After employing the use of 3-D ultrasound measures, scientists and researchers from the University of Maryland and Yale University have managed to determine that measuring the fetal zone of the adrenal glands is a much better predictor of premature birth, as compared to measuring the cervical length, which is the general way.

"We previously discovered that 3-D adrenal gland volume (AGV) is a very accurate predictor of preterm birth. However, most people around the world don't have access to that technology. Therefore, we have created measurements that can be done with 2-D ultrasound that are very effective to predict pre-term birth", said study author Dr. Ozhan Turan.

In the research, women displaying pre-mature labor symptoms had ultrasound measurement of the cervical length, and fetal adrenal gland dimension.

Under the study, 62 women with premature labor at 23 to 37 weeks gestation were analyzed. Out of these, 22 women had pre-term birth at fewer than 7 days, and 42 women, on the other hand, delivered in 7 days or more from the initial analysis.

Official figures have estimated that nearly 500,000 infants across America and 13 million worldwide are born pre-term every year.