By Krystal Hall, Indianapolis, Indiana USAAt week 14, I was laying in bed when I had a leak. I just got up and went to the hospital and after about a total of 5 minutes in the ER the doctor told me to go home. Everything was supposed to be fine. It "couldn't have been" my water breaking, the baby still had a heartbeat.
PROM at 14 weeks + 3 days. Delivery at 32 weeks + 1 days.
Story added: 2003-04-04
Two weeks later, when I saw my OB something funny showed in the ultrasound, he couldn't see any fluid. In turn, he sent me to a specialist. I later discovered that my baby boy was statistically not capable of surviving since my fluid was a low 1cm. I was advised to induce my labor and terminate the pregnancy. My heart was crushed. I decided to go home on bedrest and finish my last sememster of high school at home. At 22 weeks, I was admitted in the hospitals for contractions. I thought this was the end. Once things settled down, my hopes were revived and they suggested I stay in the hospital until I delievered. The hospital bedrest increased my fluid up to 9cm but was more consistently at 6cm.
After 10 long weeks in the hospital, TJ McNeely arrived at 8:35pm on March 10th weighing 3lb 12.4oz. He cried when he came out and was immediately rushed to the waiting Pediatric staff. After hearing his cries, I thought everything was going to be okay. Half an hour later, the Neonatologist informed me that I had a "very sick baby" and that he may not survive. After crying for about 5 minutes, he came back to speak to me-- my baby was doing better but still very sick. They rushed him over to the NICU at the local Children's Hospital. He was on the osculator for a day and a half. I was informed this was a short period for any baby..which was encouraging. He was then placed on the ventilator, which he stayed on for a week and half. By this time, he was two weeks old.
He first trial on CPAP failed...and I was devastated. I thought my baby couldn't breathe on his own. Two days later, he was sucessful with this. With PROM babies, time is the big key-- that's what the doctors told me. There is a lot of trial and error. After a short term on the CPAP, they alternated between nasal canula and the CPAP. This was sucessful.
Today he is three and a half weeks old and finally was transferred from the NICU to the Special Care Nursery. He is breathing room air through the nasal canula with a flow of 1 liter. He weighs 4lb 8.2oz and eats on his own. He's starting to show some signs of reflux which is common in premies. Moms--don't get frustrated, just love your babies. You worked hard for them! Not every story is sad.