23 Week Appointment....

Well, I had my ultrasound first today. My cervix was measuring a little shorter, but there was no beaking (opening), so they're not too concerned. Dean looked great and is measuring really well (1 lb 2 oz). My doctor was out of town this week, so I saw a different doctor in the practice. He's very nice, but he's not nearly as invested as my doctor is.

This was the first week of getting the fetal fibronectin tests (fFN). I will be getting these tests every 2 weeks until 36 weeks. I should get the results by tomorrow morning at the latest. Here's some info on the test.

WHAT THE fFN TEST IS:
Fetal fibronectin (also known as fFN) is a “glue-like” protein that bonds your developing baby to your uterus. Fetal fibronectin is a special protein that literally holds your baby in place in the womb. After the 35th week of pregnancy, it begins to break down naturally, and is detectable. If your body is getting ready to give birth prematurely, fetal fibronectin may be detected before week 35. From weeks 22 to 35 in your pregnancy, there should be very little fetal fibronectin detectable.

WHAT THE RESULTS MEAN:
A small percentage of women who get the test will get a positive result, indicating that your body is "leaking" fetal fibronectin. This means that there is an increased chance that your baby could arrive early, and signals to you and your doctor that you may need extra attention. It is important to note that not everyone with a positive test result delivers early.

A negative test result, on the other hand, can give you great "peace of mind". 99.2% of women with symptoms of preterm birth who have a negative fetal fibronectin test result will not deliver their baby within the next 14 days.