Early Pregnancy Protein is Essential
We know the importance of protein in the pregnant diet. But a new study shows why one unique protein is crucial for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. But you don’t have to worry about whether you’ve been eating enough of it.
The protein is called Preimplantation Factor, or PIF for short—and it’s actually produced by the developing embryo in early pregnancy. Its job is to ready the uterus and the embryo for attachment. Premimplantation Factor is absolutely necessary. A lack of the protein will predict pregnancy failure, though it may not be the miscarriage cause.
The study’s lead author explains why these results are so exciting: “For several decades, investigators have tried to isolate a compound that was absolutely required for pregnancy.” The new findings suggest that this protein may be just that essential substance. Scientists have synthesized an exact replica of Premplantation Factor, and they think it may offer hope not only for pregnant women, but for people suffering from autoimmune disorders and undergoing organ transplants. In the future, pregnant women may undergo PIF testing in early pregnancy. If a pregnant woman tests negative for PIF, a miscarriage is extremely likely. So this could give an accurate prediction of pregnancy failure before any signs of miscarriage. Would this be better or worse than waiting to see what happens?
I personally get completely bogged down by prenatal testing and don’t like it one bit– though I’ve done it many times. But I still think that were I given the chance to take a PIF test before conceiving, I’d do it. And I’d hope that some treatment was on the flipside should the test come back neg.