I had a very normal pregnancy up until I
had an AFP test come back with high %
risk for Down Syndrome. My doctor
recommended that I get an amniocentisis
even though I am only 29 years old. I
went that same day to get it done. 5
Days later I woke up in the middle of
the night with leaking fluid. I was not
sure what it was, But I knew it was not
right. I called the doctor and they told
me to come in the morning. They said
that the fluid level was lower but not
too bad. They said that most amnio
complications happen within 48 hours and
I was way beyond that window at 120
hours later, so they could not rule out
that this leaking was from the amnio or
from a PROM. later that day I kept
leaking and leaking. I tried to remain
so still to stop it from happening but
everytime I went to the bathroom or
moved slightly it kept happening. That
night I started bleeding as well. My
husband rushed me to the hospital and I
was SURE that I was having a miscarriage
and that it was the beginning of the end
of my pregnancy. I kept bleeding and
leaking in the hospital, it was awful. I
spent the night in the hospital and had
an internal exam, which showed that the
fluid was at a 7AFI. The next morning I
was seen by maternal fetal medicine and
they said that my AFI was down to 4,
which is dangerously low. They highly
recommended that I terminate the
pregnancy. They said that the baby was
in jeopardy of all kinds of problems and
that I was as well for risk of infection
which would compromise me and the baby's
well being. Despite their dismal
recommendations my husband & I wanted to
know what most people would do in my
case and they said that most would
terminate. I asked about the people that
chose not to and he said that some don't
for religious reasons, but he had no
idea how their babies ended up doing
because no one kept in touch with him.
We decided to go against what he
suggested and try to keep the baby. My
OB agreed with this and said that it was
up to us what we wanted to do, but that
if at any time I spiked a fever over 100
that they would have to terminate. I
spent a total of 9 days in the hospital
including new years eve- the longest of
my life. My husband was on bed-pan duty
with me, which seems crazy to me now.. I
stopped leaking and my AFI level kept
rising and rising that by the time I
left the hospital it was up to 13 again!
I still continued to bleed, which
eventually subsided after 2 weeks or so.
TO this day they still don't know why I
was bleeding. I drank gallons of water
and remained at a reverse incline 24
hours a day and was on strict bedrest. I
continued the bed rest when I got home
but started to use the bathroom and
shower again.. For the duration of my
pregnancy my AFI level always remained
at normal levels. I had MANY ultrasounds
and they always showed a normal healthy
growing baby. One June 1st, 39 weeks and
5 days, I delivered naturally a healthy
baby boy- 6lb's 15 oz. Cole. My water
broke the same way that it had at week
17 but this time it was ok because I was
finally due to deliver! There were no
complications with my pregnancy or my
delivery after the amniotic fluid levels
rebuilt. But I was on bed rest until
week 32.
Cole is 4 months old and is a perfectly
healthy boy! I look at him everyday and
think what I could have done and it
blows my mind how a decision like that
can change everything. You are given the
facts and you have to decide what is
best for you. I chose to put my faith in
God and hoped that he would lead me down
the right path, and he has.
I found this website to be the only
helpful site out there for women in my
situation. I read every story while I
lay in the hospital bed trying to figure
out if I should keep my baby. The good
stories gave me hope and the sad stories
gave me perspective. Although I am one
of the lucky ones after a complicated
amnio, I still faced the impossible
decision which you are all facing...
Please feel free to contact me if you
would like advice, I would be more than
happy to help in any way that I can.
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