A major new study will explore how the cervical stitch—a common procedure to prevent premature births and pregnancy loss—is used across England, offering fresh insight into its clinical use and the experiences of patients and medical professionals.
The four-year research project, led by Dr Aimee Middlemiss from the University of Exeter and funded by Wellcome, will investigate the medical, ethical, and social dimensions of the cervical stitch (also known as cervical cerclage), a procedure that has been routinely used in the UK since the 1950s. The stitch involves sewing the cervix closed to help prevent early labour or miscarriage, though its effectiveness remains uncertain.
Dr Middlemiss will work across seven NHS sites—Cornwall, Bristol, Dorset, Greater Manchester, Hertfordshire, Tyneside, and London—interviewing clinicians including obstetricians, midwives, anaesthetists, and sonographers, as well as pregnant women for whom the procedure is considered or performed.
“We aim to understand how women and healthcare professionals conceptualise, experience, and make decisions around the cervical stitch,” said Dr Middlemiss. “This research will uncover the reproductive politics behind the procedure and could lead to changes in clinical practice and patient care.”
The project will also involve collaboration with the Preterm Birth Clinical Network and analyse existing policies and guidelines to better inform future practice.
The research builds on Dr Middlemiss’s previous ESRC-funded study on pregnancy loss in England.
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Source: University of Exeter
