Private Fetal Fibronectin test for reassurance...

[lucydbishopsstortford]

I'm 25 weeks pregnant and my first daughter was born at 32 weeks. As I head towards the 30 week mark I'd love some reassurance and/or warning if an early birth might happen again - I've heard about the Fetal Fibronectin (fFN) test, but it's not something the NHS give as a matter of course (I've asked!) so I'm looking to get it done privately, though I'm finding my options are quite limited. Anyone had any experience of having this done privately and would you recommend it? Any suggestions on where to get it done too would be great - I'm between London and Cambridge but am happy to travel.

I had it under the NHS when I had my third bout of reduced movements at 33 weeks. It came back positive for giving birth within 24 hours. My DC arrived at 37+5 after induction at 37+1. So it can't tell you for definite if you will deliver early.

I know this is late but in case it’s helpful to anyone I had 3 false positive FFN tests so I wouldn’t recommend it personally! Just frightened me and make me even more anxious than I already was.

I got accurate positive 5 days before with DD2 at 28 weeks (had lost plug and had a bleed at 27 weeks after DD1 being 32 weeker so NHS did the test)

With my 3rd I got 3 negatives (was twitchy at small loses of plug and tightenings thinking they were warning signs) and he didn't come until 37 weeks.

I would ask for one if you're seeing any signs, but otherwise not as bare in mind they are fairly reliable as a negative but can give false positives so may worry you over nothing if there is no other indication of an issue.

FFN is not always helpful. A negative is good - and reliable to indicate that labour is not imminent. A positive means that you might go into labour soon, but you might not.

I had a FFN test at 21+1 which was high, had a cervical stitch at 21+3 which dropped the FFN reading, and another FFN test at 23+1 was sky high and I delivered at 23 weeks. (Note FFN tests are not meant to be used after a stitch but the NHS consultant did use them as an indicator of how to treat me.)

*i delivered at 24 weeks.