I only wish I had found this site
months ago. I have been on pins and
needles for 8 months sure that I would
be affected again by PROM in my
current, and very unexpected
pregnancy. After a rocky start with
lots of mysterious bleeding, terrible
nausea and fatigue, this pregnancy has
been uneventful. We've made it to 35
wks so far and I guess the coast it
clear - PROM now would be OK. I've
been visiting a perinatologist nearly
every week since week 18 to make sure
my cervix is intact and that
everything is going well.
I guess the events of my second
child's birth were a one-time thing.
With him, my membranes ruptured at 23
wks, and thinking - like many others -
that it was stress incontinence, I
ignored it for 4 days. Once I finally
called the OB, I was no longer in
denial. Within hours I was being
transported from the small local
hospital I loved to a large,
university-run complex. It was the
worst ten minute ride of my life - I
was sure I had lost the baby.
As soon as I arrived, a team of high-
risk docs, residents, and students
descended upon me. (I took out my
contacts so I couldn't see their faces
in detail, it was too painful to watch
their expressions since they were all
mostly very pessimistic). (I later
learned that OB's as a rule are less
optimistic about mortality and
morbidity of preemies than
Neonatalogists). Fortunately, the
residents at this particular teaching
hospital were extremely supportive and
hopeful and determined to help me make
it as long as possible - till baby was
viable. I hung on until 25 wks, with
very little fluid around baby, lots of
tests, lots of drugs, and lots of
fear about the potential outcome.
My son arrived after labor that was as
long and painful as my first, full-
term baby. (I thought it would have
been a bit shorter and lighter).
Miraculously, after 101 days in the
NICU , including 7 weeks on a vent and
many, many illnesses, my son came home
on a nasal canula - and no other
complications. Next week he will be 6
yrs old and aside from being
incredibly thin - he is perfect (not
even any asthma), bright, funny and a
complete joy to be around.
|
|
