Hi Sandy,
Congratulations on your impending Grandma-hood! I hope the ability to
spoil a kidlet and give it back when you're done proves rewarding and
fun for you! It certainly will be for the kidlet!
I remember not-so-fondly my first pregnancy. Every little twinge and
ache was worrisome, and the bigger (but surprisigly common!) aches
were cause for great alarm. That little troublemaker is now a BIG
troublemaker of 10 1/2 years, and he laughs hysterically at any
maternal guilt trip laid on him regarding his in utero mischief.
Tell your daughter to relax. The most likely explanation for the
discomfort she's experiencing is that her uterus is pressing down on
her cervix. The little munchkin and his attendant placental tissue
and amniotic fluid can feel awfully heavy after they've all been
sitting in the same spot for a while. When she stands up or lies
down, the weight of the uterus shifts, relieving the pressure on her
cervix.
I started my research on this question with some telephone inquiries
to other experienced mothers of my acquaintance.
I checked with my sisters in-law, all of whom have multiple children,
and they've all experienced this - four of the five said it was
primarily with their first pregnancies, and to a lesser degree with
subsequent pregnancies. (Their children all range from 21 down to 3
years.)
My mother in-law, a retired registered nurse, experienced this with
all seven of her children. She said she also saw many instances of
this over her 30 year career as a nurse, and advised all of her
patients so afflicted to relax and lie down for a while, until the
discomfort passed.
I experienced this with both of my own pregnancies, and my OB was very
careful to read me the riot act about staying in one position too
long. It's important to change positions frequently to avoid strain
and discomfort - if your daughter's job involves sitting for extended
periods of time, she needs to get up and stretch a bit every hour or
so. In addition to alleviating the cervical discomfort, it will help
her circulation and relieve stress in the lower back.
Of course, this is all anecdotal, but I thought you might like to know
that your daughter is not alone in experiencing this pain.
The discomfort is a pretty good indicator that it is likely not a
question of an incompetent cervix, as this condition is typically
painless:
"Cervical incompetence is the painless dilatation of the cervix, which
typically occurs during the second or early third trimester of
pregnancy. Membranes may "balloon" through the cervical opening,
rupture of membranes follows and the immature and usually nonviable
fetus is delivered."
What Is An Incompetent Cerix?
http://www.parentsplace.com/expert/midwife/qas/0,10338,166357_221271,00.html
"What are the signs and symptoms of the condition?
The main sign of an incompetent cervix is painless opening of the
cervix without labor. It is most common between the third and seventh
months of pregnancy. There may be vaginal spotting or bleeding. The
amniotic membrane, also called the "bag of waters," then ruptures.
This usually causes the loss of the fetus. Without treatment, future
pregnancies are likely to be affected as well."
Incompetent Cervix - By Gail Hendrickson, RN, BS
http://health.discovery.com/diseasesandcond/encyclopedia/2047.html
According to HeliosHealth, incompetent cervix is a rare condition, and
occurs in less than 2% of all pregnancies:
Incompetent Cervix
http://www.helioshealth.com/pregnancy/topics/incompetent_cervix.html
Atlanta Maternal-Fetal Medicine states that the condition occurs in
only 1 of every 2000 pregnancies:
Atlanta Maternal-Fetal Medicine
http://www.atlanta-mfm.com/clindisc/vol8no2.html
I would strongly advise your daughter to consult with her midwife
about any discomfort she is experiencing, to set her mind at ease. At
five months, her midwife will probably be examining her cervix
regularly (she is likely seeing her midwife twice a month at this
point in her pregnancy, and is probably having her cervix examined at
one of these two visits - some OBs and midwives wait a little later to
begin frequent cervical examinations, some begin earlier).
Incompetent cervix can *only* be diagnosed by cervical examination.
For additional pregnancy information, send your daughter to
I-Village's week by week guide to pregnancy, which details fetal
groth, maternal body changes, and discusses what to expect with each
visit to the OB/midwife:
Your week-by-week guide to pregnancy
http://www.parentsplace.com/pregnancy/trimester1/articles/0,10335,238995_549966,00.html
Also, if she doesn't already have it, might I recommend the most
excellent book, "What to Expect When You're Expecting", by Arlene
Eisenberg, Heidi Murkoff and Sandee Hathaway? It's a terrific month
by month, illustrated guide to *everything* about pregnancy - even the
little details that our health care providers forget to tell us about,
like weird cravings and what to do about them, odd twinges and pains,
and how to handle embarrassing situtions like the constant runs to the
potty and maternal incontinence later in pregnancy.
You can get this book at virtually any bookseller, and can also order
it online through Amazon.com:
What to Expect When You're Expecting, at Amazon (43 sample pages
available)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0761121323/qid%3D1041987883/103-0750963-0958221
I wish your daughter much luck, and a swift labor and delivery! And
to you, joy and laughter with the new addition to the family.
I hope this answer has been helpful to you. If you feel that you need
additional information, please don't hesitate to ask for a
clarification. I'll be glad to assist you further.
--Missy <-- mom of two
Search terms: [ "incompetent cervix" symptoms ] and some quick phone
consultations. |
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