Containing Pregnancies: experiences of the cervical stitch v1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Containing Pregnancies: Experiences of the cervical stitch (cerclage) in England
IRAS ID
343052
Contact name
Aimee L Middlemiss
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Exeter
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
This project investigates theories and concepts of pregnancy and foetal personhood through different experiences of the cervical stitch (also known as cerclage) in pregnancy.
The cervical stitch is an intervention in human pregnancy where the cervix at the opening of the uterus is sewn shut to prevent a foetal body from emerging too early in the pregnancy. It seeks to reduce preterm birth, which can be a risk to the life of the foetus or baby, and can lead to health problems for babies who survive. The National Health Service (NHS) in England recommends the use of the procedure in the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence includes it in guidelines on managing preterm birth risk.
The cervical stitch has been in use in the NHS since the 1950s, despite limited evidence for its optimal use. There has been no social science research on the experience of receiving or performing the stitch, or how the procedure is conceptualised by patients and clinicians.
This research will engage with women and other people who have experienced the stitch in their reproductive lives, and also with maternity care professionals whose work involves the cervical stitch, such as obstetricians, sonographers, and midwives. The research will be conducted across seven maternity departments in different parts of England, with additional research outside the NHS with stakeholders such as national organisations. The study is funded by Wellcome and will last until 2029.
Some parts of the study are not within the NHS and therefore ethical review for these parts, involving national professional stakeholders and families recruited outside the NHS, has been carried out by the University of Exeter (Faculty of Humanities and Social Science Research Ethics Committee reference 10972359). These parts of the study received a favourable review and have started.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
26/NS/0030
Date of REC Opinion
11 May 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion