Positive fetal fibronectin result - have you had one?

[PQ77]

I have posted a similar post in the Pregnancy topic but thought ladies on here might have had more experience. I have been under the care of my hospital's antenatal prem clinic and have had regular fetal fibronectin swabs. Yesterday's test came back positive - I am 28+4.

Has anyone had a +ve result before? I have had a steroid shot but otherwise carrying on as usual (albeit taking it easy). I am aware that the test has a high false positive rate and my cervical length is apparently good.

Thanks in advance for any experiences you might be able to share.

[PQ77]

and just had another positive fetal fibronectin test yesterday plus my cervix is shortening (less than 3cm) now. Anyone been through this? There's now a fairly significant chance i willl deliver in the next couple of weeks (I am 29+4), but I am really hoping to get to 36 weeks like I did with DS.

Bit anxious - so any experiences of positive ffn tests and not delivering immediately would be welcome!

[BadNails]

Hi PQ. Thought I'd give your thread a helpful bump since I have no advice (daughter was prem for different reasons). Also, have you tried posting on the Bliss website? The MN prem board has been a bit quiet recently.

Good luck x

[PQ77]

Thanks BadNails, that's really kind. I had looked on the Tommy's website (and read all about my consultant!) but had not heard about Bliss before.

[HauntedLittleLunatic]

No experience of the positive test (i actually thought that a positive result was very predictive of short term delivery but that a neg test was less predictive).

I do want to say tho that I delivered twins at 26+6 with a positive outcome - now happy and healthy 11yo.

The first 3m were a rollercoaster but they have no long term health or education issues.

Good luck.

[PQ77]

Thank you for the positive story haunted - I am on the look out for them as my waters have just gone at 30 weeks and I am in hospital now, waiting to see what's going to happen.

[TeaandHobnobs]

Hi PQ77, how are things now?

I think you are probably in the same hospital I was when I had DS 4 months ago at 31+5. I hope they are taking good care of you? I think many of the MWs who looked after me have rotated onto birth centre or postnatal now, but I hope you have some lovely ones.

Fingers crossed for you that baby can hold out as long as possible in there, but even if things were to kick off now, the steroids will have really helped and you are both in the best place.

My friend from the antenatal ward had a similar situation to you I think - her baby was born at 26 weeks and came home at 38 weeks and is doing brilliantly.

[PQ77]

Thanks teaandhobnobs- and congrats on your Ds! I have got my head around the fact that my baby would probably be ok if he staged an appearance now but I am concerned that since I am not in labour I am likely to be discharged tomorrow to monitor myself at home despite having virtually no amniotic fluid. I know I am capable of taking my temp etc but I will be lost without daily ctgs and doppler wielding midwives on hand!

The midwives are fantastic but there is one consultant who is desperate to get me home and is not listening to how anxious I am. I am sure I am being a pain but I had four early mc before this pregnancy (6
In total) so the chances of my just relaxing and going with the flow are slim to none!

[TeaandHobnobs]

Argh yes, the consultants and their wildly differing opinions! Mine varied from Mr super cautious (originally "I don't think you should be discharged until you have had a week without bleeding" to "I think you should stay until you deliver") to a registrar who seemed to want to boot me out ASAP ("oh if you hadn't told me you bled this morning I'd have discharged you today" - wtf?!).

Keep telling the midwives that you are anxious, they should help fight your corner. I can't see how they could send someone home who is at risk of prem labour! I would also be very anxious in your situation, you are not being a pain!

One of the things that amused me on the ward was the comparison between those women who really did not want to be there (often those with GD who were admitted around 36 weeks until they delivered) who behaved like it was some kind of prison, and those that really did but didn't need to be (one poor woman who came to birth centre at 1cm dilated, stayed overnight, didn't progress any further, and they totally booted her out! And another woman who just seemed to want to have an audience to moan to... Cor she stressed me out so much I wonder if she set off my labour!)

I have my fingers crossed that they are sympathetic and keep you in. Thinking of you

[PQ77]

Thanks for your kind message!

Just discharged after 7 nights - they were keen to boot me out on Friday but my blood pressure went through the roof - no surprise there... So I asked a million questions and once I got the consultants to start taliking statistics and studies and medical journal articles I calmed down and my bp dropped.

I agree it was fascinating to see who was in the ward and why - some ladies with pre-e or gd who were feeling well and raring to get out - but being told they were in for 3 or more weeks, and others like me who were terrified to leave the hospital but being gently pushed out.

So at home monitoring myself which is giving me something constructive to do

[TeaandHobnobs]

Hey PQ77, how's everything going? Still hanging in there?

[PQ77]

Just an update - my little DS arrived by EMCS on 10 Sept
at 33 weeks. He was born with respiratory distress and was ventilated but he's been off oxygen for a week now and we're hoping to take him home soon.

[TeaandHobnobs]

Congratulations!

33 weeks is really good, considering - and great that he's already off oxygen!

Hope he is coming home soon, and that you are getting lots of lovely support from the SCBU nurses . Will Outreach be looking after you when he is discharged?

[Potol]

Congratulations! Hope you and baby are home soon.

[thereistheball]

Congratulations! Hope you're all doing well and get him home soon.