As a doula and LCCE I seem to be hearing, anecdotally, that women who have had cervical procedures, such as cone biopsies or LEEP, sometimes have issues dilating due to cervical scarring.

Do we have any research on this?  I imagine this group is growing, and I wonder if there is any good information we can be giving to women to prepare for a different way to dilate, or appropriate care-giver intervention (cervical massage, etc.).

Stacie

I have heard or read of this problem too, but it would be more of a clinical care question than a research question. Let me see what I can find out.

~ Henci

I haven't got anything but anecdotal evidence, but word on the street is that, yes, cervical procedures can interfere with dilation but that cervical massage in labor can break up scar tissue. I found these pages by searching on Yahoo's browser using the terms "cervical scarring labor dilation."

http://birthfaith.org/midwives/cervical-scar-tissue

http://www.mothering.com/discussion...52588.html

http://www.naturalchildbirth.org/na...abor24.htm

-- Henci