Researchers find clue to determine when pregnant women will go into labor

GALVESTON, TX (KTRK) -- Researchers at UTMB Galveston say they've uncovered the secret that all pregnant women want to know - when will they go into labor.

The scientists have a found a cellular signal in the amniotic fluid around a fetus. The signal builds up when a pregnant woman is about to go into labor.

Researchers say that being able to detect this signal may help doctors determine preterm birth risk, and possibly lead to direct medical interventions for labor induction or prevention.