By Melissa, Niceville, FL USAI experienced PPROM at 32 weeks while out grocery shopping. Since I had suffered from numerous UTI's during each of my three pregnancies (and consequently seemed to have a very small bladder), I tried to convince myself it was simply urine and finished up at the store. I went to the hospital a few hours later where it was determined my water had broke. I was sent to Pensacola (an hour and 15 minutes from home), which has the closest Level III NICU in the area. I was given steroid shots and a week's worth of antibiotics to prevent infection and told that the odds were high that I would go into labor within 48 hours. My fluid was 2cm at the ultrasound the next day. After we reached the 48 hour mark, I was told to expect to go into labor within the next week. The leaking appeared to slow down with the bed rest and by the end of that week, the fluid was back up to 6cm. Since I still had not gone into labor, I was told that we would wait and see - but I would be induced at 34 weeks regardless. I was also told at this point that every day our daughter stayed inside would assist her in being born - almost as if the baby knows that labor is coming due to the decrease in fluid levels and is trying to "bulk up" for the big day. I held on to that hope with all I had and waited. I was induced at 34 weeks. Sienna Grace was born 44 hours after induction at 8:10pm and was 4 lbs 15oz and 17" long. Her Apgar scores were 8 & 9, respectively, and we were blessed in that she never had to go to the NICU. Although she had some issues with low blood sugar and rapid breathing, she came through it like a trooper. We were able to bring her home two days after she was born.
PROM at 32 weeks + 5 days. Delivery at 34 weeks + 2 days.
Story added: 2004-05-28
Sienna is now a happy, healthy 7 month old who weighs 21 pounds and is 27" long. She is the light of our lives and her two big sisters (ages 5 & 2) love to tell of how their mommy "sprung a leak" before their baby was born.