I had an ultrasound at 17 weeks because
I thought I had a spot of blood. U/S
showed healthy baby, no problems, lots
of fluid. About a week later I noticed
some wetness in my panties. I read that
some discharge is normal and tried not
to worry, especially since I had just
been the week prior and everything was
OK. For the next 5 days I noticed by
the end of each day my panties were wet.
I did not feel any leaking. My husband
said that maybe we should get it checked
out. There was no strong odour or
colour. I went to the Emergency Room
and waited over 5 hours. I was 19
weeks, 6 days. Because I wasn't 20
weeks the L&D specialists wouldn't see
me. The ER doctors finally did a litmus
paper test - the piece of paper against
my vagina did not change colour so they
said it was unlikely that I was leaking
amniotic fluid. The checked my cervix &
I was not dialated. The ER doctor made
an appointment for me to have an u/s the
following day.
I went to the same u/s clinic that I had
over a week before. The u/s showed that
I had lost about half the amniotic fluid
around the baby. I was down to an AFI
(amniotic fluid index) of about 5. The
doctor that met with us was a High Risk
Pregnancy specialist, he was very
compassionate but said there was little
chance that the baby would make it. He
said that while the baby was OK right
now there was not enough fluid for
future growth, and it was very unlikely
that the fluid would replenish itself.
He said that it was suprising that I had
not gone into labour already, and that
there was only a 10% chance of baby
surviving. If baby did survive there
was a high risk of brain damage, lung
development problems, deformed limbs etc
because there would not be enough fluid
for baby to grow properly. In addition,
with a hole somewhere in the sack there
was a high risk of infection getting
into the uterus and causing brain damage
to baby. We were devastated and felt
totally helpless. With the tears going
down my face I tried to think of all the
questions to ask. The doctor suggested
that we consider termination as the odds
were so much against us. We asked if
there was anything we could possibly do
to save the baby and increase the fluid.
He said we could try bedrest, and that
while it was not proven to help in these
situations, it would not hurt to give it
a chance.
After a very difficult week of bedrest
we went back to the doctor for another
u/s. There was no change in my AFI
level. Another week of bedrest, and
still no change. I then got a laptop
and went on the Internet to see what I
could find. The PROM support group on
Babycenter.com gave me the information
and incredible support (particularly
Roberta - if anyone has been on the
website they will know who I am talking
about).
After chatting on the PROM bulletin
board, and reading other people's
experiences, I tried increasing the
water I drank while maintaining bedrest.
The next weekly ultrasound showed a
slight increase in AFI, from 5 to 7. It
remained at 7 for the next visit also.
Finally I felt some encouragement. The
doctor was encouraged, but still
mentioned termination as a
consideration. We wanted to give it
another couple of weeks. I was not sure
if I could terminate my baby, who,
according to all other tests was
perfectly healthy but due to low fluid
could have serious problems as she grew
in utero. My husband & I wished that
mother nature would make the decision
for us - we felt inadequate to make such
a terrible decision. If our baby was to
die we would rather it happen naturally
than have to terminate. This was the
worst time in our lives.
I read some more on the PROM bulletin
board and increased my water intake even
more, to at least a gallon a day. I was
on full bedrest, allowed to get up only
to have a 5 minute shower a day and to
go to the bathroom. With a gallon of
water a day I was going to the bathroom
a lot. I still noticed wetness in my
panties, but felt no leaking. The new
litmus paper I received from the High
Risk Specialist showed positive for
amnio fluid (the paper in the hospital
could have been old & ineffective).
Once I increased the water I drank the
fluid my weekly ultrasound showed my
fluid was at a 10 - in the normal/low.
If I could maintain that level my baby
should have a good chance of surviving
and being healthy. We decided to
continue the battle. The weekly
ultrasounds continued. The bedrest was
emotionally and physically difficult on
my husband and I. It was lonely, and I
cried a lot. Our family and friends
were very supportive, and I could not
have made it without the support of the
ladies on the PROM bulletin board on
Babycenter.com. My husband would pack a
cooler with my breakfast and lunch and 8
bottles of water and put it beside the
bed. I ordered books online, used the
laptop and watched some TV. I also
stayed on my left side as much as
possible, switching to my right as my
joints ached. Occasionally I would lay
on my back with a pillow under one hip
so all the weight was not on my back. I
did not use a pillow for the first
while, tried to stay as flat a possible,
with a pillow only under my legs. The
swelling and water retention was
terrible. I developed carpal tunnel in
my wrists so it became painful to type
or hold a book for long.
The weeks passed, and the u/s showed the
AFI stayed around 9 or 10. Eventually
we went to bi-weekly u/s. I developed
gestational diabetes and was so
discouraged - why this on top of
everything else. My husband then had to
follow a strict plan when preparing my
meals. We were both emotionally
drained, fighting a daily battle for a
baby we were still not sure would make
it or be healthy.
Our goal initially was to make itto 27
weeks to give the baby the best chance
at normal development. Each day the
baby was in utero was a miracle, and I
read that each day in utero was 3 less
days in ICU for a premature baby. We
mentally prepared ourselves for a
preemie and I checked the web pages for
how to care for a preemie. Our goal
then became 30 weeks. Our goal then
became 32 weeks. Every day after that
was amazing! We were thrilled. I was
so uncomfortable but so happy. The skin
on my inner thighs was so swollen that
it was painful to be touched. By 32
weeks even the bedsheet moving against
the skin was painful.
Each u/s throughout showed our little
girl was doing so well. She never
changed position, was always Frank
Breech (legs straight up with feet at
her face). I had a scheduled c-section
(after a failed inversion - attempt at
turning the baby).
Our beautiful and perfectly healthy baby
girl was born July 23rd, 2002, at
37weeks, 4 days, weighing 7lbs, 110z.
She was in ICU only for 1 night because
her blood sugar level dropped.
She is now 7 months old and the absolute
sunshine in our lives. The 14 weeks of
bedrest is now a blur - typing this I
have no idea how we made it. It was a
time that we will never forget, but will
not dwell on. It is stored in the back
of our minds and our hearts for
occasional pondering and we watch our
little gift from the angels, our little
miracle baby grow into a beautiful
child. I believe that Keeley Ella has
some very special angels that look over
her and I secretly occasionally take the
time to say thank you to them and ask
that they continue to watch over her.
For anyone reading this, please do not
lose hope. Get support, do not be
afraid to ask for help, believe in
yourself, take bedrest seriously and
drink tons and tons of water until you
want to throw up. Make sure you are
being closely monitored by a
specialist.
There is no guarantee of a good
outcome, but never regret a good fight
for your baby. Miracles do happen.
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