Incompetent Cervix Awareness Day #ICADAY2020
Why an Awareness Day?
If you consider that the statistic is 1 in 100 pregnancies are impacted by an incompetent cervix, do you consider the rest of the mother’s community that feels the weight of the burden these women are bearing?
That’s 1 in 100 partners who feel lost and helpless. They could never understand what the mother is going through. But most people outside of the realm of IC would not be able to understand what it is like to watch someone you love suffer all while worrying if your child was going to survive into this world.
That’s 1 in 100 potential siblings, grandparents, godparents, the list goes on…
MarchofDimes.org’s article on cervical insufficiency states that women with a shortened cervix have a 50% chance of premature delivery. How are we not considering that a loss or even a successful preemie delivery sends ripples throughout an entire village, through a community?
Most people don’t even know what an incompetent or insufficient cervix is. That needs to change. Still, to this day families are being blindsided by this diagnosis that can literally mean life or death for their child. All while we have some ways of at least earlier detection. Instead of finding out about a cervical shortening well into the 2nd trimester and still too far away from viability for the unborn child, we could be giving women the option of an early cervical scan. Most women do not even think to ask. As much as we are told to advocate for our bodies, many times when we do we are told that “it’s normal” “it’ll get better” “pregnancy is hard, suck it up”.
So we don’t call for every weird ache or pain. Light spotting is normal in the first trimester so I’m sure it’s ok. Even when sometimes we have the thought in the back of minds saying “somethings not right”, we push through. Is it ignorance? It’s a lack of awareness, it’s a lack of resources, and it’s a lack of support.
It’s that lack that leaves some mothers feeling guilty like it’s their fault that their bodies failed. When in fact, there are things we can be doing to support them 100% better than we are. It’s that lack that is leading to a higher percentage of 2nd-trimester losses. Up to 20% of 2nd-trimester miscarriages are attributed to an incompetent cervix. Something early prevention could have helped.
Incompetent Cervix Awareness Day is a day to tell these families they are seen, they are heard, and though not everyone can understand, they are here to help in any way they can. That support can mean everything when you are faced with the loneliness and isolation that can come with high-risk pregnancies. So please stand with us on March 4th. Post a positive quote on social media with our hashtag #ICADAY. Grab a shirt from our Bonfire campaign and post a picture of you wearing it with the hashtag. Tell your friends. Be informed. There are so many ways to help.
Thank you for standing with us. Thank you for listening.
