By Hannah , Newcastle England
PROM at 16 weeksDelivery at 34 weeks + 3 days.
Story added: 2017-08-16

In November 2015 after trying to conceive for only 3 weeks myself and my partner found out we were expecting twins. Along with our 4 year old daughter, we were over the moon. At our 12 week scan everything seemed normal with our babies. I provided a urine sample which came back showing a mild infection however I was advised by my midwife that I would be fine as I wasn't showing any signs of being ill and that the infection would pass without any treatment. Trusting the words of a professional I shrugged the infection information off and carried on life as normal. How I lived to regret that decision. At 16 weeks whilst visiting a family member I went to the toilet and couldn't stop a small trickle of fluid coming out of me. After losing a baby boy at 16 weeks in the past, I knew that the trickle was my waters. We rushed to the hospital and it was confirmed by two different doctors that yes, my waters had broken. I was told that there was no hope and that I would indefinitely go into labour within the next few hours. I was given two options, A) To have a vaginal pessary to start labour off or B) to wait for nature to take its course. My heart broke into a million pieces. History was repeating itself. I was going to lose my babies at the same gestation as I had previously lost my son. We decided that nature could lead the way and then we waited..12 hours later nothing had happened. I requested a scan (As my prom had only been dectected by vaginal exams up to now.) but was told that as it was a Saturday, there was no one working qualified enough to do it so I would have to wait until Monday. After an agonising wait, not knowing it my babies were alive we finally got a scan. 1 baby surrounded by water with a strong heartbeat. The other baby with no water but a strong heartbeat. We were then advised that the baby with no waters would definitely die and we were told to terminate the pregnancy killing both babies as there was little to no hope. We obviously refused. I returned home and placed myself on bed rest but after 2 weeks I couldn't cope mentally anymore and decided to walk to the park. 20 minutes into my freedom walk and POP, a huge gush of water. Heading back to the hospital we descover that the other twin now had no waters either. The hospital took a urine and blood sample and my urine came back saying it is infected with ecoli. If left untreated it can cause preterm rupture and the hospital believed that's why my waters broke...I asked them to look at my urine results from 12 weeks to see what infection I had back then and BINGO we have a match. The doctor then informed me that a three day course of anibiotics would get rid of the infection and if given at 12 weeks, would of prevented the preterm rupture. We return home on strict bed rest, returning to the hospital for twice weekly blood and urine tests. At 28 weeks my body went into labour but somehow the hospital managed to stop everything. 6 weeks later the hospital decided that enough was enough and delivered my boys at 34+3 weeks via planned c-section. Both babies were born not breathing. They were rushed to intensive care. After 10 days my first boy twin came home followed by his brother 4 days later. my boys have just turned 1yr old now. They both have different health issues such as heart problems and weak lungs resulting in numerous hospital stays and operations for both of them. They have a long way to go yet to being completely healthy but they are alive and happy which is more than I could of ever hoped for. I wish you all the luck in the world on your journey. Stay strong. <3