This was my fourth pregnancy after
three perfectly normal pregnancies and
births. The only thing different about
this pregnancy was that I became
pregnant while taking birth control
pill. Everything was going along very
well except for a lot of morning
sickness that was common in all of my
other pregnancies.
At 21w 2d, my membranes ruptured in the
evening. I spent four days in the
hospital and was put on antibiotics.
My husband and I were told at the time
that it was highly likely that I would
go into labour within 48 hours and
because the baby was under 24 weeks it
was not considered a viable pregnancy
so it was unlikely to survive. I spent
the next four days in hospital I
worried about every cramp that I
thought I could feel. However, labour
did not occur and I was sent home on
bedrest. I continued to take oral
antibiotics for the duration of the
pregnancy. I stayed off my feet as
much as possible. At 24w I received
betamethazone (steroids) in the
hospital. I continued to spot blood
now and then but nothing significant
and no fluid loss. Every week the
fluid was at a higher level. It
reached a high of 7.3 cm at 25w 6d.
At 26w 1d I started a major bleed and
lost lots of fluid. I was taken to the
hospital where I started cramping and
had pain for about an hour. The
physician actually ordered an induction
of labour because of the bleeding and
pain. As soon as that order was
issued, everything stopped completely
and labour was not induced. I was put
on antibiotics and hospitalized on
bedrest for the duration of the
pregnancy. I continued to bleed small
to moderate amounts everyday and my
fluid levels went up and down. The
highest it was in the hospital was 5.0
and it went down as low as 1.4 cm. I
continued on oral antibiotics in the
hospital, had fetal non stress tests
daily as well as 2-3 ultrasounds per
week. The baby was always fine in
spite of all the bleeding and fluid
loss. At 30w I had another dose of
betamethazone. At 30w 1d I had another
major bleed and the fluid went down to
1.9 cm. I began to have contractions
that would last awhile then quit. The
major bleed slowed down but I continued
to bleed throughout in small to
moderate amounts. I would occasionally
have heavier bleeds and was taken to
labour and birthing unit for
monitoring. This happened on at least
six occasions.
At 31w my obstetrician consulted
another obstetrician, more of a
specialist in this area, regarding my
situation and when to deliver. We were
disheartened to read his report in my
patient record. He felt the prognosis
was “solemn” and that often in this
situation the baby’s lungs do not
mature. But we refused to believe the
worst even though we tried hard to
maintain realistic expectations.
At 34w my obstetrician decided to try
to obtain a sample of amniotic fluid.
Since my membranes were ruptured an
amniocentesis was not possible and the
sample would have to be collected
vaginally by a bedpan. This test was
unsuccessful however, because of the
gross contamination of every sample
with blood.
At 35w, my obstetrician ordered an
induction of labour. The decision was
based on the low level of fluid (fluid
was at its lowest and not replenishing
anymore), risk of infection and risk of
the continued bleeding.
This labour was the smoothest I had
ever had and easiest delivery. Emma
Elizabeth was born at exactly 35w
gestation and we were delighted that
she came out crying. She weighed 5 lbs
5 oz at birth. She did come out a
little squished (from lack of fluid).
I got to hold her after delivery for a
few minutes and then neonatal took her
as she turned a little blue. She was
intubated for 12 hours. After 12 hours
she came off of all respiratory
support. She was such a strong little
girl that she even ripped out her own
nasal oxygen. And she didn’t need it!
Her lungs were mature! She spent seven
days in the neonatal unit, four of
those in intensive care. She had
jaundice and spent a few days under the
lamps but that is normal for many
babies. We worried about everything –
as we had been advised all along in the
pregnancy of all the things that could
go wrong. We worried about vision,
hearing, infection, limb compression
and everything else. One by one all of
our fears were dismissed as she was
tested for infection and given
ultrasounds on her hips, cranial and
kidneys and all came back normal. She
was breathing well and her lungs were
normal! Her feet were a little twisted
and her legs didn’t seem to straighten
very well. All of this straightened
out in the weeks that followed and she
has no problems now.
When we brought her home she weighed 5
lbs. (at one week old). At ten weeks,
she weighed over 10 lbs.
Emma is a beautiful baby and aside from
her difficult gestational period, she
is no different from any of our other
children. At three months old she
gains weight at a healthy rate, feeds
well, smiles and coos at us, sees well,
hears well and sleeps well.
We know that Emma is a gift and that it
is not normal to have PROM for 14
weeks.
All along every nurse and doctor told
us that this is not the norm. I
continued to defy the odds right up to
the end. I never had infection and was
always able to retain some fluid,
especially around the baby. I never
went into labour by myself so I’m not
sure how much longer the pregnancy
would have gone on if I had not been
induced into labour.
I want to post my story here because I
know how hard it is to go through this
situation and how important it is to
have hope. Doctors will not always
tell you everything and sometimes don’t
tell you that it is perfectly possible
for the pregnancy to continue and the
baby to be fine. Perhaps they don’t
want to promise anything and want you
to maintain realistic expectations. I
found a lot of peace in knowing that
other women have been through this and
their babies were fine.
I never once believed that I would lose
my baby in spite of the odds of it
happening. We did, however, understand
that whatever was going to happen would
happen and there wasn't much we could
do about it except have faith.
There are four pieces of advice I would
give to anyone in the same situation:
never be discouraged by what doctors
say (they have been wrong); have
patience while you are on bedrest
(everyday really is one day better for
the baby);
it IS possible for your baby to
continue to develop and be born
perfectly healthy after PROM and, most
importantly, always have faith,
miracles do happen!
|
|