I ruptured at 16.5 weeks into my first
pregnancy. When I orginally searched
this site I could not find any
encouraging info about early ruptures.
Nor did my doctors seem too encouraged,
though they always insisted that I do
not give up. I was placed on strict
bedrest and told to see my doctor every
two weeks. At 24 weeks I was
transferred to a clinic for high risk
pregnancies. During this time
ultrasounds always revealed low fluid.
Between weeks 22-26 almost no fluid was
detectable. The "pockets" around the
baby were explained as pockets for the
umbilical cord. A level II ultrasound
showed a bell shape chest cavity and
the doctor was extremely concerned that
the baby would have no lungs. But my
husband and I wanted to continue the
fight for our baby.
At 26 weeks I was admitted to the
hospital with almost constant
monitoring of the baby since it would
hit its cord often and slow its
heartbeat considerably. On April 14,
1999 at 28 weeks 4 days I went into
active labor. My son was delivered via
c-section at 5:15a.m. My doctor was
convinced he would not be alive by the
time she finished the surgery. Amazing,
thankfully she was wrong.
My son, Joseph, weighed 2lbs. 4oz. and
was instantly fighting to breathe! He
was on a respirator for 2 days and than
placed under an oxygen tent. 7 days ago
they took the "tent" away and he has
been breathing on his own since. The
doctors are amazed at how well he is
doing and extremely excited to have
another success story for other
women in the same situation. My son
shows no ill effects of the low fluid,
no deformations and had only a sligthly
low birth weight. His bell shaped
chest cavity is no longer noticable and
the doctors believe he will be just
fine and able to come home around his
due date.
It was an extremely hard battle to stay
positive while pregnant, and even
harder some days to continue the
fight. I worried about a delivery
prior to 32 weeks, but now I know I
carried him long enough for success.
I hope I have offered some
encouragement for all PROM's and
especially the early ruptures. The
director of the Perinatal clinic I used
did have a few success stories of early
ruptures, including a 14 week rupture.
So please know that success is
possible, these "little" miracles can
happen!
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