Since getting married in September
last year Zoë & I have been trying for
our 1st child. After many months of
trying, Zoë finally became pregnant in
April 2002.
After the 1st 8 Weeks Zoë suffered
quite badly with Morning Sickness up
until week 22.
At week 25 Zoë had a 24Hr stomach bug
which made her sick a few times, but
that had cleared by the following day.
A weeks later (26+3) Zoë woke me in
the early hours to tell me she thought
her waters had broken, I had never
heard of PROM, so thought the baby had
probably moved onto her bladder and
caused her to involuntarily urinate -
I'm ashamed to say I went back off to
sleep.
The next morning Zoë woke and said she
was still loosing some fluid so she
went off to the doctors who diagnosed
PROM, and shifted her straight into
the Labour Ward.
After lots of tears and monitoring Zoë
was given some steroids and placed
onto a hospital ward with regular
Fetal monitoring, bloods for CRP &
White Cell counts and temperature
checks.
We were told it was unlikely we would
make it another 2 days and to add to
the stress there where no Special care
baby beds available so if she started
to labour we would have to be
relocated to another hospital.
2 Days passed and the doctors seemed
genuinely pleased, however they said
the odds were stacked against us
unless we could make it to 28 weeks.
After a total stay of 5 days in the
hospital without any sign of labour
they decided to discharge Zoë, on
permanent bed rest. I wasn't overly
happy with this to start with given
that things were going well where she
was and the target date was 28 Weeks.
The doctors persuaded me that the
biggest risk now was of infection, and
as hospitals are full of sick people
home was probably a better place.
At home I had to recruit relatives and
friends to help police Zoë from doing
anything - NOT EASY!
As she left the hospital Zoë was
prescribed anti biotic to prevent any
infection.
We were told to report back top the
hospital twice weekly for regular
checkups, repeat bloods and scans
etc...
2 Weeks after the original PROM I
asked if the steroid injections would
be repeated, the doctor seemed to
consider this for some time before
agreeing explaining that there are
varying opinions as to whether
continued steroids have a positive
effect.
Following the second course of
steroids the Base line of the Fetal
heart rate jumped just over 160,
Zoë’s temperature soared, as did
her white cell count.
They sent her home with the express
instructions to rest and return 1st
thing the following day. The next day
the results had seemed to return to
normal.
Later that afternoon Zoë started to
have contractions - Back into Hospital
and they still had no SCBU beds
available when the contractions got to
4 Minutes apart they decided to move
Zoë to another hospital 45 Minutes
away by ambulance - Full Blues and
Two’s!
To ensure baby didn't arrive in the
back of an ambulance Zoë was treated
to slow down the contractions, this
made Zoë completely delirious within a
couple of minutes of it being
administered.
Upon arrival at the new hospital, the
drugs had over performed and stopped
the contractions.
The new consultant decided to stop the
anti biotic treatment (In hind sight I
question this decision?)
The following day, the baby had a
bowel movement whilst still in the
womb, not nice, this is apparently a
sign of stress and almost unheard of
before 34 Weeks, after monitoring the
baby seemed happy, so we left it
another Night.
Week 29 Day 3 - 8:30AM after an hours
drive in rush hour traffic I receive
an urgent call saying if I do not
arrive soon the baby will come without
me. I Made it just in time!
An emergency c-section took just 15
Minutes, as our Darling little Ellie
was lifted above the screen for us to
see she opened her tiny eyes and took
a big gulp of air.
They whisked her away and seconds
later we heard her tiny little voice,
apparently all unaided, she was
whisked off to be placed on an
incubator where she has been happily
laying all day.
At 2lb 9Oz she is just the tiniest
thing I have ever seen.
The doctors are so far really pleased
with her progress!
Over the past few weeks this site has
been a real comfort for my wife and I.
When dealing with such a problem it is
difficult not to feel like
you’re the only one, or feel
that some how it is your fault.
My heart goes out to any parent who
has to cope with this problem, I would
love to hear other stories
particularly from PROM fathers - it
seems to be the only thing lacking on
this site !
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