My husband and my PROM story began in
late April of 2003 after an
amniocentesis. I was 18 weeks pregnant
after having gone through our first in-
vitro cycle. My husband and I were both
40 and had tried unsuccessfully for
three years to get pregnant. I had been
told to limit my activities as there
had been some concerns with bleeding
and an inital concern from the
fertility doctors as to the viability
of the baby, (they seemed to think at
nine weeks that embryo would
spontaneously abort and suggested a D&C
which I declined).
At 18 weeks I went in for an amnio, and
was slightly concerned when the
Perinatologist had difficulty
penetrating the amniotic sac with her
needle. From the monitor you could see
the needle pressing against the sac,
but not puncturing. She released
pressure and tired again and was
successful. My husband and I found out
that we were having a boy and I was
sent home with limited activity for the
next 72 hours.
Five days later in the evening I
noticed that I was leaking some clear
fluid, I was intially concerned, but
then it stopped. The next morning I
was scheduled to fly to Los Angeles for
work which I did, as the leaking had
stopped. While in LA, I was in a store
with my mother when I felt a gush of
fluid, which I knew was not a good
sign. I flew back home that night and
went into to the hospital the next day.
While in the waiting room I had another
gush of fluid, and broke down in sobs
thinking that I was losing the baby.
When the Perinatologist who had given
me the amnio came to check on me, she
saw that my fluid level was extremely
low and sent me home on bedrest. She
said that it was highly unusual that I
would go five days after the amnio and
then have a leak as the highest risk is
within the first 72 hours after the
amnio.
At approximately 24 weeks the
neonatologists told me that I had less
than a 50/50 chance of having a healthy
baby. My AFI scores were at 5, and
they felt that with so little fluid the
babies lungs would not be developed
enough for him to breathe once he was
delivered. In other words they thougth
there was the possiblity that I could
go close to term, but that when I did
deliver, even with the respirators his
lungs wouldn't be sufficiently
developed enough to oxygenate his body,
and he would die. I understand that
the Dr.s were not trying to sway us in
one way or another, but let us know
that if we decided to end the pregnancy
that we would have to make that choice
before 26 weeks. My husband and I
decided to continue regardless of the
consequences. They also warned us of
the risk of infection due to the
ruptured memebranes, in which case if
the baby was not yet viable they would
not try and save the baby but let
nature take it's course. I stayed on
complete bedrest from 18 weeks until I
was admitted into the hospital at 31
weeks after I started having
contractions. Other than taking
antiobiotics for Strep B, I had no
other infections. I never thought in
my wildest dreams I would be able to
endure three and a half months of
bedrest. I'm a runner, and can't stand
sitting still for long. Thanks to the
wonderful incredible support of my
husband family and friends I made it
through. I used this website as well
and read the stories of the women that
were at my stage of pregnancy, trying
not to focus on those whose babies
didn't make it, but also admiring them
for their courage in sharing their
stories, and knowing that I could very
well be in the same position. So thank
you to all of you! My amniotic sac
never resealed and I leaked fluid
throughout my pregnancy, though at
times my AFI was as high as 12.
At 31 weeks, a day after I was my baby
shower, (I lay on the couch with my
best girlfriends and family surrounding
me), I started having contractions.
They were not terribly strong but
consistent. After six hours the Dr.
suggested that I go to the hospital
where they put me on monitors and gave
me the steroid injection for the babies
lungs on the cahnce I would deliver in
the next 48 hours. They also put me on
Terbutaline immediately. I lasted on
the Terb for about a week until they
became concerned that it was causing my
blood pressure to drop dangeroulsy
low. They switched me to Nephetipine
(sp) which I lasted on for a week when
until they took me off due to adverse
reactions. They felt that they baby
would be fine if I went on to deliver.
Calvin Austin was born at 4:14 am on
August 1st 2003, through a normal
vaginal delivery. His apgar was 4 and
then 8. He was taken immediatley to
the NICU, where he was put on CPAP, but
was taken off the first day for a nasal
canula. I was able to kangaroo with
him the first day. Cal spent three
weeks in the hosptial where I was with
him everyday. I am so thankful to live
in the Bay Area where we had access to
Cal Pacific Medical Center with a level
three NICU. The care was fabulous, the
NICU nurses were the best, and we
learned so much from them. Cal is now 6
1/2 months weighs nearly 17lbs. He's a
healthy happy bundle of joy for my
husband and I. So keep the faith, you
can endure!
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