Things to Avoid with a Short Cervix During Pregnancy

You’re pregnant, and you’ve been diagnosed with a short cervix.

Now what?

One of the many questions you might have is, “are there things to avoid with a short cervix?”

Let’s help clear up some of the confusion.

We’ll talk about what a short cervix is, how it affects your pregnancy, and what you can do to help manage this condition.

In this article: 📝

Can I go full-term with a short cervix?

We’ll start with the good news first, to ease your mind, mama-to-be.

Yes, you can have a successful, full-term pregnancy with a short cervix.

The UK NHS says that around 50% of people diagnosed with a short cervix during pregnancy have their baby at term (37 weeks or later).

The key is to get proper prenatal care all throughout your pregnancy journey, and to share any symptoms with your doctor, to be on the safe side.

What is a short cervix?

Quick science lesson: your cervix is like the gate between your uterus and your vagina.

The end is shaped like a little donut, and you can actually feel it if you put your finger in your vagina.

During pregnancy, your cervix starts out long and firm.

It also develops a mucus plug to keep contaminants outside of your uterus during pregnancy.

As your pregnancy continues, especially into the third trimester, your cervix gradually gets shorter, thinner, and more open in preparation for delivery.

This is what the terms “effacement” and “dilation” refer to.

This is where a short cervix can begin to cause problems.

Since the cervix shortens in preparation for delivery, an already short cervix has the potential to shorten too early, leading to premature delivery.

But with proper prenatal care, the risks of preterm labor can be reduced.

Should I be worried about a short cervix?

It's totally normal to have some worries if you've been told you have a short cervix during your pregnancy.

First off, it's important to acknowledge that having a short cervix can be a concern, but it doesn't mean you should panic.

Many women with short cervixes (or cervices) go on to have full-term pregnancies and happy, healthy babies.

Yes, a short cervix can increase the risk of certain complications, like preterm labor, which can increase the chances of various complications, such as stillbirth, low birth weight, bleeding in the brain, and long-term disabilities.

But remember, awareness is key!

By knowing about it, you're already taking a proactive step.

The best thing you can do is to keep those lines of communication open with your healthcare provider.

They're there to help, they'll monitor your situation closely.

They'll help you create a plan tailored to your needs, which might include extra check-ups or treatments to reduce the risks.

Lean on your support network, too – friends, family, and fellow mamas who've been through it.

Sharing experiences and advice can be incredibly comforting.

It's totally normal to have some concerns, know that you're not alone in having a short cervix during pregnancy.

Does a short cervix mean miscarriage?

No, having a short cervix doesn't necessarily mean you'll experience a pregnancy loss, but it may increase your risk of pregnancy loss or preterm labor.

Essentially, your cervix plays a crucial role in keeping your babe safe until it's time for them to enter the world.

The best thing you can do is have open and honest conversations with your healthcare provider.

Share your complete medical history and any pregnancy symptoms you might be experiencing, as early and as often as you can.

This will help your provider assess if you're at risk for a short cervix.

You've got this, and you're doing everything you can to protect your babe.

What is the reason for a short cervix?

If you have a short cervix, first off, it’s not your fault, and there’s no way you can know about it without a doctor’s diagnosis.

Your doctor might use the term "incompetent cervix" or "cervical insufficiency" to explain why you have a short cervix, but, frankly, we're not keen on those phrases, because they're so negatively loaded.

In general, a short cervix can more specifically be caused by:

• A differently-shaped uterus, such as a split (or septate) uterus.
• Damage to the cervix during a previous birth or a medical procedure, such as a termination of a previous pregnancy
• Prior cervical surgery
• The hormonal drug diethylstilbestrol, if your mother took it while she was pregnant with you.
• A pelvic infection
• Nothing at all. You might have simply been born with a shorter cervix.

How do you take care of a short cervix during pregnancy?

The best way to take care of a short cervix is to go to all your prenatal appointments and tell your doctor about all your pregnancy symptoms, even ones that don’t seem important.

And yes, even the ones you think are embarrassing.

Trust us, the doctors will have heard it all before, and they're not there to judge you.

Your doctor will monitor you for short cervix if:

• You have a history of preterm labor, or preterm labor runs in your family.
• You have had injuries to the uterus or cervix during a previous delivery
• If you have a septate uterus or other uterus abnormalities.
• You are having symptoms of preterm labor in this pregnancy. If you have any symptoms of preterm labor, make sure to tell your doctor ASAP. Symptoms of preterm labor include cramping, pelvic pain or pressure, bleeding (including light bleeding), backache, or changes in your vaginal discharge.

How do you get diagnosed with a short cervix?

If your doctor suspects you have a short cervix, they'll do a transvaginal ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis.

This is the gold standard test to assess cervical length, and is ideally done during 16 and 24 weeks of gestation.

This is an ultrasound that uses a wand that goes inside your vagina — we’re not going to lie, it can be uncomfortable to get a transvaginal ultrasound.

But this test is safe, peformed by trained operators, and provides data that positively impacts your prenatal care.

If you’ve been diagnosed with a short cervix, there are a few ways your doctor might treat or manage it to prevent preterm delivery, such as:

• More frequent ultrasounds to monitor your condition.
• Cerclage — this is when your doctor puts a stitch in your cervix to keep it closed. They’ll remove the stitch around 37 weeks when there’s no longer a danger of preterm delivery.
• Progesterone — a hormonal treatment that can help prevent preterm labor.
• Arabin pessary — a small support device inserted near your cervix to help support it.

What can you not do with a short cervix?

As far as things to avoid with a short cervix, the truth is, there’s really nothing you need to avoid.

As long as you are seeing your doctor regularly and having an otherwise healthy pregnancy, you can continue with your normal life.

The only exception to this is if you have a cerclage, in which case, you may have to avoid sex.

Ask your doctor to see what they recommend when it comes to having sex after cervical cerclage.

It’s also possible that your doctor will put you on bed rest if you have a short cervix.

Bed rest means you will have to avoid certain physical activities like exercise and sex.

But bed rest has actually not been proven to prevent preterm labor.

So if your doctor suggests bed rest, it might be worth getting a second opinion.

And we'll say it again: it's always worth telling your doctor about all your pregnancy symptoms, just to be on the safe side — but if you have any of the following, it's advised to see them ASAP:

• Smelly discharge
• If you think your waters might have broken
• A pink-tinged fluid from your vagina
• Fever
• Vaginal bleeding (even just a little)
• Sudden backache
• Painful cramps, like period pain
• Sudden need to pee more often
• Feeling of pressure in your pelvis
• Vomiting or diarrhea
  If you’ve been diagnosed with a short cervix, the best thing you can do is go to all your prenatal appointments and check in with your doctor if you have any symptoms of preterm labor.

And if you want to talk with other women about it (or anything else) head over to our Peanut community — there's even a support group for Short Cervix Mamas, so you can share your experiences and hear from other moms who have been there, too.

We’re here for you!