A Shortened Fuse

Something I didn't mention in my last post, is my wife's shortened fuse.  I'm not talking about mood swings or anything emotional, I'm talking about her cervix.  I don't know if there is anyone reading this blog who doesn't know what a cervix is (actually I don't know if anyone is reading this blog at all), but you can think of it as a baby escape hatch.  During pregnancy the cervix is fully closed/blocked up.  The shape of the cervix, as well as it's length are measured periodically throughout the pregnancy.  A shortening of the cervix is often a strong predictor of preterm labour.  Now just because my wife has been diagnosed with a shortened cervix doesn't necessarily mean labour is imminent.  I am, however, keeping my eyes open for indications that the babies are coming...for example I search the bed each morning for a mucus plug...that's right boys a mucus plug.  I have no idea what it's going to look like, but I'm pretty sure I'll know it when I find it.

Our obstetrician has really been hands off during the middle portion of this pregnancy.  Where many of the moms in our prenatal class have had numerous ultrasounds (many once every two weeks), our doctor has ordered only two, one at 19 weeks, which was our anatomy scan, and the next at 28 weeks.  At the first ultrasound, my wife's cervix measured 3.7 cm, and at second, it was 1.45 cm.  Measurements are of the closed length.  Our doctor still doesn't seem overly concerned.  In fact he basically said there is nothing he can do.  He was worried that preventative steps, such as a cerclage, may actually bring on labour.  And really, he informed us, the cervix may have been shortening during the entire length of time between ultrasounds.  Hmmmm...I wonder if that would have been good data to have?

As soon as we found out we were having twins we joined several support groups.  I'd recommend this to everyone.  When it comes to pregnancy, anything you look up on the internet becomes extremely frightening, it's all terrible...in fact, for the purpose of this post, I just did a google search on "shortening cervix" with awesomely, sickening results...If I could make another recommendation to those who have just found out they are pregnant, STAY OFF THE INTERNET!  If you've got questions, post them to those support groups you joined after reading my first recommendation.  My wife did so as soon as she was diagnosed.  We immediately had several responses.  One woman told us that at 23 weeks her cervix was not only shortened, it was dilated to 2 cm, escape hatch blown, abandon ship, abandon ship!  With bed rest, however, she carried her twins full term.  All I've got to do, is convince my wife to stay off her feet and let me take care of everything...she get's to be the overseer, and boss me about.  How will I ever convince her to take on this role?


So basically, what it boils down to is that my babies may come today, or they may come in 8 weeks.  For now, I'll keep my fingers crossed and my eyes open for any unclaimed mucus plugs.