P01.0: Fetus and newborn affected by incompetent cervix

While in the womb, a shortened or dilated cervix in the mother caused damage to health.

The uterus or womb sits in the pelvis and is pear-shaped. The narrower part extends downward into the vagina and is called the cervix. When a woman is pregnant, the child grows in her uterus. There is a canal in the cervix that connects the vagina to the inside of the uterus. The orifice at the end of this canal is called the mouth of the womb (ostium uteri). The mouth of the womb is visible during an internal examination of the vagina.

If the mother’s cervix is shortened or dilated, the child’s health may be damaged. A shortened or dilated cervix can cause pathogens to get into the womb. The pathogens may cause inflammation of the womb or the amniotic sac, for example. Inflammation of the womb or the amniotic sac can damage the child’s health. The pathogens can also cause the amniotic sac to burst before labor begins. This can then cause contractions or a premature birth. The shortened or widened cervix itself can lead to a premature birth. A premature birth can also damage the child's health.