I am writing this 3 months after I
PROMed.
I haven't seen any stories on this
site where the parents elected to
terminate a pregnancy complicated by
PROM. If you might be offended by
such a decision, please don't read my
story.
I was 22 weeks pregnant when I
PROMed. At the time my son was 5 and
my daughter was 2. I am a very
normal, healthy woman with no risk
factors associated with PROM. I've
had no reproductive or pregnancy
issues or problems. I delivered my
son just a few days before his due
date. My water broke with him the
morning of his birth. My daughter was
induced about 5 days before her due
date because my obstetrician was
concerned that it took me 3 hours to
push my son out. Her birth, it turns
out, happened quickly (within 2 hours
of being induced). I had had
amniocentesis with my daughter, and
for the 3rd baby, and had had no
problems with it. I knew that,
genetically, the baby was fine. I had
the amniocentesis 6 weeks before the
PROM. I had been sick the week before
the PROM with a gastrointestinal bug
but had been back to normal a few days
before I PROMed.
I noticed a gush of fluid while I was
taking my son to school. I knew what
was happening because I felt the same
sensations when my membranes broke the
morning of my son's birth. I was very
upset because I knew I would likely
next go into labor, and it was far too
early. I went to my obstetrician who
confirmed what I already knew. He
sent me next door to the same hospital
where I delivered my son and
daughter.
In the hospital, I was told I would
likely go into labor and the baby
would probably expire during birth or
right after. This was an awful thing
to take in. I was surprised to learn
that there is no way (barring the
membranes resealing themselves) that
the amniotic sac can be repaired. I
stayed in the hospital for 2 nights
and continued to leek fluid, but they
let me go home after that, as I had no
signs of infection. My ob and his
partners are excellent and at no time
did anyone do a digital exam. After
researching this topic, I believe my
doctors gave me all the information
currently available. No one knows all
that much about PROM, let alone how to
prevent it (if that is even
possible).
I was NOT advised to induce labor (to
terminate the pregnancy) while in the
hospital. I would have accepted that
option if it were available. There
are 3 major hospitals in our city -
amazingly ALL run by Catholic
Charities. Therefore, we did not get
ANY information about terminating a
pregnancy in the hospital.
I continued to leak amniotic fluid
over the next 2 days but did not go
into labor. I had a sonogram on the
4th day after the PROM, and there
appeared to be no amniotic fluid
left. With nothing happening, my
husband and I became anxious that I
would not go into labor before the
fetus was legally viable. From what I
understand, the age of viability is 24
weeks in the United States. The odds
of the baby surviving at 24 weeks are
low. Even so, we did not want to
deliver a baby at 24 weeks that had
been without amniotic fluid and then
have no say in the outcome. At the
point of viability the hospital would
have to try to keep it alive and it
would be out of our hands.
We got a referral for an obstetrician
who performs abortions and soon found
out how few facilities and doctors are
willing to terminate pregnancies after
the 1st trimester. I can understand
this, and I can understand that some
people think life begins a
conception. I really admire anyone
who fights for the sanctity of life.
I, personally, do not believe a 22
weeks old fetus is a baby.
Fortunately, my husband and I and all
of our family are in agreement on such
matters. I had great support.
We terminated the pregnancy 4 days
after I PROMed.
I was pretty depressed after all of
this. I had had some postpartum
depression after having my son and
daughter, so it was familiar. As far
as anyone knows, this should not
affect another pregnancy. I've had a
period every month since the PROM, so
my husband and I are going to try for
another child soon. I'll update my
story with the, hopefully, normal
results of another pregnancy.
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