History of Preterm Birth

Cervical Cerclage

When a woman’s cervix is weak (sometimes referred to as an incompetent cervix), she is more likely to have a baby born prematurely.  This is because the cervix shortens or opens too early under the pressure of the growing pregnancy often without any warning or signs of labor.   A cerclage is a procedure in which the cervix is surgically closed to help keep the pregnancy safely inside the uterus.

Depending on your pregnancy history or physical exam findings, a cerclage may be recommended to help your baby grow, as long as possible, inside the uterus. Cerclage placement is one of Dr. Gray’s favorite surgeries to perform because her technique has such a high success rate of ensuring a viable pregnancy that reaches term.