I’m not sure specifically when I
PROM’d but it must have happened after
my first trimester screen, which was
done at week 13 at UCSF. I didn’t
need it but did it as a safety
precaution. I was 33 years old and
about to turn 34 in June. The
ultrasound tech pointed out that I had
plenty of fluid. I also found out
later that amniotic fluid is first
made by the mom and then starting in
week 14, the baby starts making the
amniotic fluid by peeing. So I’m
guessing somewhere between week
15/week 16 is when I started to leak.
It was a slow leak because I wasn’t
aware of it. On March 26th, during my
18 week ultrasound to determine
gender, the ultrasound tech pointed
out to us for the first time that my
fluid levels were low at 5cm. I went
to see a Perinatologist the following
week on May 31st and it was suggested
that I terminate but I had until week
24 to make that decision. I was told
to stop exercising until they figured
out why my amniotic fluid was so low
and to come back two weeks later for
another ultrasound. The initial
diagnosis was either that the baby’s
kidneys were not developed or that the
placenta had not attached properly to
the uterus at conception. Finally, on
June 14th, at 20 weeks, I had my first
real gush (the day of my next
ultrasound appointment) and it was
then that I was officially diagnosed
with PROM and put on mandatory bed
rest. My AFI level had dropped down
to 3cm. That was the beginning of my
14 weeks of bed rest. The doctors (I
had two Perinatologists) both agreed
that I would either go into labor on
my own soon (before viability) or if I
was lucky enough to carry to term, the
baby had a slim chance of being
healthy and “normal”. I have to admit
that we almost terminated. I did some
research online and came across an
organization called Sidelines and they
paired me up with a woman in Kansas
named Linda who had also PROM’d seven
years ago and had a successful
outcome. I have to say that she was
the first person to give me hope. She
was also the one who told me about
www.kanalen.org/prom/ . Linda made
contact on June 22, 2006 and after an
hour long phone conversation, I knew
in my heart that I would not
terminate.
I read all of the stories from week 15
through 17 and found a lot of useful
information, especially about how to
keep infection away and what to take
to keep my membranes strong. I
immediately sent my husband to the
store to buy flax seed, vitamin E oil,
Wheat Germ Oil and Fish Oil. I took a
tablespoon of each every day, in
addition to my prenatal vitamin and
vitamin C. And of course, lots of
water and cranberry juice. I
continued my bed rest at home and at
one point, my fluid levels increased
to 8cm but it mainly hovered around
5cm, so whatever I was doing was
working. At week 24 (viability), my
doctors checked me in to the hospital
to start my steroid shots and
antibiotics. My fluid levels were at
4.6cm. They wanted me on strict bed
rest, which meant no bathroom
privileges, but I fought that and by
day 2, they gave me back my bathroom
privileges. That one week stay in the
hospital increased my AFI to 8.8cm so
I begged to be released to continue my
bed rest at home. My main reason for
wanting to continue my bed rest at
home was because of my 3.5 year old
son. If I did not have another child
at home, I would have just stayed at
the hospital for the duration.
After three weeks of AFI levels
between 5cm-8cm, I started getting out
of bed more so I could pick up around
the house. That was a mistake. I
started bleeding the next day. My
second stay at the hospital was only
for 48 hours, mainly for observation
and with an IV to increase fluids.
They discharged me again and I stayed
in bed, at home for another month. I
was doing well again at home and my
weekly AFI’s fluctuated between 5cm-
7cm. If everything continued as is, I
could stay home and induce in week 35
with a 90% chance of having
an “intact” baby. But on September
3rd, Labor Day weekend, I started
spotting again with clots and I was
checked back into the hospital for the
duration of my pregnancy. I also
developed Vertigo (which I still have
to this day) but my doctor doesn’t
think it was pregnancy related. My
fluid levels were back down to 3cm.
We decided to induce in week 34 and
picked Monday, September 18th. Since
the baby’s head was still down, I
could still have a vaginal delivery
unless there was a cord issue. The
day of inducement, I was given pitosin
at 9:30am and at 4:31pm our son was
born. Francois “Frankie” Peter Presta
weighed 5 lbs 1.4 ounces and measured
18 inches long…a lot bigger than we
expected. He did not need oxygen but
because he was less than 35 weeks, had
to go to the NICU immediately. He
ended up staying in the NICU for a
week. He developed jaundice, as we
expected and treated, but our biggest
concern was eating and weight gain.
He has lost about 8% of his body
weight but I am happy to report he is
eating more enthusiastically now.
My husband and I know how lucky we are
and I credit this website and all the
PROM queens that supported me through
this journey. Without you, Frankie
would not be a part of our family. My
advice to all you women that are in
the midst of your ordeal, stay
positive, ask questions, and take
charge of your care. The women on
this site have so much more real life
answers and experience, more so than
all the medical professionals that I
encountered.
In hindsight, I think the reason I
PROM’d was because of a sinus
infection (my first ever) I had in the
first trimester. I didn’t want to
take the antibiotics prescribed
because I knew I was pregnant but the
infection stayed with me for two weeks
which might have weakened my
membranes. My first pregnancy was a
breeze with no complications and
because I was still under 35 years old
and healthy, there was nothing else
that would indicate that I would be a
PROM candidate. I did not have an
amniocentesis. Of course I will never
know for sure.
If you would like to ask me specific
questions, please feel free to email
me at mirapresta@gmail.com.
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