By Jodi West, Beloit, WI USAI'll start by hoping this story will help and give hope to someone in need.
PROM at 21 weeksDelivery at 27 weeks.
Story added: 2001-06-15
At the age of 28 I gave birth to a son (textbook pregnancy). At 29 I prommed at 21 weeks and lost my beautiful baby girl. My doctors told me that was just a freak incident and not to be afraid to have more children.
(I should also tell you I only have one ovary and the doctors told me I would probably never have children)
At the age of 32 my husband and I agreed it was time to try again. Neither of us too concerned that I would prom again.(it was a freak incident).
We conceived immediatley. We were so happy!! As the pregnancy went on, pretty much everything was normal.... with the exception I had a strange discharge. My doctor at the time told me it was normal. I didn't seem normal but she was the doctor and she was fully aware of my complications with my last pregnancy. So I didn't worry about it.
On the eve of Jan. 11, 1999 I didn't feel well. My back went into a spasm. I took a hot shower and the spasm went away so I didn't think anything of it. At 3:15 a.m I got up to let my dog out and my water broke. I knew what it was. I cannot explain to you how I felt. This couldn't be happening again.
We rushed to the hospital where they confirmed what I already knew. They also found that the discharge I was experiencing was in fact strep. They did an ultra sound and there he was. They estimated him to weigh 1 pound. Then back to the room to face decisions. My doctor came in and told me he had no chance of survival if born now. She suggested I induce and consent to an autopsy. I just couldn't do it. This baby was alive and I loved him. Several more attempts to get me to induce and consent were attempted. When I refused, and labor had not started they put me in a regular room waiting for what they thought would be inevitable.
I have to tell you at this time, after losing my daughter at exactly the same time exactly the same way...I thought it was inevitable too. So I lay there and wait with my emotions in overdrive.
God blessed me with a very loving husband that could think and rationalize under pressure and a loving sister who just happened to be a nurse. The next thing I know my husband has my doctor giving us a referal to a hospital with a perinatal clinic. Normally they did not take patients under 24 weeks but they agreed to take us.
I arrived via ambulance at 21 weeks 3 days and remained there 6 more weeks strict bed rest. It seemed as though the first few weeks were very negative.... "This being a boy his chances are really slim" "If you go into labor before 24 weeks he has no chance. "If you get an infection which is very likely and go into labor we won't stop your labor" and on and on.. But as time went on they became more positive.
At exactly 27 weeks I gave birth to my son Charlie!! 2lbs. 2oz. 13 1/2 inches long. After a 3 month stay in the NICU with both ups and downs he came home. Charlie is now 2 1/2 years old he is still quite small but all boy!!! Thank you for letting me share.