Q&A: What are the effects of a transabdominal cerclage?

I think your doctor's on the right track. The abdominal cerclage is indicated after a failed vaginal cerclage with an incompetent cervix. It is placed around the cervix, but behind the vaginal wall. The consistency of the cervix there is much better for holding when constricted by the wrap-around nature of the cerclage.

I prefer to do mine before a next pregnancy, because there's less bleeding since you're not operating on someone who's pregnant, no risk to a baby of course, and doesn't interfere with conception. It means you need C-sections thereafter, but if that's the only way to have babies, it's worth it.

I've had mixed results with the comfort level with an internal cerclage. Some of my patients were able to work to the day of delivery. Others had cramping throughout the pregnancy, which confused me into ruling out preterm labor, which I did. But these patients had frequent episodes of this, which is a little nerve-racking, but harmless.