Preterm Premature Rupture Of Membranes

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Shelley's PROM Story by Shelley, Indianapolis, Indiana USA
PROM at 16 + 0 weeks, delivery at 29 + 0 weeks
Mail: Shelleyr_us@yahoo.com Story added 2004-01-07

38 years old is not old anymore to become pregnant. However it does present different risks. I was automatically in a category – High Risk. When I finally became pregnant for the first time I had an exam and was told I had an infection. Because I was in my first trimester I couldn’t get any antibiotics. In the 4th month I finally did get them.

One evening in my 4th month I went to let the dogs outside and felt a drip go down my leg. I did not sneeze or cough. It had no color or odor. I told my OB about this at my next exam and HE said “welcome to motherhood”. He said this was urine. I was directed to a high risk Dr. the next week that was to do the ultrasound (only because I was high risk- age). My AFI (amniotic fluid level) was at around 3. Normal I understand is 10-12. The next month I went to my OB I told him I was still leaking and he did a swab test and said it was negative for amniotic fluid. My next visit to the high risk Dr. was the same low number. (I saw each Dr. monthly) It was agreed upon between the two doctors to do a dye injection to see if the dye would come out. When I went to that test my AFI was now at near zero. I believe that the fluid stayed in as long as it did because the baby's head was down keeping in what little fluid I had. There was no where to inject the dye safely. I was told to stay on bed rest at the hospital. I was entered at 24+ weeks and built up my fluid level to around a 5-6 number. None of the doctors would tell me what the cause was but it is my belief that it was the infection that weakened the sac wall. My second problem was placenta abruption. My placenta was slowly tearing away from the uterus wall. The bleeding during those 4 weeks continued to increase to a point where it put me into labor. My son weighed 2 pounds and 12 ounces at birth.

I thank GOD every day I am from a larger city and was already at a hospital. The hospital is connected by tunnels to the children hospital and when my son was delivered he was rushed out of the room, put on a ventilator and taken to the children’s hospital. I was there every day with him. He stayed at the children’s hospital 10 days and then moved back to the first hospital. A total of 2 months and I got to take my son home healthy.

My second observation was that I knew all the risks I kept a positive attitude! My son will make it!! The stress and pressure from my being excited and worried would only make the problem worse. Was I worried - you bet. Also staying with him after delivery was another key. They did what they call Kangaroo Care. They laid him on my skin (wires and all) and he could feel my heat (and daddy’s) and hear us. This was all part of the hospital’s program that showed infants positive response to this activity.

My hospital had a group for the moms there to talk once a week in a group setting while on bed rest. My stay we had 5-8 women on the ward and it was so good to find out about what happened to them. Please try to stay positive and make friends. Keep an activity – reading, needlework, something. Best of luck and God bless you for the effort you have to want this new life!

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