Cervix shortening and bag of waters funneling at 26wks! Anyone else have this happen?

Nurse - posted on 06/08/2012

I know these posts were two years ago but they are so helpful to read. I am a Grandmother in waiting for our triplets to finish 'ripening' before we get to meet them. Our daughter-n-law (amazing lady I must say) is 28 weeks and doing wonderful with the triplets growing big and strong. Mama is having hip and pelvic pains but is not on bedrest yet.
It is nice to read all of your posts as this is new to all of us and so I am learning as we go. I cannot tell you how excited we all are and so blessed to have triplets on the way. We do not know if they are boys or girls, that will be a surprise for us to find out when they arrive.
Keep prayers going that all goes well as the next several weeks approach us.

Elaina - posted on 04/27/2010

I know just how you feel. The same thing ahppened to me. I was 28 weeks when the docs noticed and was on strict bedrest for the rest of my pregnancy. @ about 30 weeks I started to go into preterm labor and they stopped it with magnesium sulfate, but they sent me an hour away to a childrens hospital with an awesome nicu. I was there for two weeks. While all this was going on my fiance had our 1 yr old daughter. It was absolutely horrible, but the twins came @ 33 weeks and since I had multiple steroid shots the boys didn't have to stay in the nicu. They got to come home with me. It was a really hard time for me, but I wouldn't change it for the world because I get to look @ my babies now almost 2 and they are beautiful and smart and completely healthy. What more could I ask for?!!

Sharon - posted on 04/19/2010

I had a very similar situation and wound up delivering my b/g twins at 27wks6days. I know it's scary but if your doctors say that you have to go 4 hours away then do it. It will suck to be away from your other children but it will suck even more if you don't get your babies the best help possible. I can tell you that my kids are almost 18 months now and you wouldn't know they were preemies. If you make it past 28 weeks ask your doctor about when you can get another 2 day dose of Steroids. I know you are getting steroids now but they can give you another dose in a few more weeks. This will definitely help your babies lungs develop faster should you deliver early. But be optimistic. Stay laying down as much as possible and try to relax. Stress will not help the situation so try not to worry about things you can't control. Good Luck!!!

Laura - posted on 04/17/2010

I had funneling at 26 weeks with my b/g twins and was put on bedrest. I made it until my scheduled c-section at 36 weeks. Just follow your doctor's orders! I was really nervous too, but all you can do is try to relax and rest (I know it is easier said then done).

Tara - posted on 04/16/2010

i am on bed rest for short cervix and funneling...they are keeping me in the hospital it was discovered @ 23 weeks and i'm 26 1/2 wks now, already had to stop labor twice....scary stuff!!

Melissa - posted on 04/13/2010

Wow I didn't know all of you had commented on my post! It never alerted me. I knew about Samantha's post but none of the others. These last two weeks I felt like I had only found a few people that knew what I was going through. I was happy to find them but still felt unsure of how things might turn out. It seems like I have very good chances of carrying them closer to the 34 week mark or longer than I had originally thought. Thank you all so much this was definitely what I needed!

Amy - posted on 04/10/2010

Hi there. I have been where you are at right now. Same things started happening to me at 20 weeks. I had a cervical cerclage put in place to help keep the cervix closed' along with the meds and was put on bedrest for the duration of my pregnancy. They measured me every week after that. At 26 weeks I was shortening even more so they put me in the hospital. That is were I stayed for the next 6 Weeks. I delivered at 32w 4d. baby A was 4#9oz and baby B was 4#5oz. They did great!!!! They stayed in NICU for 17 days and we brought them home. You are doing great. Just stay down as much as possible. Also while on bed rest there is a great site you can visit.....www.sidelines.com.....it is for moms that are on bedrest and going through the same things you are. I found some really good friends there. Take care and stay in that bed. As the doctor told me at 26 weeks "you failed bed rest". I was a bad girl.....heheh

Renee - posted on 04/09/2010

Hey Melissa hang in there you are not alone,
My cervix was the same way at 24 weeks, they gave me two shots of steroids to help improve the twins lungs in case anything would happen. They also put me on bed rest because my cervix was at 16% and that is apparently pretty bad so I had to go for weekly doctor appointments and ultrasounds. I was put on a program that nurses would come to my house every other day to monitor the girls and see how I was doing and taking my vitals at the same time. Went to one appointment at 32weeks5days they admitted me for monitoring and complete bed rest.Went into labor at 33weeks1day but they gave me something to stop the contractions and I had to stay in the hospital. Stayed in the hospital for another week.They said that they would induce me if I made it passed 36weeks. I only made it to 34 weeks 1day. The girls where 4lbs6oz ad 4lbs2oz and stayed in the NICU for two weeks only. Just follow your doctors orders and try your best to stay off your feet as long as you can and try not to stress to much about it, your in good hands. The docs and nurses know there stuff and have you and the babies best interest at heart. I also hope that you have family around to help with your other kids. Good luck keep your head up.

