False Labor...

Hi all! Last night I went to the ER, I was having contractions (painful ones!) and was super swollen. It started when I was out shopping with my mom and grammas I all of a sudden got really hot and felt really tight. I looked down and sure enough my hands were more swollen than normal, I also started cramping. When I got home and went to the bathroom I noticed some funny discharge that I hadn't had before, so I called my nurse and they told me to go into my local hospital. Everything was ok, there wasn't any "real" labor and I'm still not dilated so there was nothing to stop, but some Fiber test came back positive. They said that usually means that the babies will be coming in the next 2 weeks. Did anyone else have this? When did you give birth compared to when you had this? My gramma said she had this and then it was 2 weeks to the day she had her babies... Is stuff like this hereditary??? Thanks!

 

It is called a fetal fibronectin (sp?) test or FFn and it tests for proteins that your cervix starts to release prior to delivery. I tested positive with a single at 29 weeks and with bed rest went to 37. I also tested positive for it with my last pregnancy and went to 37 weeks with no bed rest. The Dr, thinks that although I was positive it could be that my body just "gets ready" early. I will be tested at 25 weeks with this twin pregnancy. I was already dialated though with mine so since you are not you may go longer! Good luck!

 

from what i understand about fFN tests is that if it's negative, you're very unlikely to go into labor for at least 2 weeks, but if it's positive you either may or may not go into labor.

here's a good overview.

 

Yes that is accurate. It is not a perfect test but for women with a history of PTL it is a good indicator that perhaps bedrest is warranted. I am hoping mine is negative in a few weeks!

 

Thanks ladies! The people at the local hospital didn't explain exactly what it was, which is probably why I thought it was fetus fibersomething instead of the real name! I'm so glad that we are going to a better hospital that's a little farther away! Some, not all, of the nurses made me feel like I was a huge pain in the booty when I went in... they didn't really explain all the tests they were doing either, which is incredibly frustrating. The only thing that they said about this one was that it was positive and that means I'll probably have the babies within 2 weeks, they didn't explain anything further. I wanted to google, but last time I did I freaked myself right out.. I stay away from that now!

 

I just want to say (ok- I'm not good at remembering this) that if you are unhappy with a specific nurse or two you can speak with the head nurse on and request someone who will explain things clearly to you. You do not have to have unkind and unhelpful people take care of you. :hug:

 

i was going to say the same thing! and don't be afraid to ask, ask, ask when you don't understand. this is your body and your babies and your health - it's not just "nice" to understand what's going on, you need to understand. :hug: it's so tough when you have to advocate for yourself on top of everything else that's going on.