How you prepare

Before cervical cerclage, your health care provider will do an ultrasound to check your baby's vital signs and rule out any major birth defects. Your health care provider might take a swab of your cervical secretions or do amniocentesis — a procedure in which a sample of amniotic fluid is removed from the uterus — to check for infection. If you have an infection, a cerclage won't be placed.

Ideally, a history-indicated cervical cerclage is done between weeks 12 and 14 of pregnancy. However, cervical cerclage can be done up until week 23 of pregnancy if a pelvic exam or ultrasound shows that your cervix is beginning to open. Cervical cerclage is typically avoided after week 24 of pregnancy due to the risk of rupturing the amniotic sac and triggering premature birth.