By Susan, Austin, TX USAI am writing this 3 months after I PROMed.
PROM at 22 weeksDelivery at 22 weeks + 4 days.
Story added: 2002-02-22
I haven't seen any stories on this site where the parents elected to terminate a pregnancy complicated by PROM. If you might be offended by such a decision, please don't read my story.
I was 22 weeks pregnant when I PROMed. At the time my son was 5 and my daughter was 2. I am a very normal, healthy woman with no risk factors associated with PROM. I've had no reproductive or pregnancy issues or problems. I delivered my son just a few days before his due date. My water broke with him the morning of his birth. My daughter was induced about 5 days before her due date because my obstetrician was concerned that it took me 3 hours to push my son out. Her birth, it turns out, happened quickly (within 2 hours of being induced). I had had amniocentesis with my daughter, and for the 3rd baby, and had had no problems with it. I knew that, genetically, the baby was fine. I had the amniocentesis 6 weeks before the PROM. I had been sick the week before the PROM with a gastrointestinal bug but had been back to normal a few days before I PROMed.
I noticed a gush of fluid while I was taking my son to school. I knew what was happening because I felt the same sensations when my membranes broke the morning of my son's birth. I was very upset because I knew I would likely next go into labor, and it was far too early. I went to my obstetrician who confirmed what I already knew. He sent me next door to the same hospital where I delivered my son and daughter.
In the hospital, I was told I would likely go into labor and the baby would probably expire during birth or right after. This was an awful thing to take in. I was surprised to learn that there is no way (barring the membranes resealing themselves) that the amniotic sac can be repaired. I stayed in the hospital for 2 nights and continued to leek fluid, but they let me go home after that, as I had no signs of infection. My ob and his partners are excellent and at no time did anyone do a digital exam. After researching this topic, I believe my doctors gave me all the information currently available. No one knows all that much about PROM, let alone how to prevent it (if that is even possible).
I was NOT advised to induce labor (to terminate the pregnancy) while in the hospital. I would have accepted that option if it were available. There are 3 major hospitals in our city - amazingly ALL run by Catholic Charities. Therefore, we did not get ANY information about terminating a pregnancy in the hospital.
I continued to leak amniotic fluid over the next 2 days but did not go into labor. I had a sonogram on the 4th day after the PROM, and there appeared to be no amniotic fluid left. With nothing happening, my husband and I became anxious that I would not go into labor before the fetus was legally viable. From what I understand, the age of viability is 24 weeks in the United States. The odds of the baby surviving at 24 weeks are low. Even so, we did not want to deliver a baby at 24 weeks that had been without amniotic fluid and then have no say in the outcome. At the point of viability the hospital would have to try to keep it alive and it would be out of our hands.
We got a referral for an obstetrician who performs abortions and soon found out how few facilities and doctors are willing to terminate pregnancies after the 1st trimester. I can understand this, and I can understand that some people think life begins a conception. I really admire anyone who fights for the sanctity of life. I, personally, do not believe a 22 weeks old fetus is a baby. Fortunately, my husband and I and all of our family are in agreement on such matters. I had great support.
We terminated the pregnancy 4 days after I PROMed.
I was pretty depressed after all of this. I had had some postpartum depression after having my son and daughter, so it was familiar. As far as anyone knows, this should not affect another pregnancy. I've had a period every month since the PROM, so my husband and I are going to try for another child soon. I'll update my story with the, hopefully, normal results of another pregnancy.