By Nancy, San Rafael, CA USAMy husband and my PROM story began in late April of 2003 after an amniocentesis. I was 18 weeks pregnant after having gone through our first in- vitro cycle. My husband and I were both 40 and had tried unsuccessfully for three years to get pregnant. I had been told to limit my activities as there had been some concerns with bleeding and an inital concern from the fertility doctors as to the viability of the baby, (they seemed to think at nine weeks that embryo would spontaneously abort and suggested a D&C which I declined).
PROM at 18 weeks + 3 days. Delivery at 32 weeks + 5 days.
Story added: 2004-02-11
At 18 weeks I went in for an amnio, and was slightly concerned when the Perinatologist had difficulty penetrating the amniotic sac with her needle. From the monitor you could see the needle pressing against the sac, but not puncturing. She released pressure and tired again and was successful. My husband and I found out that we were having a boy and I was sent home with limited activity for the next 72 hours.
Five days later in the evening I noticed that I was leaking some clear fluid, I was intially concerned, but then it stopped. The next morning I was scheduled to fly to Los Angeles for work which I did, as the leaking had stopped. While in LA, I was in a store with my mother when I felt a gush of fluid, which I knew was not a good sign. I flew back home that night and went into to the hospital the next day. While in the waiting room I had another gush of fluid, and broke down in sobs thinking that I was losing the baby. When the Perinatologist who had given me the amnio came to check on me, she saw that my fluid level was extremely low and sent me home on bedrest. She said that it was highly unusual that I would go five days after the amnio and then have a leak as the highest risk is within the first 72 hours after the amnio.
At approximately 24 weeks the neonatologists told me that I had less than a 50/50 chance of having a healthy baby. My AFI scores were at 5, and they felt that with so little fluid the babies lungs would not be developed enough for him to breathe once he was delivered. In other words they thougth there was the possiblity that I could go close to term, but that when I did deliver, even with the respirators his lungs wouldn't be sufficiently developed enough to oxygenate his body, and he would die. I understand that the Dr.s were not trying to sway us in one way or another, but let us know that if we decided to end the pregnancy that we would have to make that choice before 26 weeks. My husband and I decided to continue regardless of the consequences. They also warned us of the risk of infection due to the ruptured memebranes, in which case if the baby was not yet viable they would not try and save the baby but let nature take it's course. I stayed on complete bedrest from 18 weeks until I was admitted into the hospital at 31 weeks after I started having contractions. Other than taking antiobiotics for Strep B, I had no other infections. I never thought in my wildest dreams I would be able to endure three and a half months of bedrest. I'm a runner, and can't stand sitting still for long. Thanks to the wonderful incredible support of my husband family and friends I made it through. I used this website as well and read the stories of the women that were at my stage of pregnancy, trying not to focus on those whose babies didn't make it, but also admiring them for their courage in sharing their stories, and knowing that I could very well be in the same position. So thank you to all of you! My amniotic sac never resealed and I leaked fluid throughout my pregnancy, though at times my AFI was as high as 12.
At 31 weeks, a day after I was my baby shower, (I lay on the couch with my best girlfriends and family surrounding me), I started having contractions. They were not terribly strong but consistent. After six hours the Dr. suggested that I go to the hospital where they put me on monitors and gave me the steroid injection for the babies lungs on the cahnce I would deliver in the next 48 hours. They also put me on Terbutaline immediately. I lasted on the Terb for about a week until they became concerned that it was causing my blood pressure to drop dangeroulsy low. They switched me to Nephetipine (sp) which I lasted on for a week when until they took me off due to adverse reactions. They felt that they baby would be fine if I went on to deliver. Calvin Austin was born at 4:14 am on August 1st 2003, through a normal vaginal delivery. His apgar was 4 and then 8. He was taken immediatley to the NICU, where he was put on CPAP, but was taken off the first day for a nasal canula. I was able to kangaroo with him the first day. Cal spent three weeks in the hosptial where I was with him everyday. I am so thankful to live in the Bay Area where we had access to Cal Pacific Medical Center with a level three NICU. The care was fabulous, the NICU nurses were the best, and we learned so much from them. Cal is now 6 1/2 months weighs nearly 17lbs. He's a healthy happy bundle of joy for my husband and I. So keep the faith, you can endure!