Cervical
insufficiency refers to the incompetent cervix which takes place when the
tissues in the cervix negatively impact the pregnancy with possibly causing
premature birth or miscarriage. It may also create pregnancy complications.
Symptoms
When a woman
with incompetent cervix gets pregnant, she may not any early pregnancy
symptoms. Some women even encounter discomfort around the vagina or spotting
for days. For some women, this typically happens in the second trimester.
To
understand if you’re having cervical insufficiency, you should be aware of its
symptoms. They include - backache, pain in the lower belly area, changed
vaginal discharge that may smell bad, pelvic pressure, spotting, etc.
Women with incompetent cervix may go through certain pregnancy
risks.
- A previous surgical procedure of the cervix can possibly have cervical trauma and
hence have greater risks of deformity linked with cervical insufficiency.
- Though there
isn’t any strong evidence, black women are more likely to have an incompetent
cervix.
- Health conditions associated with uterine or genetic disorders can affect the cervix leading to insufficiency in the cervix.
An incompetent cervix can have a negative impact on your pregnancy and hence it
such a woman has more risks of pregnancy complications than others.
Complications due to cervical pressure are more common during the second or
third trimester. This includes:
- Pregnancy loss
- Premature
delivery
How can you prevent it?
A woman
cannot an insufficiency in the cervix. However, one can always encourage a
healthy and full-term pregnancy if you have taken proper care.
- Regular checkups
during your pregnancy can help your healthcare provider observe yours and your baby’s health and development. Also, he can warn you if there’s any
alarming symptom with your health.
- Your healthcare provider can also help you with a diet plan that supports full-term
pregnancy. You may require more iron, calcium and other key nutrients during such time. Additionally, a daily dose of essential vitamins can be
started a few weeks before you conceive.
- Though a woman
gaining weight is considered normal, you should be gaining it wisely even before you conceive it. Speak to your dietician for the same and get your weight right to support your pregnancy development.
- Needless to say, you should strictly avoid smoking or drinking when you conceive. If you’re on medical supplements or any other medications, show them to your healthcare provider and do not continue taking them unless he/she approves.
For women
who are planning to get pregnant again, you should speak to your doctor and
follow the instructions to be even more careful with your future pregnancy and
prevent complications.
