Understanding Cervical Lips: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
I can recall a specific delivery not long again where I was assisting and mom was in a state of resistance. We moved from water to land many times, offering her different ways to move her body. With each surge of intensity, her body would tense up. Her jaw would clench, shoulders would rise, and the rest of her body would ball up fighting the discomfort that was meant to bring her baby forth. She asked to get out of the tub to use the restroom and as we dried her off so she could have a safe walk to the bathroom, she looked at me in desperation. I said held her gaze, said her name, and filled the silence with, “You have to let go and surrender. It is the only way you will meet your baby. Give it to God.”. From that moment on, this woman transformed into a warrior. She was just a few days shy of 23 years old and in that moment she embodied every ounce of wisdom from the women that came before her. Her body went into full surrender while she opened up beautifully.
She asked for a cervical exam, it was going to be the first one she had all pregnancy and all labor. She was at a 7cm. We reassured her that this was not indiciative of how far or clsoe labor was however it was simply an indicator of what her body was doing to get her closer to that finish line. Hours passed and she held at a 7 when she asked for a check again. 7cm was reported again, yet this time, there was an anterior cervical lip present. Baby’s head was not asynclitic from what we could tell it was merely a matter of pressure of the cervix on the pubic bone. We had seen this before many times. This is often the last obstacle that women will face along with a mental and emotional release, before the births of their babies, so let’s discuss.
What is a cervical lip?
Here is some anatomy for reference.
This is the swelling of the anterior portion of the cervix, the rest being fully retracted, however this piece is being pressed against the pubic bone. The cervix is the lower portion of the uterus, apart of the uterus yet made of different tissues.
What is the cause of a cervical lip?
It could be from malposition of the baby, asyncliticism and deflexion of the head which leads to asymmetrical pressure on the head.
How has a cervical lip been managed?
There are a few ways that can manage a lip however it may be variant depending on your birth location and/or provider. Now, I am not suggesting that every single one of these methods is right for every single laboring woman. Once again, nuance and context is always important and always check with your provider
Try repositioning which can help baby reposition to hopefully get a symmetrical pressure going on the cervix. If it’s noticed in a lying position, hopefully getting mom upright will help even out the pressure. If she’s been upright, perhaps lying down on the side and switching sides often can help alleviate the pressures on the tissues.
Placing ice in the finger of a sterile glove and holding it against the cervix. If the swelling Is reduced, the provider may try gently pushing it back.
Holding the reduced swollen cervix while mom bears down has also been attempted.
Arnica 200C can be super helpful when it comes to reducing swelling and imitation. I like this brand and use it with clients and for my family at home.
What did we end up doing for this mama in the mom’s birth story from above?
The mom ended up bringing us in after her nap for a cervical check. We found that swelling. We went through her options with regards to addressing the swelling and she took some time to really think about it. We ended up starting with position work and that helped some, and ultimately gave some Arnica and held some ice against the swollen space for a bit. She was uncomfortable for the next part which was after removing the ice, she consented to holding the cervix back while she would bear down. Eventually, after a few pushes, the cervix swelling reduced and the last part disappeared behind the baby’s head. A few position changes and pushes later, her first son was born. It is important to note that this was a home delivery with a very skilled midwife and she had seen this story before many times. In a hospital setting, there are various ways that this could have gone, also depending on the attending provider which I’ll discuss in a different post.
Have you had an experience with cervical lip as a birthing mother? As a provider? I’d love your feedback!
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