By Lauren, Atlanta, GA USA
PROM at 24 weeks + 1 days. Delivery at 33 weeks.
Story added: 2012-11-26

At around 20 weeks we discovered that I had a TRAP sequence pregnancy. Basically I had one viable and one non-viable fetus. Instead of being absorbed by my body the non-viable had continued to grow and had formed an artery that was siphoning nutrients from the placenta. So far the viable fetus had not been affected by we didn't know how long that would last. We went to see a specialist in Miami, Dr. Rubin Quintero, who did surgery to correct the problem. The surgery was successful and we flew back to Atlanta, where we live. At 24 weeks and one day I woke up to find that my water had broken. We had been told that this could happen and quickly went straight to the hospital. Once we got there I got a round of steroid shots and they checked my fluid. It was low but not dangerously low. They told us that usually women go into labor about 48 hours after their membranes rupture but there was no way of knowing how long it would be until labor. So the plan was just to stay put until the baby came. Eventually I was moved to the high risk pregnancy floor and got ultrasounds twice a week and the baby's heart rate was monitored twice daily. Also, a doctor from my Ob's office and a doctor from the high risk practice came by each day to check in. I was very lucky because I was in a wonderful hospital close to my home with exceptional and caring doctors and fabulous family and friends visiting me all the time. By the time I hit 32 weeks we made plans to induce me at 34 weeks. I had been terrified the whole time and was actually coming to terms with the idea that I might actually make it to 34 weeks. But then the morning I hit 33 weeks I woke up at 6 a.m. with strong stomach cramps. The nurses came in to check me and promptly sent me down to labor and delivery. AN hour or two later they saw that the my temperature was rising and the baby's heart rate was speeding up so they decided to proceed with a c-section immediately. Before I knew it the baby was out and the world stopped until I heard her scream. She was immediately wrapped up tight and shipped off to the NICU where my husband accompanied her. I went to the recovery room for what I though would be a brief period. Unfortunately they had given me so much fluid to bring down my temperature that there was too much fluid in my lungs and I was having trouble breathing. So that night both my daughter and I ended up spending the night in intensive care. Eventually, after over 9 weeks in the hospital, I left the hospital without my daughter. I was sad to leave without her but exhausted and relieved that she was in good hands. She did very well and was able to leave after 2 1/2 weeks with no real problems. She was born at 3 lbs and 14 ounces and had gained more weight by the time we left. This was a very scary and stressful time but due to wonderful doctors and medical staff and a lot of luck we had a very happy outcome. I wish all the same to everyone reading!