After three IUI attempts, my husband and I were
excited to learn we were pregnant. I spent the first
3 months worried about possible pregnany
difficulties and never dreamed PROM would affect
us after we hit our 6 month mark.
At 24 weeks +4, I started bleeding. Exams showed
that my cervixs were closed, but my amnio fluid
was decreased (to 9 cm). I was sent home on
bedrest and told that I may have had a placental
abruption that was so small it was undetectable via
ultrasound. The next day I started bleeding so
intensely I was admitted to a level 1 hopsital where
I stayed the next 7 weeks. After the 1st weekend, I
was diagnosed with pProm - my fluid level had
dropped to 1cm and would eventualy fluctuate
between zero and 3.8. I spent hours reading PROM
stories and trying to understand what to expect.
My nurses were amazed I never came down with
infection and fetal heartstrips always looked great.
I had ultrasounds twice weekly and would anticipate
days when weights and measures would be
estimated.
There definitely were days when I thought I couldn't
handle the emotional and physical stress. But when
we were told that we would be induced at 34
weeks, I felt confident. I had been given two
steroid shots at 25 weeks and was assured at 34
weeks, the baby would be big enough to regulate
body temperature and take a bottle. Then at 31+4,
the baby failed a biophysical and my labor was
indcued. Since I was not dialating, I was taken for
c-section early morning of March 17, 2006.
Minutes into the procedure, I could hear a muffled
cry - my husband could see our baby girl and said
she was kicking and trying her best to scream. Her
scores were 6 after 1 minute and 8 after 5 minutes.
My husband was taken to her in rescitation minutes
later. She was 3 pounds 9 ounces and 17 1/2
inches long. She was put on a vent for one night
and then a CPAP the second night. By day three,
she was on her own in room air. She spent one
week in the main NICU and then moved to a NICU
special care nursery. Her nurses were wonderful
and she progressed more each day. There were
episodes where she took very shallow breaths and
experienced reflux that obstructed her breathing.
Doctors assured me that as she matured she would
grow out of these problems.
Our daughter Taylor was sent home after only 24
days (just at 35 weeks gestation). She weighed 4
1/2 pounds, bottle fed like a champ, and did not
need home monitoring or other devices to assist
her. She is our miracle baby and we look forward to
seeing her grow more and more each day.
My advice to anyone experiencing PROM is listen to
your doctors, ask questions, and educate yourself
on every possible aspect. My husband and I toured
the NICU prior to our daughter's birth and were
able to have a better understanding of what to
expect. Have faith and If anyone has questions or
needs support, please email me anytime.
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