I noticed a watery discharge during
week 22 of my twin pregnancy. I went
to my doctor who examined my cervix
and discovered it was totally open
with 'bulging membranes'. I was sent
straight to hospital on strict bed-
rest.
Subsequent ultrasound found that when
my bladder was full the cervix seemed
to re-close. On this basis they
decided there was a chance (small and
risky chance) that they could put in a
cervical suture. I agreed to the
operation but unfortunately it
resulted in my daughter's amniotic sac
bursting. My son still had an intact
sac. I was told I was likely to go
into labour within the next 48 hours
and that my twins were not 'viable'.
This was a terrible time, I thought
that my daughter would die without
amniotic fluid - nobody told me they
could survive many weeks without it.
Lying and waiting to lose my much
wanted babies was truly awful.
However, nothing happened and I went
to see a specialist who explained that
the twins would not be viable until 24
weeks. Only just a week away but
nobody seemed very hopeful that I
would make it. The doctor wanted to
send me home but very luckily a bed
came available in a large hospital
with a NICU. Here the nurses had seen
other P-PROM cases where women had
lasted many weeks so I started to
muster some hope.
The day that I reached 24 weeks and
they gave me a steroid injection (for
lung development) was an amazing day
but the doctors were still explaining
that the twins might not survive or
could have severe disabilities.
In the end I went into labour at 26
weeks and one day due to an infection
of the membranes. My daughter spent 3
months in the NICU, was on a
ventilator, then CPAP and had laser
surgery on her eyes. She has some
high muscle tone in her legs but only
mild. My son spent 6 months in the
NICU - ventilator, many months of CPAP
and oxygen for another 3 months at
home. He still needs to have heart
surgery to close a small PDA and has
mild calcification of the
kidneys.
Most importantly, the twins are now
two-and-a-half and normal active
toddlers in every way - joyful little
miracles. Development has been
somewhat delayed but otherwise fine.
For anyone reading this on bed-rest as
I was, I wish for the best outcome
possible, stay strong x
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