By Delicia Jones, Lanham, Maryland USA
PROM at 23 weeks + 4 days. Delivery at 25 weeks + 1 days.
Story added: 2002-12-18

On December 4th 2002 my water broke while I was sitting on the phone talking to my gilfriend. I was not sure at first because with my other 2 sons my labor as induced due to the fact that I was over due (40 wks plus). I never had my water break on its own and I never felt what contractions feel like naturally, they was always induced. So it was not until I got out the chair to walk towards the bathroom and a gush of fluid ran down my leg. I was 23.4 weeks. I immediately washed up, changed clohes and called the doctor. He told me to come in immediately, I called my husband Curtis and informed him of what was going on. When I arrived at the doctor he checked me and confirmed that my water did break. He told me that I would have to be in the hospital until I had the baby. I called hubby and he met me at home, we then went to the hospital Labor & Delivery where in less than 10 minutes they had me hooked up to the fetal monitor, undressed, and running an IV in my arm with (3) antibiotics. They also gave me a total of (4) steroids shots in order to mature the baby lungs. Of course the doctors informed Curtis and I of everything that could go wrong and of nothing that could go right. So I made it through the first 48 hours and they transferred me to the Antepartum Unit. I stayed there for a LONG LONG 11 days. On day number 10 I started to have contractions that night, that would wake me up out of my sleep until 5am, then I went back to sleep. At 7am on Sunday I was okay; I ate breakfast and the lab came in to draw my blood. My white blood cells were rising. They did another lab test at 12 noon and they went up another 2,000 which means I was catching an infection. My nurse came and told me that I would be having an emergency c-section in less than 20 minutes. I was so happy that my Curtis was there with me. I was very scared. I never had a c-section before. Curtis changed clothes and then we went in the Operating Room. They gave me the epidural, and I was num from the waist down. I then was ready after they tested me to make sure I was num. I was still very scared, but Curtis held my hand the entire time. I asked God to allow me not to feel no pain, and I didn't. I did not even know when he (Curtis Jr.) came out, Curtis Sr. told me then I saw his little feet. Curtis Sr. kissed me and told me I did very good. The baby was 1 lb. 11 oz. (.743 ounces) his apgar score was 6 on his own with out any help, I was so grateful, after they intubated him his score was an 8. He was born 12-15-02 @ 3:00 p.m. The doctors allowed me to kiss him, with his little hat on and they took him to the NICU. He is now 2 days old and during very well. Your faith and hope will get you through, it has for me & Curtis Sr. Curtis Jr. is our blessing from God. For any moms who need support or just want to talk, please e-mail me; I will be happy to talk and support you. I know I was looking for other moms really bad, until I found this site.