- Have you had experience of the cervical stitch (cerclage) in the last 10 years in England?
- Would you be willing to talk to me about your experience, either in person or online?
I am a social scientist researching the cervical stitch (cerclage) as a reproductive technology which tries to prevent preterm birth.
As part of this project, I want to learn about women and families' experiences of having (or not having) the stitch. This is not medical research. Its focus is what the use of the cervical stitch can tell us about understandings of pregnancy and the making of new people, and what sort of advantages and disadvantages there can be to the procedure for patients and clinical staff.
I am hoping to interview people who have encountered the stitch in their reproductive life in the last 10 years (2016 onwards) and whose care was in England. The study is located in England because the cervical stitch is recommended in a key NHS England policy. I am interested even if you refused the cervical stitch, and I am also interested in the experiences of non-pregnant partners. Another part of the project will talk to clinical professionals.
If you might be interested in talking to me, I would be grateful if you could get in touch by email at [email protected] for more information. There is also more information on the project website.
The project is funded by the Wellcome Trust and based at the University of Exeter, which has carried out ethical review (Faculty of Humanities and Social Science Research Ethics Committee reference 10972359).
I have previously carried out research into second trimester pregnancy loss including miscarriage and termination for foetal anomaly, and I have experience of pregnancy loss myself. I am very aware of the difficult circumstances which lead to the use of the cervical stitch, and I try to make encounters with research participants as supportive and gentle as possible.
Thank you for reading this, and I'd be grateful if you could share if appropriate,
Aimee