There are many factors that can affect a woman's pregnancy. One of these is the cervical length. The cervix is the bottom most portion of the uterus that resembles a neck. It attaches the uterus to the vagina, and it serves to keep the amniotic sac and baby in the uterus.
When a woman goes into labor, the cervix opens or dilates, shortens, and thins so that there is room for the baby to come out. A woman who has a cervix that is too short can sometimes lead to premature birth. In some cases, that labor starts before the baby can survive outside of the womb.
There are many reasons why the cervix might be shorter or weaker than what is necessary to allow a pregnancy to continue normally. Complications that occur in the pregnancy can lead to cervical issues. Infections, an overdistended uterus, inflammation of the lining of the uterus and having weakened cervical tissues can all cause premature dilation of the cervix.
There are some possible ways that a shortened cervix or weak cervix can be treated. A cervical cerclage, which involves sutures in the cervix, is one possible way. Progesterone or a silicone device around the cervix might also be effective.
Not doing anything when the cervix isn't normal might lead to premature labor. If your doctor didn't take action about a cervical issue, you might opt to explore your option to seek compensation. If you opt to explore this option, you might find that there are damages that you can claim that would help you care for your child or cope with the effects of the premature end of the pregnancy.
Source: Mayo Clinic, "During pregnancy, what's the significance of cervical length?," Shannon K. Laughlin-Tommaso, M.D., accessed Oct. 20, 2016
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