My DH and I had to go through IVF to
get pregnant, and when we found out we
were pregnant we were so happy - when
we learned we were having twins, we
were absolutely ecstatic!! However,
early in the pregnancy we started
having problems.
I started bleeding at 8 weeks and
passed several large clots over a
period of about a month. We were given
a 50% chance of carrying to term, but
each time we went in for an ultrasound
the babies hearts were beating
strongly, and they were growing right
on schedule. I couldn't believe how
tough they were at such an early age to
hang in there. I was put on bedrest
until the bleeding stopped, and had to
stop working. When I finally stopped
bleeding around 15 weeks or so, I got
back up and around. We were packing up
our house to move into a bigger one,
and I had so much to do. At about 17
weeks I remember feeling a slight gush.
I thought I was bleeding again, but
when I checked there was no blood. I
thought maybe I was losing control of
my bladder, or maybe it was some kind
of discharge associated with pregnancy.
Since I had never been pregnant before,
I didn't know what was or wasn't
normal. I had a doctor's appointment
scheduled for the next day and remember
thinking "I hope it isn't amniotic
fluid!" I'll never forget the grim
look the ultrasound technician had on
her face when she did our scan and told
us one of the babies didn't have any
fluid in his sac. The ruptured baby was
at the top of my uterus which was very
rare, and they didn't know if there
was a problem with the baby (e.g. he
didn't have any kidneys) or if I had
somehow ruptured. They couldn't get me
to test positive for amniotic fluid
leaking, even though I knew I had
ruptured.
The doctor told us that the outlook was
not good. Apparently 50% of the time a
woman will go into labor within 24
hours of rupturing, and 90% go into
labor within a week of rupturing. They
told us that there was no way to save
the babies, they were too early to be
born; and that the typical advice was
to abort the pregnancy. Abortion was
NOT an option for us. God gave us these
two miracles, and I trusted Him and His
plan for them - whatever that was to
be. I was sent home and told to call if
I started having contractions and going
into labor. I was a nervous wreck, and
since I have never been in labor
before, I thought every twinge I felt
might be "it". When I called the
doctor the next day, they decided to
admit me to the hospital for a few days
of observation to see it I was going to
deliver. We asked if there was any way
to save our one baby who had not
ruptured, but since the ruptured one
was at the top of my uterus, if I went
into labor the "healthy" baby would
be born first, and would not be able to
survive. I told them that I was not
going to go into labor, not going to
get an infection, and these babies were
going to be born when God wanted them
to be. I further told them that I was
glad that the rutpured baby was on top
because his brother could help protect
him and keep him inside me as long as
possible. The doctors liked my
optomistic attitude, but told me I had
to be realistic about the chances of
survival for the twin that had
ruptured. Apparently, there just
aren't that many cases where a baby
who ruptures at 17 weeks (and doesn't
reaccumulate fluid) survives because of
poor lung development or other
problems.
We decided to name our "ruptured"
baby Matthew which means "gift of
God" and the other Michael which means
"one who is like God". The names
seemed to fit perfectly, because if we
all were to survive this it would truly
be a gift from God.
I was sent home on strict bedrest until
I reached 25 weeks of pregnancy at
which time I was admitted to the
hospital until the babies were born.
I spent 9 weeks in the hospital and
every week we would have an u/s to see
if we reaccumulated any fluid (which we
did not), and to see how the babies
were growing (right on schedule).
During my time on bedrest, I did a lot
of research on PROM, and was quite
discouraged to find almost no success
stories of woman who had ruptured as
early as I had. Right before I
delivered, there was one posted on this
sight, and it really helped to read it.
I just knew we were going to have a
success story to post, and I appologize
that it has taken me so long to write
this.
I went into labor at 33.6 weeks, and
delivered vaginally my two precious
miracles. Matthew was born first (he
eventually made his way beneath his
brother), and he came out crying. It
was the most beautiful sound I have
ever heard. He was quite smooshed and
black and blue from being stuck in the
birth canal for so long, but I thought
he was gorgeous. The doctor laid him on
my stomach while he suctioned his nose
and cut the umbilical cord. I am so
thankful for those few moments before
the NICU nurses whisked him away.
Michael was born 20 minutes later feet
first, he also was crying - and so
beautiful. Both weighed around 5 lbs.
The neonatologist was very pessimistic
about the outcome we would have with
Matthew before he was born. "It is
always very bad," she told us. And
just after he was born, a NICU doctor
came in to tell us all the things they
thought were wrong with Matthew: he was
on a ventilator giving him 100% oxygen
(the highest level), his right hip was
dislocated; right knee dislocated;
obstruction in his nasal passages;
obstruction in his intestines; severe
right arm contracture; skull deformity
and possible brain damage. After she
read her list, she asked me if I had
any questions. "Will he live?" is all
I could think to ask. She told me that
he should, but the next 48 hours would
be critical. I was numb, but I knew he
would be OK, and I just kept thanking
God for the miracles He had given us.
Matthew was in the NICU for six weeks,
he came home on a slight amount of
oxygen and apnea monitor for the next
few months (which I don't even think
he needed). He does not have any brain
damage, nor any blockages, his left
knee has been miraculously healed.
Occupational therapy has straightened
his arm almost completely out, and his
hip dislocation is currently being
fixed. Matthew is the happiest,
sweetest little boy with a smile that
brightens up his whole face. He has
some developmental delays since he
hasn't been able to explore his world
like his brother has (NICU, and months
in a full body cast and brace), but he
should be completely caught up well
before he goes to school. His brother,
Michael, didn't require any oxygen,
and came home after two weeks in the
NICU. He is also such an incredible
joy. They were born 7-11-99, so they
celebrated their one year birthday not
too long ago.
PROM is an incredibly difficult thing
to go through, but just remember that
there ARE success stories, and GOD is
AWESOME!!! Trust in Him and His plan
for your life.
If you would like to talk, or want to
know anything else, please feel free to
email me at JillMill4@aol.com.
God Bless You,
Jill
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