By Ben & Zoe, Northants UKSince getting married in September last year Zoë & I have been trying for our 1st child. After many months of trying, Zoë finally became pregnant in April 2002.
PROM at 26 weeks + 3 days. Delivery at 29 weeks + 3 days.
Story added: 2002-10-05
After the 1st 8 Weeks Zoë suffered quite badly with Morning Sickness up until week 22.
At week 25 Zoë had a 24Hr stomach bug which made her sick a few times, but that had cleared by the following day.
A weeks later (26+3) Zoë woke me in the early hours to tell me she thought her waters had broken, I had never heard of PROM, so thought the baby had probably moved onto her bladder and caused her to involuntarily urinate - I'm ashamed to say I went back off to sleep.
The next morning Zoë woke and said she was still loosing some fluid so she went off to the doctors who diagnosed PROM, and shifted her straight into the Labour Ward.
After lots of tears and monitoring Zoë was given some steroids and placed onto a hospital ward with regular Fetal monitoring, bloods for CRP & White Cell counts and temperature checks.
We were told it was unlikely we would make it another 2 days and to add to the stress there where no Special care baby beds available so if she started to labour we would have to be relocated to another hospital.
2 Days passed and the doctors seemed genuinely pleased, however they said the odds were stacked against us unless we could make it to 28 weeks.
After a total stay of 5 days in the hospital without any sign of labour they decided to discharge Zoë, on permanent bed rest. I wasn't overly happy with this to start with given that things were going well where she was and the target date was 28 Weeks.
The doctors persuaded me that the biggest risk now was of infection, and as hospitals are full of sick people home was probably a better place.
At home I had to recruit relatives and friends to help police Zoë from doing anything - NOT EASY!
As she left the hospital Zoë was prescribed anti biotic to prevent any infection.
We were told to report back top the hospital twice weekly for regular checkups, repeat bloods and scans etc...
2 Weeks after the original PROM I asked if the steroid injections would be repeated, the doctor seemed to consider this for some time before agreeing explaining that there are varying opinions as to whether continued steroids have a positive effect.
Following the second course of steroids the Base line of the Fetal heart rate jumped just over 160, Zoë’s temperature soared, as did her white cell count.
They sent her home with the express instructions to rest and return 1st thing the following day. The next day the results had seemed to return to normal.
Later that afternoon Zoë started to have contractions - Back into Hospital and they still had no SCBU beds available when the contractions got to 4 Minutes apart they decided to move Zoë to another hospital 45 Minutes away by ambulance - Full Blues and Two’s!
To ensure baby didn't arrive in the back of an ambulance Zoë was treated to slow down the contractions, this made Zoë completely delirious within a couple of minutes of it being administered.
Upon arrival at the new hospital, the drugs had over performed and stopped the contractions.
The new consultant decided to stop the anti biotic treatment (In hind sight I question this decision?)
The following day, the baby had a bowel movement whilst still in the womb, not nice, this is apparently a sign of stress and almost unheard of before 34 Weeks, after monitoring the baby seemed happy, so we left it another Night.
Week 29 Day 3 - 8:30AM after an hours drive in rush hour traffic I receive an urgent call saying if I do not arrive soon the baby will come without me. I Made it just in time!
An emergency c-section took just 15 Minutes, as our Darling little Ellie was lifted above the screen for us to see she opened her tiny eyes and took a big gulp of air.
They whisked her away and seconds later we heard her tiny little voice, apparently all unaided, she was whisked off to be placed on an incubator where she has been happily laying all day.
At 2lb 9Oz she is just the tiniest thing I have ever seen.
The doctors are so far really pleased with her progress!
Over the past few weeks this site has been a real comfort for my wife and I. When dealing with such a problem it is difficult not to feel like you’re the only one, or feel that some how it is your fault.
My heart goes out to any parent who has to cope with this problem, I would love to hear other stories particularly from PROM fathers - it seems to be the only thing lacking on this site !