By Shona, Johannesburg South Africa
PROM at 27 weeks + 6 days. Delivery at 28 weeks + 2 days.
Story added: 2001-07-03

After being diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome we knew that we were in for a hard battle to fall pregnant. In November 1998 I underwent an ovarian wedge resection were they removed 25 cysts of each of my ovaries. 7 months later I started on clomid. My 3rd Month of clomid I discussed the possibility of going onto injectibles as I really did not expect to fall pg on the clomid. Miraculously that was the month I fell pregnant.

After an easy first trimester with no morning sickness at all I went for a routine scan at 18w4d. Everything looked great until my OB did an internal scan of the cervix. To our horror, my cervix was only 1.5cm in length and I was already 2 1/2cm dilated. My babies foot was already kicking in the cervix area. I was admitted immediately and my OB explained that he was going to attempt to put a cerclage in. He explained there was a 50/50 chance of the membranes rupturing. Thankfully he managed to place a shirodkar stitch without rupturing the membranes and I spent 8 days in hospital with a bit of bleeding. I was released home with strict instructions to remain on bedrest, given pills to stop any contractions incase they might start, and had to see my OB weekly for an u/s to check the cervix. My cervix never lengthened beyone 0.8cm but the stitch seemed to be holding. At 23w4d I was readmitted as I was bleeding profusely and a drip was started. 5 days later the bleeding stopped and after 8 days I was allowed home again. At 26 weeks I was started on steroid injections to mature the babies lungs (2 a day every week).

At 27w6d I got up to go to the toilet and saw that my panties were all wet. I called my mom and asked her what she thought. She said to phone the doctor to be on the safe side. I was told to immediately go the the hospital. On the way there it was definate that my waters were leaking as my pants were soaked by the time I got to the hospital. A quick scan showed that there was still amniotic fluid around the baby, so I was admitted to the maternity ward, put on a drip again to stop contractions. Blood was taken daily and by 28w1d I was showing signs of infection setting in so the decision was made to remove the stitch and deliver my baby. The estimated weight was between 1kg (2lbs 4oz) and 1.1kg (2lbs7oz). I was given a small amount of pitocin to induce the labor and went into labor officially at 9pm that night. My baby was monitored constantly and thankfully showed no sign of distress, so at 5:28am on the 22nd March 2000 I delivered a beautiful baby girl weighing 1.080kg (approx 2lbs6oz) and 35cm (approx 13.75inches) in length.

Her APGARS were 9 and she only needed supplemental O2 for a few days. She spent 2 mos in the NICU where she survived a bout with NEC. She is now 15 mos old and despite having to have 2 operations as a result of the NEC is fully caught up.

Daily I thank the Lord for giving me my living miracle.