By Jennifer, Virginia Beach USAOne year ago today I "prom'd," so I thought it was time I posted my story:
PROM at 18 weeks + 5 days. Delivery at 32 weeks + 5 days.
Story added: 2000-06-05
On June 3, 1999 I had amniocentesis and the following morning, one year ago today, I sat up in bed and felt a gush. I called the perinatologist who did the amniocentesis and he said to come in immediately and to pack a bag in case they admitted me to the hospital. When I arrived at the peri's office he did not do an full internal (risk of infection) exam but just enough to determine that there was moisture and that my water had, in fact, broken. He admitted me and encouraged me to terminate my pregnancy. I could not do that. I'd risked my baby's life by having the amniocentesis done and I had to give him every chance now. While I was in the hospital those first 5 days, I felt my son move for the first time! I felt he was telling me, "Don't give up on me!"
The peri and my OB gave me very little hope and the peri gave me horror stories about what problems my son might have if he survived. I'm happy to report that the peri was wrong. I was originally in the hospital for 5 days and then was sent home for bedrest. I went back into the hospital at 26 weeks as at that point my baby was viable (would have a chance of survival if I delivered) and they wanted to be able to work on my baby immediately when he was born. Although I did have bleeding and pre-term labor at 28 weeks, IV anti-biotics and hydration stopped the contractions and the bleeding stopped after a few days. I received betamethazone (steriod) shots once a week from 26 weeks on. The steriods were to help speed the maturity of my son's lungs as that is one of the biggest hurdles preemies encounter is under-developed lungs. The peri and my regular OB watched in amazement as I continued to carry my son until 32.5 weeks. On Saturday, Sept. 11, 1999, I felt my son had not been moving much that morning and told the peri on duty. She immediately had me sent over to L&D for the fetal monitor and to monitor contractions. Well, my son became active, but I was having contractions and didn't even know it. As they got closer together, the peri scheduled me for a c-section that afternoon (my son had been breech since before I ruptured). At 4:44 p.m., my son was born via c-section. The peri said she had to "pry" him out due to the lack of fluid (amniotic fluid had been nearly non-existant since I'd ruptured). My son, Joshua, needed no assistance breathing and, besides the prematurity (he stayed in the NICU for 15 days), the only PROM-related problems he had was a contracted (limited muscle movement) arm and turned-in foot due to inability to move and position in the womb. My son has physical therapy to help loosen the muscles in his arm and he had several casts to gradually turn his foot to the correct postion. I've since heard from a number of women who had "normal" pregnancies that their baby's experienced the same "club" foot due to positioning in the womb. I'm happy to report that by the time my son turns one, both problems should be behind us.
The peri who did the amniocentesis and encouraged me to terminate refers to my son as a miracle. He is to me in any case, but since my son was born I've subscribed to the PROM email list from this site and heard many similar stories. I know doctor's have to be conservative and not give false hope, but I truly think many doctors underestimate the possibility of delivering a healthy baby after PROM. I know not all stories have a happy ending, but I wanted to share my story as I really needed to hear some positive outcomes when I was on bedrest agonizing about what would happen to my baby.
If you are currently on bedrest due to PROM, I wish you and your baby the very best! Drink lots of water (so baby can keep making amniotic fluid even if it leaks out!) stay in bed, don't dwell on the negative (emotional upset can bring on labor!), lay on your left side as much as you can stand it (best circulation for you and your baby), try to keep from going stir-crazy, and pray! Email me or the PROM list and we will pray for you!
Take care!