By Stephanie DiMarzio, Port St. Lucie,Fl USA
PROM at 25 weeks + 6 days. Delivery at 37 weeks.
Story added: 2001-06-01

I was having menstual-like cramps at work on the last day of my 25th week. I thought that I was just tired, but called the doctor anyway. They told me to come in just to be safe and gave me an exam. I was shocked when the Dr. told me that my membranes had ruptured and that I would need to be transported to a hospital and hour away that had a NICU. I stayed in the hospital for 2 weeks and then was allowed to go home with home health monitoring. At 29 weeks, I started to have contractions and was readmitted to the hospital. The NICU doctors came to talk to me about what they would do for my baby if the labor couldn't be stopped. The labor stopped on its own and never started again and I was actually induced at 37 weeks ( so as to avoid infection). I continued to leak fluid for the entire time between my rupture and induction; however, my fluid levels never went below normal- which was great news for my baby. I had a healthy 5lb 11 oz baby boy on May 10. It was an ordeal for my entire family and very difficult for my husband and 6 year-old son; there is nothing more difficult then having to be on complete bedrest when you have a family to take care of. There were many days that I didn't think that I could do it for one more hour, but I made the sacrifice for my baby and it paid off in the end.