressure if I'm up on my feet or sat down too long.

And it doesn’t really end here either. I still have regular scans and weekly checks ahead of me, and at 35 weeks I need to have the cervical stitch removed, which means another spinal anaesthetic. Then I feel like I’ll enter a completely different phase of worry — waiting to see when labour will start. Obviously, by that point I’ll hopefully have a full-ish term baby, which I’m incredibly grateful for, but it still feels like there’s never really a point in this pregnancy where I can just relax and enjoy it. It’s constantly getting through one milestone just to start worrying about the next one.

I’m so incredibly grateful to be pregnant and I’m looking forward to meeting my baby and finally being able to hold and cuddle him. But I genuinely don’t think I’m cut out for pregnancy. It feels like my whole body is broken. There hasn’t really been a point in this pregnancy where I’ve been able to just enjoy being pregnant without there being another layer of worry, medication, appointments, procedures or pain.

And now I think I’m starting to feel overwhelmed about the newborn stage too. I keep thinking, am I still going to feel this physically awful when he gets here? Am I going to have the energy to actually enjoy him?

I just want to be present with my baby. 😔

For anyone else who has been pregnant after loss, did you feel like this too? Did you desperately want your baby but find that you just didn’t enjoy pregnancy at all because there were so many other layers to it after what you’d been through? And did things feel different once your baby was finally here?

I am in the process of researching prenatals for my next pregnancy and would like to know what your favorites are? Bonus if it is just 1 pill a day but I know that can be difficult. No gummies please, its a personal preference.

Hi! I’m 18 weeks, with a history of conisation, and my CL measurements have been:
12w: 37 mm
16w: 23-25 mm
Started vaginal progesterone (200 mg)
Next day: 30-35 mm
17w: 35-36 mm

My doctor thinks the 23–25 mm measurements may have been transient/measurement-related (she mentioned urinating/temporary spasm) and is reassured by the later measurements.
I’m struggling because I feel like I’m just waiting for something bad to happen. Could 25 mm have simply been an early sign of shortening despite the later normal measurements?

Also, I find it hard to believe progesterone could make such a difference after just one day. My doctor said I could stop it based on the current measurements, but I’m tempted to continue for peace of mind.

I’ll be measured again this week (18w) and on my 2nd trimester scan (20w).

Would you follow your doctor’s advice or continue progesterone for reassurance? Has anyone experienced this kind of CL fluctuation?

About to enter the 3rd trimester;28th week in 2 days. I have developed painful rashes between my thighs and butt. It's so painful that I find it difficult to sit.

I applied coconut oil and it worked for me but now, it's back again.

How have you dealt with it?

Did anybody had successful pregnancy after emergency cerclage at 21w5d due to 7mm cervix , bulging membrane and water leakage?
I lost my baby even after emergency cerclage as the leakage was not stopping.

I’m day 5 after my stitch was told to start my progesterone I’m so nervous to insert it as far as I use to tonight I only did a finger tip I’ll speak to my midwife’s about it just wonder what people did to feel more comfortable

I’m most definitely gonna have a lot of leaks if it wasn’t very high up

I have two doctors, one suggested to take the progesterone and “take it easy” but otherwise live a normal life. The other, a MFM suggested modified bed rest. Neither of them suggested full bed rest. I would be interested to hear your experiences.

I am super cautious and decided to take full bed rest for at least two weeks to see if any improvements, but would like to know how realistic modified bed rest, or just taking it easy actually it.

Thanks so much for your time!!!

My mind is blown guys. The doctor told me on the day they only do shirodkhar so in my head I’m thinking ok my baby is getting the best possible help. I asked the hospital now what did they actually do and they are saying McDonald?! They also said I was 2.1 when they scanned but the next morning when I went for the surgery it was 1.5? This is news to me. Isn’t that drastic for such a short time? I feel like they just did the stitch for show and already knew they can’t save her. And here I am stressing thinking I need TAC but it’s a 12-18month wait and I’m still not on the waiting list. If I get pregnant next year and have the shirodkar at 12-14 weeks I might actually have a chance right? I feel like they took the mick made a bad decision not to do it when it was most effective then panicked and did a pointless stitch lower down instead of higher up. I’m scared they’ll take so long to give me a TAC appointment I don’t know if I’m being reckless but I’m so desperate for a living baby I’ve been pregnant 3 times in 1.5 years is it bad if I still haven’t had a TAC I go ahead with my transfer? I’m talking like February March next year so it will be a long time yet

Edit: sorry I have already given birth at 20 weeks 3 days stitch was placed at 18 weeks 6 days. My daughter was alive for 1 hour

My last ultrasound said my cervix was 2.36cm. I had LEEP performed a number of years ago. It's my first pregnancy, and I'm concerned I'll deliver early.

Hello beautiful people,

I got a preventative cerclage at 17-18 weeks and I’m 27+3 now. I’ve been on complete pelvic rest but everything is stable and baby is doing well. 🙏

I’ve had a few orgasms in my sleep and everything has been fine. Anyone in a similar situation and engaging in clitoral stimulated orgasms?

I have an itch that needs scratched 🤣

I’ve been on progesterone only for 2 weeks now. I’m really starting to feel raw down there just near the vaginal entrance. I am not new to progesterone - this is an IVF pregnancy and I took way more suppositories in first trimester and only really had that feeling right near the end after taking it for 14 weeks.

The challenge is weirdly I have had so little discharge in pregnancy so I feel like my body isn’t cleaning out the residue as effectively.

Has anyone else experienced this? Did anything help?

Im finally having a second checkup this Wednesday to see if my cervix has remained stable for the past 2.5 weeks but I imagine even if it did I’ll be on progesterone for the rest of pregnancy (I’m 22 weeks right now)

UPDATE: pretty sure it was the hand soap I was using. I switched to a gentler soap and woke up without the dry raw feeling

Had a rescue cerclage placed in March 2026 at 21 weeks exactly.

Ended up giving birth at 29 weeks exactly - my cerclage didn't fail, my OB believes all the pressure in my cervix caused my early PRROM.

baby girl is healthy, spent 56 days in the NICU and has been home now over a month...

My big question - we want more children but I'm terrified to give birth early again. I also had a placenta abruption so that makes me more at risk for another.

My OB said to not let anything that happened from this pregnancy stop me from having another but to be prepared for another preterm birth.

I guess I'm just looking for support and other stories of preterm birth without cerclage failure.

Also - my OB recommended 18 months before trying for another baby. Has anyone gotten pregnant prior to 18 months will good outcomes?

When did everyone start using their progesterone vaginally again after the stitch? I’m 4 days post op

Hi , I am 22w4d,have cerclage placed at 13w. I am taking 2 tablets of colonel in night still have lots of constipation.. tight stomach and tons of gas..

How you guys are dealing with all this?