My husband and I are 27 years old and in
December of 1998, we were vacationing in
Florida. I was pregnant for the first
time with twins. On January 1, 1999 at
2:00a.m., one of the sacs ruptured and
we went to the hospital. The doctors
told me that I would go into labor with
the next 24 hours. I was only 22 weeks
along so they said the babies (boy and
girl) would have no chance of survival.
They placed me on complete bed rest,
stuck me with IVs for fluids and placed
me on antibotics. One of the causes of
PROM is infection so they hoped the
antibotics would help. I was in Florida
for 7 days total. After 3 days in the
first hospital, they transferred me to
another because there were two
perinatologists specialists in high risk
pregnancies at the second hospital. The
specialist was realistic but hopeful. He
said I needed to at least get to 24
weeks gestation in order for the babies
to even have a chance due to lung
development. Given I was only at 23
weeks, they gave me the ok to fly home
to Michigan. I was not having
contractions and if I were to have the
babies they would not survive.
We came home and I was still on bed
rest. We saw a specialist in Michigan
and he was very, very discouraging. He
said even if the babies made it to 24
weeks, the chance of survival is small
and the risk of long term disability is
high. We had to decide at what point we
wanted them to save the children. We
decided that at any time they should
save them. So I was at home and on bed
rest taking only antibotics. I received
2 doses of steriods to develop the lungs
of the babies.
I started having contractions on January
26, 1999. We went to the hospital and I
was admitted. They could not check to
see if I was dilated because this would
risk pushing infection up into the area.
They also decided to only give me
medication to stop the contractions for
2 days. If the contractions where the
result of an infection, they could not
mask them. If I where to get an
infection, the baby and I could die. I
held out for 6 days and the twins were
born on February 2, 1999. Rachel Lynn
weighed 1 pound 12 oz and Justin Thomas
weighed 1 pound 15 oz. I was 26 1/2
weeks along.
I am writing my story because when I was
on bed rest, the only positive
information that I received was from
this site. It was so comforting for me
to know that some of these babies did
well.
Well, here is my success story! Rachel
and Justin spent 3 months in the NICU.
Rachel endured 2 infections, a surgery,
PDA, several days on the ventilator and
many sleepless nights for us. Justin
did well. He had PDA and ROP but spent
most of his time growing. They came home
on alot of medicine, oxygen and
monitors.
Now they are PERFECT 7 month old babies.
No PDA, no lung problems, no medicine,
no oxygen and developmentally sound for
their adjusted age. Praise God!!!
Justin now weighs 15 1/2 pounds and
Rachel weighs 12 pounds.
I hope this success story gives many
people hope.
Kristi
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