By Joanne, Vancouver Canada
PROM at 33 weeksDelivery at 33 weeks + 2 days.
Story added: 2002-06-17

I have suffered my PROM on two pregnancies.

My first was in 1995 with my oldest son. I had been feeling something trickling all day and finally went to my doctor where it was determined that I was leaking. She sent me to a high risk hospital and I was put on drugs to stop me from contracting. I was 32 wks 3 days and I was hospitalized until 36 wks. AT 36 wks an u/s showed that the baby's head was resting in the only pocket of fluid left and that there had been no growth during all that time. I was immediately induced and gave birth to a healthy little boy. He stayed one week in the hospital with minor breathing issues and came home weighing 4 lbs, 13 ozs.

I went on to have 4 mc's and one stillbirth. After the still birth at 34 wk which was caused by blood clots in the placenta it was determined that I have antiphospholipid antibodies, an immune issue which inhibits growth of the baby. I went on heparin and baby aspirin to treat my next pregnancy.

In 2001 I was 33 wks pregnant when suddenly my water broke. I was sent to the hospital and they found that my membrances had ruptured as well. The again gave me drugs to stop my contractions and hoped to get me to 36 wks as in my previous pregnancy. This time, I lasted only 2 days. I woke in the middle of the night, fully dilated with one foot sticking out and a crash c-section was performed. My youngest son was born weighing 3 lbs, 14 ozs and was hospitalized for 3 wks after birth. He had no breathing problems but did develop jaundice and spent the time in hospital learning how to feed and regulate body temperature.

Both boys are healthy and energetic.

It is believed that the immune issues are the reason for my PROM. Quite often, mother's with +APA's will go into PTL and in subsequent pregnancies my doctors believe it will occur again.

Joanne