After experiencing PROM with my
daughter at 32 weeks, I had been
advised that I had a 50% chance of
PROM'ing again with subsequent
pregnancies. My doctor also surmised
that the PROM would happen
earlier.
We weren't trying to get pregnant this
time, but the positive result was
unmistakable. We were both nervous
and unsure of the future.
Wednesday morning, June 18, 2008, I
woke up feeling very wet. Everytime I
sat down or stood up, I felt a wet
gush. Remembering the feelings from
Ruby's PROM, I called my OB and made
an appointment.
The doctor walked into the room and
stated, "I sure hope your water hasn't
broken. If so, this baby won't
live." I burst into tears, as I
scooted myself down into the
stirrups.
Minutes later, the doctor returned
with the horrible news. At 17w5d, my
amniotic sac had ruptured. I was
being admitted to the hospital to
await the birth of my child. My
husband and I were in
shock...disbelief. We knew the PROM
would probably happen earlier, but we
never imagined it would happen so
severely early. We also knew the
statistics: There was a 99% chance
that I would go into active labor
within the next two weeks...long
before our child had reached the age
of viability.
The next morning, the doctor ordered
an ultrasound to check my amniotic
fluid levels. I only had 4 cm of
fluid left. He informed me that the
baby's lungs had only *just* started
to develop and that, without more
amniotic fluid, they would never have
a chance to mature. He also warned me
of the drastic risk of maternal
infection. Because I have a heart
condition, the maternal infection
would have been lethal. He asked if I
wanted to be induced.
Although we knew the risks, Mike and I
could not make the decision to end our
child's life. The doctor prescribed
an antibiotic routine and sent me home
on bedrest, where he suspected I would
go into active labor within the next
48 hours.
We went home and prepared all of the
funeral arrangements. Our families
came into town, and we prepared to
lose our child.
Two days later, I was still
pregnant.
One week later, I was still pregnant,
and my regular OB was back in town.
She had me come in for a follow up
ultrasound.
Amazingly, my amniotic fluid index had
risen to 10 cm. I went back home on
strict bedrest (very literally could
not get out of bed) and drank my
weight in water while religiously
taking all of my medication.
One week later, my AFI was up to 14
cm. A week after that, my AFI was 17
cm. From 20 weeks to 32 weeks, my AFI
fluctuated between 10 and 17 cms. I
was still leaking, but my body was
replenishing the amniotic fluid as I
was losing it.
At 32 weeks, I went in for my routine
weekly ultrasound, and we discovered
that the baby's heart was only beating
49 beats per minutes. I was rushed
over to the hospital, and my beautiful
son was born an hour later by
emergency c-section. He weighed 4
lbs. 9 oz., and he was 18 inches
long.
He had severely premature lungs, as
well as a heart arrhythmia. He spent
24 days in the NICU, where he received
surfactant and supplemental oxygen.
Finally, we were allowed to bring him
home. Now, he is a very healthy,
happy, and CHUNKY four month old. We
are SO thankful that God gave us the
faith and the courage to continue down
the road of 15 weeks of strict
bedrest. We have an adorable,
miraculous son...all thanks to God!
If you're currently walking down the
road of pPROM, you're not alone.
Others have gone before you, and we
are praying for you. Have faith!
If you'd like to follow our family,
complete with two pPROM babies, you
can visit us at
http://www.not2us.net/blog.
|
|