By Diane Russell, Vancouver, WA USA
PROM at 20 weeksDelivery at 35 weeks.
Story added: 2002-02-02

My membranes ruptured completely at 20 weeks (it was very obvious). I went to the hospital, and they told me I would deliver any time. When I didn't deliver that night, they suggested induction. After one suppository with no results, they tried another, still, with no results. That's when they said I had three options - a D&E, keep trying to induce, or do nothing. I chose to do nothing. I was a single mom at the time.

I went home, they got me a hospital bed and a nurse came every day to test urine and blood for infection. I had ultrasounds a couple times a week, and wasn't retaining any fluid. I was home for 7 weeks, then they recommended I go to the hospital. I was there for another 8 weeks. (The longest 8 weeks of my life).

I never went into labor. At 35 weeks, they did a lung maturity test, and deteremined my son was ready for delivery. I had a c-section on 1/3/97, and Benjamin weighed in at 5 lbs 8 oz. He had severe pulmonary hypoplasia, a club foot, and midline cleft of his forehead and nose. He was very, very ill for the first week of his life. They had trouble with maintaining blood pressure, oxygen saturation, temperature, etc. They had to paralyze him and put him on a high-frequency vent. He had 4 chest tubes to drain the fluid from the pleura. He swelled up to 6 pounds 3 oz. It was awful. They didn't think he was going to make it, and if he did, they weren't optimistic about his quality of life.

But Ben is a miracle, and a real fighter. He came home after 19 days, and stayed on oxygen for 9 months. He had surgery for his club foot at 9 months - a total success. He does have a speech delay, but is just about caught up now, at age 5. He is going to have surgery this summer for his midline cleft. His first year, he was in the hospital as much as he was out. And even now, every time he gets a cold, he gets pneumonia. But it gets better with time!

All in all, I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world, and I would do it all over again. I am now married, and want to have another child, but the doctors think I'm nuts. Anyone else experiencing this?

I know 16 weeks with no fluid is extremely rare, and would love to find others like me!!

Best of luck to everyone, God Bless!