Preterm are babies in a hurry, and often want to enter this world on their own time schedule. Generally, preterm birth refers to babies who are before the 37th week of pregnancy.

Measuring fetal Fibronectin in symptomatic women may help healthcare providers to differentiate between those women who are at low risk for imminent delivery (within two weeks) and those who are at high risk. Identifying women with a reduced risk of preterm labor may help avoid unnecessary interventions.

If you are at high risk for preterm delivery because of clinical symptoms or your personal history, talk to your healthcare provider about fetal Fibronectin screening.

Reasons to consider Fetal Fibronectin Testing:

• Uterine contractions with or without pain
• Bleeding
• Change in vaginal discharge
• Intermittent lower abdominal pain
• Pelvic Pain
• Patient not feeling right
• Menstural-like or intestinal cramping with or without diarrhea
• Dull backache

Risk of having early baby if:

• You use tobacco, alcohol or other drugs during pregnancy
• You have an infection
• You haven’t received the correct vitamins or nutrition during pregnancy
• You were considered low weight before pregnancy
• You are younger than 18 or older than 40

*Note that many women deliver preterm babies and have none of these risk factors. That is why all women should be aware of warning signs of preterm labor.