Alicia - posted on 04/07/2010

I have 4 week old twin girls. My cervix started shortening at 22 weeks and I was placed on bedrest. At 30 weeks I started funneling and was dilated 1 cm. I was hospitalized and given steroids. I was able to go home after a week and a half on strict bedrest taking nifedipine a med to relax they uterus and controll contractions. I made it to 37 and 1/2 weeks. All I can say is hang in there and REALLY follow your doctors and bedrest. Hopefully you have family around to help with the other kids.

Kayla - posted on 04/06/2010

DON'T STESS UR NOT ALONE...i had the same thing happen from 26 weeks they put me in hospital gave me the steriods and scarred the crap outta me telling me that my babies are going to come in the next week or so!!!! after 2 and a half weeks i told them that i needed to go home, as nothing had changed they allowed me on strict bed rest...(when i was in hospital i wasnt even allowed to walk downstairs to get a chocy bar i had to be weeled in a wheelchair)... so after i got outta the ospital i had to go to the hospital for check ups and ultrasounds everyweek...in the end my girls came at 35 weeks and were only in hospital for 2 and a half weeks and were prefectly healthy...I also no how u feel bout not wanting them to come sonner cause u have to travell for the hospital cause i had the same thing but just not as far also my partner had to pay for parking for the whole time i was in hospital b4 i had them and it was like 20 bucks a day!!!!! dont stress to much cause i had a shortnered cervix the whole way through mine and the kept saying that i would go realy realy early and i didnt!!!!

Samantha - posted on 04/05/2010

I went in at 28 weeks for my sugar test and ultrasound and I had a 10mm cervix, so I was rushed to the hospital. At the hospital I dilated to 1 cm within an hour. I was given the steroid shot and a full magnesium flush to stop the labor. After 2 days in the hospital (my labor was stopped 12 hrs after it began) I went home to strict bedrest. I was only allowed to sit up or stand to take care of personal hygiene and to go to the doc 2x's week. I got back to having a 10 mm cervix and kept the babies in for almost 6 weeks. I went in at 33 weeks for my weekly ultrasound and was fine. 4 days later I went for my NST and I was in labor and didn't know it again. I was contracting and I was dilated 2-1/2 cm, but my water never broke. I delivered via csection (voluntarily). They spent 2 weeks in the NICU, 3 days with assistance the other 11 were just learning to eat from the bottle. Now we are all happy and healthy! My best advice to you is to gather your family and make a plan now. You're gonna need to be able to have people to rely on to finish getting the rooms ready and all their supplies if not already done... as well as an emergency person to take over with the 2 siblings when you do go.

Samantha - posted on 04/04/2010

I had the FFT(Fetal Fibronectin Test) done 3 time if I remember correctly. All came back negative. The day my water broke was the 10th day of the test. Supposedly the test is accuate for 10 days. Crazy huh?!? I had the shot to stop labor 2 times. Then when my water broke I was put on IV meds.
Like you said the best thing you can do is not worry. Take it day by day. I always looked at it as 1 day in the womb is 4 days in the NICU. I fought as long as I could for them to stay in.
My twins are wonderful. They turned 2 in Feb. They are normal healthy children. They have had no lasting effects of being born preemie. They are both small, but my family is small so that could have happened even if they weren't born early!
Drink plenty of water that always helped with my contractions. My dr ended up putting me on Benadryl to reduce my contractions to prevent any further issues to my cervix once they realized that I was softening so early. Might look in to that if they haven't already. Made me sleepy and helped me to not have the desire to do too much. May be difficult with other kids in the house. Hopefully you have so help with them.
Let me know if you need to talk anytime.

Melissa - posted on 04/04/2010

Thank you! I had to go in yesterday because I thought I felt some pressure on my pelvis. I started contracting regularly (every 5 mins) at the hospital. They were finally able to completely stop them about 7 hours later. They did the Fetal Fibronectin Test, it came back negative, so I wasn't in preterm labor, that was nice to hear and I wasn't dilating either. They finally let me leave this afternoon and told me this probably isn't going to be the last time I have one of these trips. It's so scary but I know that I have to keep my spirits high and keep the babies in as long as possible.
I'm glad yours made it despite your experience. How are they doing now?
It is a relief to know I am not the only one as well.

Samantha - posted on 04/04/2010

Unfortunatley for me my doctors were not as proactive as yours are being. You have done so well this far. Just take it day by day. It is a scarry process, but you will get through it no matter what happens!

I know that I softened at about 25 weeks and at 29 weeks my water broke, for my son. I was able to keep them in till 30 weeks 4 days. Of course the NICU was not "fun", but it was a learning time for all of us.

Just take it easy and try to not worry!