Labour test gives hope to mothers-to-be

A WOMAN who suffered multiple miscarriages told today how a test pioneered by a London hospital helped her become a mother.

Theresa Osborn, 28, gave birth to Max after experts at Guy's and St Thomas' used the check to monitor her risk of premature labour.

The £40 test, called the FullTerm Fetal Fibronectin Test, is available on the NHS and detects levels of a protein which rise before birth. It is similar to a smear test and was developed at St Thomas'.

Mrs Osborn, from Welling in Kent, and her husband Alan, lost their first child three years ago. She had another miscarriage a year later. When she became pregnant in autumn 2007, doctors at Guy's used the FullTerm test to monitor her.

Baby Max, now eight months, was born at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, weighing 4lb 14oz at 33 weeks. Mrs Osborn said: "This should bring hope to lots of women. Max is our miracle."