By Laura, Germany
PROM at 16 weeks + 4 days. Delivery at 40 weeks.
Story added: 2015-10-08

My pregnancy story One year after giving birth to my daughter we decided trying again. We could hardly believe when the pregnancy test was positive already in the first cycle. From the beginning I made sure to take rest often and not lift my 1-year old daughter too much. I changed her and fed her on the ground. I had a shortened cervix with her and had to bedrest for 3 months and so much wanted to avoid complications this time. In week 5 I had my first doctors appointment. While I was waiting in the waiting room I suddendly felt blood rushing. My Dr first thought I might have had miscarriage but after a week the baby's bubble was visible and we soon saw the heartbeat. However from the bleeding I had two haematomes close to the baby's bubble. I continued to have old blood and blood clots coming for weeks until they dissolved. Then in week 11 came another big shock, during a walk I had an extremely strong bleeding. I thought I lost the baby for sure. But in the Hospital they found everything was ok. I had a lot of pain after the examination and was really worried after this bleeding taking even more precaution. When the old blood stopped coming after another six weeks I was so relieved. But then I often felt my panty being a little wet. At first I thought it would be from the bladder but then one day two big gushes came and I researched a bit on the Internet. The liquid was clear and smelled a bit different. Afterwards I was really very worried and my gut feeling suddendly was very bad. I immediately rushed to the clinic in the hope they might calm me down. I did not think at all I would get admitted. But that night the dr did the amniocheck and it was positive and I had to stay. The diagnosis was horrible. The dr said I would loose the baby and that the chance for a miscarriage was 99% . Only max 1 baby in 100 would survive they said and they had had only 1 case in 10 years. It was week 17 only and a long way till the earliest survival weeks (week 24 they would only start fighting for our baby's life, before they could not do anything they said). I was shaking after he explained this devastating situation. There was a hole somewhere in the membranes but luckily the little one was still surrounded by amniotic fluid. The first days in the hospital I spent almost crying non stop in utter horror since all doctors in the Hospital crushed all my hopes. They send the psychologist and explained me what happens after the miscarriage. I had to lie all the time only being allowed to go to the bathroom. I tried not getting up at all with the bed pan but it did not work out. I was doomed to wait for the miscarriage not knowing when it would happen. No one gave any hope. It was such a huge fear to loose the baby in this stage when it is already quite big. They also said they would not do anything until week 24 to save baby's life which seemed lightyears away. I was so happy I then found this webpage. I read everything about PPROM. I drank at least 4 to 5 litres water every day and ate loads of yoghurt. I read mostly the success stories and in one I read the remark of a Doctor There is always room for a miracle. I from then onwards decided to fight for my baby's life according to this motto. I wrote a journal to the baby adressing it with a name we quickly chose for it. I asked all our family and friends to pray and even posted a prayer request online which was answered by many people, I was so thankful to read their beautiful prayers. I was put on antbiotic infusions Ampicillin 3 times daily and on top had to take another antibiotic 3× in tablet form (Clindamycin). I was strictly bedresting only getting up for the bathroom for months. After 3 weeks I got an allergic rash from the antibiotics. I developed an exantheme on the entire body. It was life threatening and I almost had to be transferred to a dermatology clinic and even could hardly breathe. It was horrible, I did not sleep for almost 2 weeks at all, it was like a whole body burning with immense pain. But we survived and baby continued to have enough water despite the feeling of leaking when going to the bathroom coming back to the bed. I was put on erythromycine then which caused a lot of pain dropping in the veins. After two months of strict bedrest in the hospital and 3 negative amniochecks in three weeks they released me under the assumption the hole had sealed. That was in week 23. I continued bedresting at home until week 36. I was so happy to be home but the fear was immense since I still felt leaking. The amniocheck also is not 100% accurate, My own gynecologist also thought there might be still a tiny hole because the vagina flora was alcaline and everyone thought the baby will definitely come too early. It was a constant hoping to reach the next milestone especially the big one in 34+0. After completing week 32 I dared to get up a little more and walk a bit around the house. Our miracle daughter was born on her due date. It was a true miracle. The amniotic sac was still not broken at the last stage of birth and the dr made me feel it. This is very rare he said. It was an incredible experience. So many months I fought to seal it and safe our baby. What an amazing end to such a tough pregnancy. Everyone reading this story: Please never give up hope and stay strong despite negative comments by the doctors. I tried visualizing that the membranes seal. I painted a picture with a strong double membrane around my baby in my mind. I feel visualizing that really helped make the bubble so strong again. All you mommies out there with PPROM I wish the best of luck. Never give up and stay positive. You can make a miracle happen. Fight for your baby, times of bedrest will pass. Know you are not alone. This horrible time eventually will pass and miracles happen so trust in yourself.