My PROM story has a very positive
outcome, and I have become very aware
of how blessed I am to have a healthy
6 yr old son.
At 30 weeks gestation I presented
to my OB with leaking amniotic fluid,
was diagnosed with PROM, having
contractions 2 min. apart, and
prepared for delivery. I had always
heard that delivery must follow
ruptured membranes within a day or so,
so I was fearful that I would be
delivering a baby 10 weeks premature.
I had also been told that white, male
babies developed lung maturity latest,
leading to increased anxiety. My
doctor discussed with me the option of
attempting to "stop" labor "for any
amount of time we can" to allow for
lung maturity and overall fetal
maturity. I was started on magnesium
sulfate, injectable terbutaline, and
finally oral terbutaline. I was given
IV fluids to prevent dehydration,
total bed rest, antibiotics to prevent
infection, Betamethasone steroid
injections for fetal lung maturity
and constant fetal monitoring and
ultrasounds. The doctor was only
hoping for several extended days of
pregnancy, but since the baby
was "doing well" we were able to
maintain the pregnancy for 37
additional days(21 consecutive days in
the hospital and the remainder at home
with electronic monitoring. My son
William was born at 35 weeks gestation
with full lung maturity and healthy,
and only had to remain hospitalized
for 7 days due to pneumonia, secondary
to fluid aspiration during birth. I am
truely blessed and grateful to a
competent and aggressive team of
Doctors, Nurses and Perinatologists.
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