By Danielle, Baltimore, MD USA
PROM at 22 weeks + 1 days. Delivery at 22 weeks + 3 days.
Story added: 2004-08-06

En route to San Diego from Baltimore, I was 22 weeks 1 day pregnant with my 1st baby (I had a missed miscarriage back in December @ 10 weeks.) On the connection from Las Vegas to San Diego, after eating a sandwich and water, sitting in my seat I felt comfortable. Shortly after take-off I felt a huge 'gush' in my pants. I quickly ran to the lavatory only to discover what was my 'water' sliding down my legs uncontrollably. I was so scared, didn't know what to do. A bit less than 45 minutes later, we landed at San Diego's airport where an ambulance was waiting to take us to ucsd hospital. There they looked at my cervix and said I had dilated to 2-3 cm already. An ultrasound showed there was no amniotic fluid around the baby, yet I felt him move and the heartbeat was visable. They said I had pPROM. That I was at risk for an infection since I had ruptured. The baby was also at risk for infection and other major complications being only 22 weeks... obviously, they felt it best to induce, but of course it was my decision. I know this wouldn't be a viable pregnancy any longer. Devastated, they put me in a room. Placed me on an iv with antibiotics and regularly checked my temp and blood pressure for signs of infection. Both were constantly normal. I was put on pitocin. That took a long time, they said my cervix was so thick it wasn't dilating. All I could wonder was, 'if it's so thick, why did I rupture?!' Then I was given tablets inserted into my vagina to induce further. Along with morphine, other pain killers and an epidural, I finally went into labor and delivered my baby boy 24 hours later. He weighed a mere 1lb 4oz and 11 1/2 in. long. We held him and loved him. He was stillborn after that long ordeal. I just wonder why me... why does this have to happen to women with healthy pregnancies to suddenly lose their child? Doctors believe I have an incompetent cervix. I'm still waiting on test results and cultures to determine if an infection might have caused the rupture. I just can't believe I had no signs of this happening. No pain, no extraordinary symptoms, besides typical low back pain and frequent urination, all of which are common. I am so heart-broken over this loss and seek people who've experienced this tragedy for support. We'll wait three months and try again at having our first baby.