By Kathleen, Needville, Texas USA
PROM at 18 weeks + 5 days. Delivery at 22 weeks.
Story added: 2001-04-26

My water broke while I was at work. I was 18 weeks 5 days along. I had just been to the doctor the day before because I had a large mucus discharge, what I thought was my "plug". The doctor checked me and said that the cervix was closed and there was nothing to be worried about. As soon as my water broke, I called my doctor and she told me to come straight to her office. My husband came to pick me up and we drove straight to her office. She did an ultrasound and saw that the bottom twin was in very little fluid. She immediately sent us to different hospital where she had already called a specialist. I was examined and my cervix was still closed. Three of four tests came back negative for amniotic fluid. I still don't know if the slide test was positive or not. The specialist did his own ultrasound and said that it was definitely amniotic fluid since the bottom twin (the boy) was in very little fluid, only pockets of fluild. I was admitted to the hospital on March 30, 2001 on the Antepartum Unit. I was on strict bedrest for 14 days, I only had bathroom priviledges, which was a bed side commode. I was on IV antibiotics for 7 days as a preventative measure for infection. I was on antiobiotics by mouth for another 7 days. I had a few contractions the first week, but they were very irregular and quickly went away. I continued to leak fluid daily.

After 14 days in the hospital, I was discharged home on Good Friday. I was still on strict bed rest and could not be left alone. I went to the doctor 2 times a week and each time the boy was still in very little fluid, but growing ahead of schedule and moving around fairly well. Meanwhile, the top twin was fine. She was right on shedule for growth. My last doctor visit was the most optomistic, the specialist said that both babies looked well, growth looked good and they were very active. I was 21 weeks 4 days at my last doctor visit. Three days later, I woke up and felt achey all day. I had lots of visitors that day. By that evening, I was starting to have contractions. I called the doctor and went to the hospital, this time to labor and delivery. I was started on IV fluids and given a shot of demoral to see if hydration and sedation would stop the contractions. About two hours later, I fell asleep and my husband went home to sleep and get his things to come back in the morning. About three hours later the contractions were waking me up. I was given a shot of Breathine which did not phase the contractions. By this time, my temperature was going up steadily and my contractures were 2 minutes apart. My husband quickly made it back to the hospital. I gave birth to Aubrey Clayton at 5:59 a.m., he was stillborn. After the doctor broke my water on the other twin, McKenzie Christina was born at 6:11 a.m., she was breathing but soon went to be with her brother and God.

Their memorial service was yesterday and it was beautiful. I have found some peace with this whole experience, but continue to grieve and mourn their loss. I miss them dearly and will always have a void in my heart. I have pictures of them, their gowns and blankets they were given at the hospital and their I.D. bracelets.

My husband and I are hoping for more children in the future and I would love some information on pregnancy after pPROM as I still don't have a reason for why I ruptured in the first place.

Aubrey and McKenzie, Mommy and Daddy miss you so much and love you more than you will ever know. Always in our hearts, we turn you over to God.