Hi. My name is Alison and I'm
currently 32. My history is long and
complicated, but the basic story is
that I underwent infertility
treatments for 2years, during which
time, we suffered several first
trimester losses. In May 2000, we
found out we were preg again,
initially with quads. We lost two
embryos by 9wks (one was an identical
to my daughter), but the remaining two
looked very healthy and we were
excited by the thought of making it
past the first trimester for the first
time. Things went very smoothly.
Because of the rocky start, and the
possibility of the death of the
identical affecting the other, I was
monitored very closely. on modified
bedrest by 24wks, with home uterine
monitoring. No complaints or warning
signs emerged. In fact, everything was
picture perfect. At 30wks, an u/s
showed the babies had slowed growth
slightly, but it wasn't unsual and
they both weighed the same, so that
was promising. Then at 31wks, (in
hindsight) I began feeling slight dull
achiness in my lower back, but it was
relieved by bedrest. 31w2d, I had just
finished monitoring for contractions
(only 2) when I sat up and felt a
gush. There was no denying that the
membranes had ruptured. In panic, I
rushed to the hospital to find that my
duaghter's membranes (she was the
identical) had ruptured. my son's were
fine. They hooked me up to mag sulfate
to control any labor to buy us time to
get the steroids shots for the babies.
It worked, and after the last shot
(48hours on mag), they took me off the
meds. within hours, I was contracting,
but not bad. It was overnight and I
actually slept through most of them,
but the nurses and residents didn't
like what they were seeing on the
babies' monitors. u/s at 2:30am showed
they were not rebounding from the
mag. - hr were very low and they
dipped lower with each contraction. so
the decision was made to do an
emergency c-section. Alyssa and
spencer were born at 4:44am 11/20/00
at 31.5wks. Alyssa initially needed
2hours of ventilation due to the mag
stress, but after that initial period,
all was smooth sailing. They spent 4
and 5wks in the nicu to grow and
regulate temps. they are 2yrs old and
very healthy, average children.
The drs could offer no reasons as to
why the PPROM occured. I tend to think
it was because of the initial
difficulties with the quad preg.,
particularly since it was Alyssa's bag
that broke. but the drs. aren't as
convinced. Alyssa's placenta did have
infection, but the drs say it could
easily have developed after the
membranes had broken. So there are no
real answers for me.
Oh, and I'm currently preg with our
third child. Natural conception and
very surprised. After our last
experience and our history, we had
decided not to try anymore. But we are
happy and looking forward to the new
arrival. I am now considered at high
risk. The drs are particularly
concerned because I delivered more
than 4wks before the average twin
preg. So having twins just doesn't
explain the problems I had. As you
would imagine, I'm hoping for a nice
smooth preg to term, but am trying to
prepare myself a smuch as possible for
complications. I will post a second
story after the delivery. due date is
july 2003
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