By Mande Shaffer, Barberton, Ohio United States
PROM at 23 weeks + 1 days. Delivery at 34 weeks.
Story added: 2001-08-09

This was my first pregnancy and I was having a very difficult time! I was losing weight and vomiting 2 times a day for 4 months. Just as I began to enjoy my pregnancy things got worse! I awoke one morning at 23 weeks thinking that I had urinated. I went to the bathroom and each time I got up I leaked more. It became evident that there was a problem after I had changed my clothes 4 times (denial!!!!)
My fiancé had a PROM baby in a previous relationship so we had an idea of what was yet to come. Young and stupid it was my belief that 23 weekers would do just fine if born. My rupture was confirmed at the hospital and I was told after the ultrasound that the baby weighed 600 grams. My Doctor told me at this time if I were to go into labor my baby would have 1% chance of survival. I was given steroid shots (which I was told was too early to be effective) also we were told the baby was breech so I would need a c-section. Everything was against us because the hospital could not handle a high-risk birth. We were transported to a hospital on the other side of town. I spent the night in L&D where I was put on the fetal monitor and to monitor contractions. Everyone who brings bad news came in one after another to let me know what could happen if the baby would be born now. The worst was asking me if I wanted to let the baby go if he were born that night. I was told if it was a week earlier that the baby would not survive and at 23 weeks it was up to us. It was my decision if it were born that night to let it go. Luckily we made it through the critical 48 hours. We were then moved to a level 3 perinatal unit where I was to remain on strict bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy. I was given antibiotics by IV at very high doses (to prevent infection) and my temperature was to be taken every 3 hours. I was put on the fetal monitor 24/7. I became very depressed and home sick after 2 weeks and made the choice to discharge myself. I went home for a week and it was scary! I did take my temp every 3 hours and did a kick count 3 times a day but it was very scary not to hear the baby's heartbeat. We went back to the hospital and went back on the antibiotics and began biophysical profile weekly then at 30 weeks daily. Everything looked great in the bios and my temp never went up. At 34 weeks the Perinatologists made the choice to do the c-section. The big day had finally come and I was in tears. I had known this day was coming and the doctors had told me that things would go well but I found myself more frightened then I had ever been in my life. I knew that the lungs were not fully developed and I had never been a mother. I felt like I was on a rollercoaster of emotions I wanted so bad to meet my son yet I did not want him to suffer in any way. I was given the spinal and the c-section began (this was very unpleasant but that is another story) On 7/11/01 at 11:01 the baby came. Justin Alexander was here!! The doctor showed him to me for a second and he was whisked away to the other room where the Neonatologists were waiting. After 2 hours while I was in recovery they brought in a beautiful 5 1/2 lb. miracle. Justin went to NICU for 15 days and was on the vent for only 2 days!! He was tube fed until he could take a bottle. PROM babies are so strong. I now know that the more time that I spent in the hospital meant less for Justin and that being in the hospital for 11 weeks was well worth it. It amazes me looking at him. He does not have the problems that scared me so bad. He acts like a full term baby (just smaller but growing rapidly!!)


Thanks for listening
Mothers don't give up! All can be so good :)