By Chelsea Nation, Cleburne, Tx USA
PROM at 17 weeksDelivery at 20 weeks + 3 days.
Story added: 2010-12-22

I have a very long story. I had a complicated pregnancy from the begining. I went in for my very first appointment and I knew I had some sort of infection because I was having a greenish discharge. I saw the PA for my first appointment and she told me it was normal and did not take me seriously. She only ordered a yeast test, not bacterial. After that came back negative, I finally called the Dr myself and told him my symptoms and he perscribed me an antibiotic right away. That cleared up and I went in for my next appointment at 10 weeks. I found out my pap came back abnormal and I had HPV. Minutes later, I went for an ultrasound and found out I was having identical twins! That was a big day for me. I was scheduled a colposcopy for the abnormal pap and to find out what kind of HPV I had. While waiting for that appointment, I had a scare when I started spotting. I was put on pelvic rest and it stopped after about a day. I got the colposcopy done and got the results about a week later. I found out I do have the HPV that causes cervical cancer but luckily I did not have cancer. I had another scare a couple weeks after that but with the same results, pelvic rest then the bleeding stopped. At 17 weeks, I was at home with my 1 year old son. I was stepping over the baby gate when I had such an intense pain in the lower left side of my belly that I passed out. When I came to I was still in extreme pain. I managed to call my husband and he called an ambulance. They took me to the nearest hospital (not a good idea) because the hospital ER has a bad reputation. They put me in a room and shortly after I had a gush of fluid that was a brownish color with what looked like tissue in it. I was terrified. I finally got an ultrasound and the Dr said that everything looked fine. He gave me a pelvic exam and after that I started to bleed heavily and bright red. They sent me home saying I had a UTI and couldnt explain anything else. I went to my OB the next day and he also wasnt sure but he said it might have been a partial placental abruption. This is when I started strict bed rest. I had been bleeding non stop like a heavy period since the day in the ER. When I was 19 weeks, I went back to the ER because I was having some cramping and heavier bleeding. Thats when the Dr said my fluid was looking low, about a 6. I stayed overnight in L&D where they explained there was nothing to be done so they sent me home on strict bed rest. The next day I went to the dr and US confirmed there was no fluid left around either baby. I was sent to a specialist who told me all the grim facts and statistics but luckily, he didnt support terminating although he was required to mention it as an option. At 20 weeks I started having contractions. I was in total denial because I was convinced God wouldnt give me this awesome gift just to take it away. I kept talking myself out of it and actually managed to stop 3 contractions. After about a day I started having them every 5 mins. I called the dr, still in denial and he knew what was up so he told me to come in. They put me in the same delivery room I had my son in. They gave me stadol for the pain and because I was such a nervous wreck then I got an US to check on the babies and my cervix. The babies where fine and there was a pocket of fluid around baby b's face. I was so excited about the heartbeats and fluid but also very drugged up so I thought nothing of it when the tech said my cervix was only 3 cm long. Still in denial a couple hours later, I got up to pee. After I peed I felt Elaina dropping out. I caught her and hurried to bed and gave birth to Evelyn minutes after. The nurses let me hold my babies as they took care of the placentas and everything else. They passed away in my arms. The hospital staff took them after that to get them cleaned up and dressed. The Dr showed me the placentas and both had partially abrupted. There was almost no sack left. By the time they brought them back to me my family showed up and everyone got to hold them and we took pictures. They where 7.8 oz and 9 inches long. After I cuddled and kissed them it was time to let them go. After that I was givin several different drugs and I was out for a long time. We made arrangements for their bodies and a memorial service. They allowed us to get them creamated together which meant the world to us. The hospital gave us memory boxes with thier tiny hats and blankets, plaster footprints, hospital birth certs, ink foot and hand prints, and their hospital bracelets. It was beautiful. The pathology report came back and I had a bad infection around the babies and their umbilical cords. During bedrest, I prayed constantly, drank at least a gallon of water a day, took vitamins, only took a shower every 3 days, everything I possibly could to help give my babies the chance to survive. It gave me 4 extra weeks to talk to them and feel them move around and I am so thankful for that. I still ask why me and I dont know if I'll ever get an answer. I know God has his reasons. Im blessed that I got to spend 20 weeks with my beautiful baby girls and be able to be the one to hold them as they passed. I miss them so much and this has been the hardest thing Ive ever gone through. Im sad to not be one of the sucess stories but my advice to everyone is to stay positive and do everything you can for a good outcome. There will be good and bad days but if you stay positive, it will keep you sane.