By Denise Itcush, Saskatchewan Canada
PROM at 21 weeks + 3 days. Delivery at 23 weeks + 7 days.
Story added: 2005-09-05

June 5, 2005 began like any other day. I was experiencing some pains like a band squeezing my middle and my back was sore. About 8pm I went to the washroom and was spotting. At this point, I freaked. I called the hospital and they told me to come in. They put the monitor on and our son's heartbeat was strong. Then I went to the bathroom and I felt a cramp and pushed. Suddenly there was a gush of liquid coming out and I couldn't stop it. I knew then something was really wrong. My husband ran to get a nurse and we were sent to a bigger hospital with a NICU by ambulance. All this time I kept asking if I was going to lose my son and everyone kept telling me they didn't know. I got to the bigger hospital where I was pumped full of antibiotics and after three days, sent home on bed rest.

During this time I knew in my heart if we couldn't last til at least 29 weeks, our son's life would be short.

On June 20, I felt cramps and had a back ache. I didn't want to believe I was in labor so I didn't tell my husband. The next morning I called the hospital and they told me to come in. I again was sent to the bigger hospital to get ready to deliver. Our son, Lukas, was born at 8:58 that night. We had made the heartbreaking decision not to put him in the NICU cause he was so little. He left to be an angel later that night.

Six weeks later we found out that his little lungs weren't developed at all so he would not have lived. I am still so heartbroken and lost but am getting better. I never realized how many others have experienced PROM.