By Rasha Abdulla, Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates
PROM at 14 weeks + 5 days. Delivery at 21 weeks.
Story added: 2003-09-16

This was my second baby, i never thought this would happen to me, all my life i was a normal person, I NEVER GET SICK !.

I'm a mother to a 1 1/2 year old Jeanine and i study full time. Last semester my OB gave me the news, i wasn't thrilled, i regret it now . . . i had absolutely no problem, untill suddenly on the last day of my final exams, i felt a gush and that was that, i was put on bed rest for 2 weeks, every time we come back from the hosp. we break down in tears. . ., i wasn't given the option of abortion !.

I tried to search and ask about the reasons that lead to prom. no one gave me a solid answer, ladies have your selves tested for strepteccocus NOW!, i had that and the oB said it could have been something else, may be stress !!

Anyways, i educated myself and i felt it in my gut that my little one will not survive so i started considering termination. I know some of u are thinking what a cold hearted mother, she didn't want the baby at the begining!!

Yes u're right i didn't, but God gave me the choice and i kept my baby, termination was an option because i sleep better at night knowing that my baby will not have to be stung with needles, or tormented by medical treatments . . How would we feel, we're adults and some of us cry when some medical procedure is performed simple or not they feel the pain we can express, babies can't, they cry at anything, how can i know how much pain my baby is feeling ? i can't bare to try and measure it !!!

In the United Arab Emirates, it is against the law to have an abortion, and they will not perform one if the baby is viable!, it is a muslim country and Islam says if the life of the mother is at jeoprady or the baby is deformed in one way or another, abortion can be performed!.

I had to travel to Syria in order to have an abortion and it was very smooth, the seargent told us that if we have waited any longer i would have had a big promblem with my uterus and i'm still taking treatment for the inflammations that resulted from the loss of the amniotic fluid.

My baby boy was in a very bad shape,blue in color and his skin would peel off when they tried to give him a bath before we buried him,this is the saddest story i ever told, though i can sleep better at night knowing that my little boy is a beautiful angel in heaven right next to God !.

My e mail is enclosed, plz feel free to contact me if necessary!

I hope medicine would give this issue a little more attention, and find a solid reason, if we all knew we wouldév avoided the reasons . . .