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Your cervix is the lower part of your uterus that opens to your vagina.  The length of your cervix changes as your pregnancy progresses and naturally shortens as you approach the birth of your baby.  In addition to our cervix shortening, when you are in labor your cervix dilates or opens and effaces or thins to allow your baby to pass through during birth.  If your cervix is weak it could open up early and cause preterm birth or a late term miscarriage.  In the medical community this is referred to as an incompetent cervix.  In some cases a surgical procedure, called a cervical cerclage, is recommended.  As with any surgical procedure there are benefits and risks you should be aware of.  This episode breaks down how your cervix changes during pregnancy and birth, when a cervical cerclage is evidence based and the risks and benefits of the procedure.

Show notes: http://pregnancypodcast.com/episode135/

Thank you to Zahler for their support of this episode. Zahler makes a high quality prenatal vitaminthat has the active form of folate, that I prefer after all of the research I have read on folic acid, plus it has omega 3s and DHA.  This is the prenatal vitamin I take and the one I recommend.  Zahler is offering an exclusive discount to listeners of the Pregnancy Podcast. To check out the vitamin and find out how you can save 25% when you buy a one month supply on Amazon go to http://pregnancypodcast.com/vitamin/