By Bindhu Prasanth, Okazaki, Aichi Japan
PROM at 17 weeksDelivery at 17 weeks + 2 days.
Story added: 2004-10-29

I still do not understand what exactly had happened. It was a much awaited pregnancy and I had slight pinkish spotting right from the implantation time which continued intermittently till the 13th week. My baby was closely monitored by ultrasound every week till the 4th month. He was growing perfectly alright. During the 10th week I got hospitalized for 8 days due to hyperemesis and went back home happily as I improved so much. I started gaining the lost weight back and was all set for feeling my baby's movements. Both my husband and me used to talk to our little one and we used to remind him how much we loved him. We told him that we desperatley needed him. I had been continuing my work all these days. Finally that day came when I felt slight pain in my lower abdomen. I was so busy that day that I could not pay much attention to the nature of that pain. I went to toilet many times and I felt my irritable bowel syndrome is back on its track! By evening I was really exhausted with the pain which came in intervals. Then I told my husband something is wrong and I really didn't know how contractions were like as it was our first pregnancy. Then I went directly to my hospital and met the OB/Gyne on duty. By that time I could feel something coming out through my cervix and I could feel it with my hand. Unfortunately I could not communicate this to my doctor as he was not knowing English. He did a pelvic exam by inserting his hand inside and our world came to a standstill with a pop sound and sudden gush. He told me the prognosis was very poor and they were not able to do much to save my angel. Next day I met my OB/Gyne and she repeated the same words which the other doctor told me. They told the baby cannot be rescued as he was only 17 weeks old. I really was so ignorant about pregnancy and the complications associated as I had always been so workaholic. Now I feel, apart from loving my unborn I didn't do anything for him wisely.

My WBC count was slightly high and they told that infection could be the reason for the pPROM. The next day they started the labor inducement and after two days, our baby came out to this world as stillborn. He was alive on the previous day morning also, but very little fluid was left out inside my uterus. I was told none of the babies in such cases have been rescued in the whole Japan. I started searching the internet regarding this only after I lost my baby, because I wanted some support. But after going through so many stories, I'm left with so many doubts. I hope somebody who goes through my story can clear my doubts. If the doctor had not pushed his hand inside, would the sac have been saved from rupture? What were the survival chances for my baby if I had continued to take bed rest? Would the water have been replenished on it own? What's the first step done with a patient who goes with contractions and prolapse of amniotic sac? They told that, on that day I had tried to move my bowels many times and that would have made the sac to come out, is this possible? I hope I can get some relief, if somebody answers my questions.

My baby boy measured 20cm and weighed 135 gms. He looked perfectly alright. We cremated him the next day of his birth/death and still mourn on his death incessantly. I do not want this to be repeated in my life again. So I want to take all precautions necessary to stop pPROM in my next pregnancy.