According to a representative from Viet Phap Hanoi Hospital on 19/10, in early 2026, the expectant mother unexpectedly became pregnant for the third time as she approached her 40th birthday. Doctors performed a cervical cerclage on her in the 12th week of pregnancy to ensure the safety of the fetus. Thanks to this procedure and adherence to regular check-ups, she maintained normal daily activities and work, giving birth to her third child at full term without complications.

The baby was born at Viet Phap Hanoi Hospital. *Photo: Hospital provided*

Previously, the mother had endured a long period of emotional exhaustion after losing children for five consecutive years. Despite receiving prenatal care at several large hospitals, all five of her pregnancies ended tragically, with some lasting until weeks 28–30, but the fetuses could not survive. She had even considered surrogacy because her body could not naturally sustain a pregnancy.

The turning point came in 2017 when, at nine weeks pregnant with her sixth child, she sought out Doctor Ho Van Thu, Head of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at Viet Phap Hanoi Hospital. Recognizing the expectant mother as high-risk due to her history of consecutive late miscarriages, Doctor Thu recommended cervical cerclage.

Cervical cerclage is a procedure that uses a specialized stitch to tighten the cervix, preventing it from opening prematurely under the pressure of the fetus, thereby keeping the baby in the womb until full term. This technique is suitable for expectant mothers who have previously lost a child in the second trimester, experienced spontaneous premature birth, or have a short cervix.

According to Doctor Thu, the procedure requires precise skill. The stitching must be tight enough to support the gestational sac, yet delicate enough to avoid puncturing the amniotic membrane.

At 37 weeks of pregnancy, doctors removed the stitches to allow the cervix to open naturally. She went into labor and gave birth to her first child, weighing 2,7 kg.

Eight months after her first birth, she became pregnant a second time. Doctor Thu performed cervical cerclage at 13 weeks of pregnancy. Her second son was born healthy at 38 weeks, weighing 3,4 kg. After this birth, the couple intentionally paused having children for seven years until they received unexpected good news in early 2026.

Doctor Thu advises women with a history of late miscarriage or premature birth to seek specialist examination early upon discovering they are pregnant. The doctor will identify the cause and establish an individualized monitoring plan. While cervical cerclage is highly effective, it requires strict indications and is not universally applied to all cases.

Le Nga