By Missy, Denver Colorado United StatesWhat joy!! While I was on bedrest I hoped that someday I would be able to post my story to give hope to other women as these stories gave hope to me. Now, here I am!!
PROM at 18 weeks + 3 days. Delivery at 31 weeks.
Story added: 2001-08-27
My bedrest began four weeks earlier than my PPROM becaue I had gushes of bleeding at week 14. The bedrest seemed to help stop the bleeding and I stayed at home doing as little as physically possible (which is not easy with a 2 and a 5 year old in the house). At week 18 I had PROM and went into the hospital for 3 days. I was given antibiotics and told that I would most likely go into labor soon and the baby would not be viable. My doctor, thankfully, is a faithful man and told me that although many docs would advise to abort because of the small chance of a live birth (much less a live birth without complications) he would not advise such a move unless it was something we definitely desired. We did not, choosing to give our baby the best chance possible, and our decision was supported.
It was pretty daunting to think that the best we could hope for was another 20 weeks on bedrest, but we took it day by day. My mom-inlaw came to stay with us to help with child and house (and Queen of the Futon) care for several weeks and slowly the time passed. My membranes seemed to reseal from week 18 until week 24 when I had another gush and began to leak steadily for the remainder of the pregnancy. Weeks 24-26 were very stressful as we dealt with the possibility of a child with severe medical complications. Finally at week 28 we decided that the benefits of closer monitoring at the hospital outweighed the benefits of staying home (less infection risk and more comfortable more mom and other children). Weeks 28-31 were the most difficult because of being at the hospital and away from home and our boys. It was terribly lonely. I felt best when I could focus on the big picture of what we were trying to accomplish. I would spend much time stretching and rubbing my tummy and talking to our baby. Finally at week 31 I went into labor. I had contracted an infection which seemingly caused the labor. The baby's heartrate skyrocketed and we were wheeled in for a c-section. Rosemary was born!! She had perfect LITTLE lungs and was very healthy for a few hours until the infection took hold in her system. Then it was touch and go for two days. She pulled through and spent 9 more weeks in the hospital but is now home being adored by her big brothers and seems to be a healthy little baby. She is our miracle girl and we are very thankful. God bless anyone who finds themselves with early PROM; faith was the key to maintaining our sanity and happiness through this ordeal.