Carrying your pregnancy to term
Having cervical incompetence does not mean you must continue to suffer from miscarriage. Main Line Health offers multiple ways to help women suffering from cervical incompetence carry pregnancy to term, including:
- Bed Rest: Reducing your activity level toward the end of pregnancy may help limit your risk of the cervix opening too soon.
- Cervical Cerclage: Physically stitching the cervix closed during the beginning of the second trimester (around 14 weeks) can help ensure that your cervix remains closed until it is time to deliver.
- Hormone Therapy: Injections of progesterone to supplement your body’s own progesterone levels may help delay cervical changes.
If you are at risk for cervical incompetence, your doctor will monitor your pregnancy using vaginal ultrasound and pelvic exam. Then, if your cervix begins to show any signs of change—including softening, shortening or opening—your doctor can take steps to treat cervical incompetence. With treatment, you can expect to experience a successful, full-term pregnancy.