Problems with my second pregnancy
started at just six weeks when I
started bleeding. I was told it was
implantation bleeding. I bled for
about three days. A week later I
started bleeding again, much heavier
than a normal period. I had an
ultrasound scan and was told I had a
large area of haemorrhage. I have a
bicornuate uterus and the bleeding was
coming from the opposite horn of my
uterus to where the baby had
implanted. After two or three days the
bleeding stopped and a week later it
started again. I was told to expect to
bleed again but didn't.
My pregnancy carried on and at 19
weeks I had an ultrasound. Everything
looked great. I found out I was having
a boy. I was told everything would
probably be fine with the
pregnancy.
Two weeks later at 21 weeks and a day
my waters broke. At first it was a few
little gushes and then overnight
whilst in hospital I ruptured
completely soaking my clothes and the
sheets. I was told to expect to
miscarry. I would go into labour in
the next three days. When I didn't I
was sent home from hospital and given
an appointment at the hospital to see
a Fetal Medicine Consultant. I was
advised to rest, going from the sofa
to bed etc.
I had no symptoms of an infection and
because I had already carried a baby
to term they did not think I had an
incompetent cervix. They do not know
why I pPROM'd but bleeding and having
a bicornuate uterus are known risk
factors for pPROM.
The Fetal Medicine Consultant scanned
us and didn't give us much hope. I had
less than 1.5cm amniotic fluid in the
deepest pocket. He said 2cm or more
between 18 and 24 weeks is needed to
guarantee lung development and so our
son might not be able to breathe at
birth. He said there was also a high
chance I would give birth around the
cusp of viability and our son would
have severe disabilities. He offered
us termination. However he said there
was a less than 10% chance of having a
healthy baby. We decided to take that
chance.
I was seen by my local hospital (in
the UK) twice a week for blood tests
to check for infection, once a week
for a swab and every other week for a
growth scan. From 28 weeks my son's
heart rate was monitored on a ctg
twice a week too. My AFI was measured
at every appointment. The highest
measurement was 4cm the lowest zero. I
never had more than two pockets of
fluid.
I had steroids at 24 weeks and 28
weeks. At one point I had a
symptomless UTI which was treated
successfully with antibiotics. I was
also treated for a symptomless Candida
infection at one point too.
I had many scares, from 22 weeks
onwards my fluid loss would turn pink
at least once a week. At 28 weeks I
passed a blood clot and was admitted
to hospital for a few days. A week
later I had no fluid left around my
son at all. I never accumulated any
after that. My son started having
decelerations on the ctgs.
I went into labour at 31 weeks and a
day, a Friday. The Monday before I had
a show. The next day I passed a second
bright red blood clot. On the
Wednesday I was worried about my
baby's movements, the hospital did a
ctg and he had a long deceleration.
However the day before he was born all
was well.
I didn't realise I was in labour
initially. I was getting mild pains
which came in waves but it didn't feel
like contractions. I was at the
hospital and during a scan the midwife
realised I was in labour. By this time
the pain became extremely bad and
almost constant. I started feeling
nauseous and dizzy too. My baby had a
heart beat during the scan but in the
10 minutes or so it took me to get to
the Labour and Delivery Ward his heart
stopped.
My son was lying transverse, he had
been from the time I ruptured. If he
had lived I would have had to have had
a c-section but they were able to
manually move him so I could deliver
vaginally. I developed signs of
infection during labour and was in
hospital for four nights after the
birth on IV antibiotics. I had a Staph
infection.
They do not know why my son died. I
may have had the infection before
labour or it could have been cord
compression or just stress due to
labour, prematurity or lack of
amniotic fluid for so long. He looked
perfect and weighed 4 lb 11 oz. We
called him Orson. I do not regret my
decision to continue with my
pregnancy.
If you would like to read my story in
more detail please have a look at my
blog http://loumary-
blog.blogspot.com
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