Cervical cerclage
Cervical cerclage is a surgery that is performed to keep the cervix closed during pregnancy. A stitch is placed in the cervix and is removed either when you go into labor or around the 37th week of pregnancy. If you are having a Cesarean Section, this stitch may be left in for future pregnancies. The cervical cerclage is done for women who have an "incompetent cervix" or a cervix that opens too early in pregnancy. Often, a woman will not feel contractions or pain and it usually occurs between sixteen to twenty-four weeks of pregnancy. Women who are at risk of developing an "incompetent cervix" include: women with a history of D and C (dilation and curettage), women who have had cervical surgery and women who have had previous damage to the cervix from previous births.