By Katie, UK
PROM at 16 weeks + 2 days. Delivery at 29 weeks + 5 days.
Story added: 2014-04-25

I was 16 weeks pregnant, laid in bed when i felt a popping sensation inside me and a gush of water. I immediately panicked and rushed to the toilet expecting to see blood. My night clothes were soaked with a clear fluid. I got back in bed and started googling. All night I was back and forth to the toilet and fluid was gushing out each time. I thought I had wet myself. Maybe I had an infection. In the morning I contacted my midwife, who got me an appointment up at the hospital. I went along and was surprised when they took me for an ultrasound. The sonographer showed me babes heartbeat and I relaxed a little. The doctor explained that I had low amniotic fluid and this could mean I had PPROM (my waters breaking early basically), I was told to prepare for a miscarriage, and to return in a week if I remained pregnant. At 17 weeks, when i returned I was still pregnant but the fluid levels were even lower. My appointment was with a gynaecological nurse, who couldn't answer my questions but told me that the baby wouldn't be able to develop normally. She referred me to a consultant the following week. The consultant was very honest with us. He explained because after weeks I had not miscarried the chances are I would not. He said my options were to continue with the pregnancy, review the situation in a few weeks, or terminate because the level of disability would be so high, He explained without the fluid the baby's kings would not develop and the prognosis was poor. Also the baby was at risk of limb deformities. He added if I was to terminate because of the late stage, I would be induced and have to give birth. I was told they would support me whatever I decided. I chose to continue with my pregnancy, I wanted to give my baby a chance. By 19 weeks I had no amniotic fluid left. I was still leaking so took comfort in the fact that the baby was still producing the fluid, so hopefully able to swallow and breathe in some. Everyday I remained pregnant was a blessing. I felt the baby move everyday, hoped for the best but prepared for the worst. I prayed I would reach 24 weeks, I just wanted my baby to be recognised as a birth and not a miscarriage. Once I reached that stage, I prayed for just one breath. So she would not be classed as a still birth. I wanted her to be recognised as a person! Once I reached 24 weeks I was given antibiotics and had to check my temperature every day in the hope any infection would be picked up. At 26 weeks I had a bleed. Fortunately this was from my cervix, and not too much trouble. I was in hospital for 4 days while they monitored the situation. At 28 weeks I returned again to see the consultant. He explained the baby was still breach and I again had no amniotic fluid. He also said the growth of the baby may have slowed, but he couldn't be sure as the low fluid made it hard to make measurements. He would see me in 2 weeks to review. We didn't last another 2 weeks! At 29 weeks and 5 days I began having stomach pains. I went to bed early, hoping it would pass. I woke every hour, the pains getting worse and more frequent. The midwife checked me over and I was monitored, No contractions were picked up, but the pain and frequency was increasing. The midwife said I wasn't in labour. I began throwing up with pain, could not wee, and started bleeding. Eventually when I could no longer sit up the midwife checked me and said the baby was on the way! The emergency buzzer was pulled, the room filled with midwives and paediatricians. I was told to begin pushing. I was in shock, it all happened so fast. I had no pain relief but as soon as I was able to push, the pain disappeared. 9 minutes later baby Amelia was here! She has a faint cry! I was so relieved. It was weak and she needed help. She was resuscitated and ventilated in NICU. After 2 days she came off the ventilator and was put on CPAP. She could breathe! Just needed a little help. She was fed expressed milk through a tube, and eventually weaned off the CPAP and oxygen. She spent 8 weeks in NICU all together, and came home weighing 4lb8. A true miracle. She is now 4 months old, and currently has no medical issues. We owe everything to the lovely NICU nurses!