When Mike and I decided to start our
family, we thought it would take at
least six months. Two weeks later, we
were surprised, scared, anxious, and
thrilled (all at the same time) with a
positive pregnancy test. I had a
relatively easy first trimester with
minimal morning sickness, and a brief
bleeding scare at 10 weeks. After an
ultrasound confirmed that our baby was
was okay, we continued on with the
pregnancy...looking forward to the
addition of our baby.
Twenty-two weeks later, when we
thought everything was perfect, I
began to have a leaking feeling every
time I stood up or sat down. After a
few hours, I decided to stop drinking
fluids to try to determine if I was
peeing my pants or leaking amniotic
fluid. Even four hours after I had
ceased hydration, I was still
leaking. Nearly twelve hours after
the initial leaking feeling, Mike and
a friend convinced me that I needed to
call the doctor.
The doctor asked me to come into L&D
and informed me that, if my sac had
ruptured, I would be staying in the
hospital until delivery...which would
most likely be within 48 hours. I had
pooling of liquid at the cervix, as
well as a positive paper and fern
test. It was confirmed that my water
was broken.
I was immediately admitted for the
remainder of my pregnancy. Mike and I
were shocked, devastated, and scared
for our baby. I was given lung
steroid shots for the baby,
antibiotics to ward off infection, and
IV fluids to replenish my hydration
levels. My obstetrician and nurses
were absolutely wonderful. When I
passed the 48 hour mark, they were
thrilled. When I passed the week
mark, they were shocked.
I started having contractions one week
after my water had broken. Since I
was far enough into viability and
since my baby had been given the
steroid shots, we didn't try to stop
the labor. Thankfully, my body didn't
kick into full labor for another
week.
At 34 weeks 2 days, I started having
regular painful contractions. Nearly
20 hours of labor and 3 hours of
pushing later, Ruby Elizabeth was born
on Super Bowl Sunday 2007. Mike and I
were overwhelmed and incredibly
grateful.
Unfortunately, Ruby's lungs were still
too premature, and she immediately
started having respiratory distress.
She was immediately taken to the Level
III NICU and intubated. Twelve hours
later, she was put on CPAP. Twenty
four hours after that, she had weaned
completely down to room air. She
struggled with jaundice, acid reflux,
and gaining weight. However, after 7
days in the NICU, she was released to
come home with us.
Today, Ruby is a healthy, feisty, and
fun little girl. We are so thankful
for the technology that gave her the
chance at life. We are also currently
pregnant with her little brother. I
have pPROM'd again (at 17 weeks), and
I am currently on extremely strict
bedrest, trying to get him as far into
viability as possible. Hopefully, I
will have another successful pPROM
story in a couple of weeks.
Good luck to all! pPROM can be a
lonely diagnosis. I don't know anyone
else in real life who has dealt with
this condition, much less multiple
times. I wish you all the best, and I
want you to know that you aren't
alone, and you can do it!
To keep up with our family, visit our
blog:
http://www.not2us.net/blog
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