I didn't know about PROM until after I
exprienced my PROM on January 29, 2000.
I was only 16.2 weeks at the time of
the rupture. I felt intermittant
leaking during that afternoon and
suddenly I felt spurts of fluid
leaking. My husband took me to the ER
where the doctor on call confirmed that
my amniotic sac had ruptured. The
outlook was grim and he told me that I
would miscarry within 24-48 hours. I
was sent home to watch for infection,
bleeding, labor, to increase fluid
intake and complete bedrest until I saw
my regular ob doc the following Monday.
My husband immediately began to
research PROM and found this site which
gave me hope that my baby would make it
even though the chances were so slim.
I was relieved that I didn't run into
any complications over the weekend and
saw my ob's associate for a follow-up
appointment. On ultrasound, it revealed
that I had completely lost all of the
amniotic fluid and my baby was encased
in the uterus. The doctor recommended
that both my husband and I terminate
the pregnancy due to all the
complications involved with such an
early rupture. Due to our religious
beliefs, we told the doctor we would
not terminate the pregnancy since our
baby's heart was still beating and we
wanted to take it day by day.
The following day, my own ob called me
into the office and wanted to discuss
my situation with him. He, too,
recommended on terminating the
pregnancy. He was even explaining the
procedure and ready to schedule it that
following morning. But we declined and
he referred us to a perinatologist.
Our appointment with the perinatologist
went well and he explained in detail
the various complications to both baby
and I. He told us that it would be less
than 1% chance for us to deliver a
healthy baby to term since I had such
an early rupture and all my fluid was
lost.
I was followed by my ob and the peri
specialist for 3.5 weeks with weekly
ultrasounds still showing no fluid
around my baby. I could feel my baby's
movements and continued to pray for her.
I remember asking my doctor at 19 weeks
if I would ever reseal and he told me
that it would be impossible since I had
already gone nearly 3 weeks without
fluid. He still recommended that we
terminate the pregnancy.
A few days later, I had another
ultrasound and amazingly I had
reaccumulated some fluid and measured
in at a "low normal". The following
week, all my fluid apparently came back
and my leaking had stopped. My baby had
amniotic fluid for her lungs to
develop!! My doctors could not believe
it. She was a miracle in progress!!
During the first 7 weeks after my PROM,
I was on complete bedrest and continued
with increased fluids. After my fluid
levels had returned, I was told I could
be on moderate bedrest. I had
experience some preterm labor during 24-
28 weeks and I was recommended to take
it easy.
When I had reached 34 weeks, my ob
wanted to schedule my c-section at 37
weeks due to my history of a uterine
rupture in 1997. I was scheduled to
have an amnio at 37 weeks to check
baby's lung maturity on June 26th,
2000 at 9:00am and the c-section was
scheduled for June 27th, 2000 at
10:00am. Well, my baby had other
plans... on June 25th, 2000 at about
11:00pm while I was in bed doing my
fetal counts, I felt a strong jolt and
my water broke. My husband and I headed
to the hospital that evening. I gave
birth via c-section to my daughter,
Marisa Kaitlyn O'Brien on June 26th,
2000 at 1:40am. She weighed in at 6
lbs, 1 oz and 18 inches long. Aside
from a hyperextended right leg at birth
which is now healed, she is healthy and
doing well.
I thank God for my miracle baby every
day!! Only he knew what plans were in
store for my child during this
difficult pregnancy. I prayed daily to
keep strong during this emotional time.
Thank you for reading my story.
Maribelle O'Brien
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