By Christine, New Jersey USA
PROM at 17 weeksDelivery at 39 weeks + 4 days.
Story added: 2005-10-04

I had a very normal pregnancy up until I had an AFP test come back with high % risk for Down Syndrome. My doctor recommended that I get an amniocentisis even though I am only 29 years old. I went that same day to get it done. 5 Days later I woke up in the middle of the night with leaking fluid. I was not sure what it was, But I knew it was not right. I called the doctor and they told me to come in the morning. They said that the fluid level was lower but not too bad. They said that most amnio complications happen within 48 hours and I was way beyond that window at 120 hours later, so they could not rule out that this leaking was from the amnio or from a PROM. later that day I kept leaking and leaking. I tried to remain so still to stop it from happening but everytime I went to the bathroom or moved slightly it kept happening. That night I started bleeding as well. My husband rushed me to the hospital and I was SURE that I was having a miscarriage and that it was the beginning of the end of my pregnancy. I kept bleeding and leaking in the hospital, it was awful. I spent the night in the hospital and had an internal exam, which showed that the fluid was at a 7AFI. The next morning I was seen by maternal fetal medicine and they said that my AFI was down to 4, which is dangerously low. They highly recommended that I terminate the pregnancy. They said that the baby was in jeopardy of all kinds of problems and that I was as well for risk of infection which would compromise me and the baby's well being. Despite their dismal recommendations my husband & I wanted to know what most people would do in my case and they said that most would terminate. I asked about the people that chose not to and he said that some don't for religious reasons, but he had no idea how their babies ended up doing because no one kept in touch with him. We decided to go against what he suggested and try to keep the baby. My OB agreed with this and said that it was up to us what we wanted to do, but that if at any time I spiked a fever over 100 that they would have to terminate. I spent a total of 9 days in the hospital including new years eve- the longest of my life. My husband was on bed-pan duty with me, which seems crazy to me now.. I stopped leaking and my AFI level kept rising and rising that by the time I left the hospital it was up to 13 again! I still continued to bleed, which eventually subsided after 2 weeks or so. TO this day they still don't know why I was bleeding. I drank gallons of water and remained at a reverse incline 24 hours a day and was on strict bedrest. I continued the bed rest when I got home but started to use the bathroom and shower again.. For the duration of my pregnancy my AFI level always remained at normal levels. I had MANY ultrasounds and they always showed a normal healthy growing baby. One June 1st, 39 weeks and 5 days, I delivered naturally a healthy baby boy- 6lb's 15 oz. Cole. My water broke the same way that it had at week 17 but this time it was ok because I was finally due to deliver! There were no complications with my pregnancy or my delivery after the amniotic fluid levels rebuilt. But I was on bed rest until week 32.

Cole is 4 months old and is a perfectly healthy boy! I look at him everyday and think what I could have done and it blows my mind how a decision like that can change everything. You are given the facts and you have to decide what is best for you. I chose to put my faith in God and hoped that he would lead me down the right path, and he has.

I found this website to be the only helpful site out there for women in my situation. I read every story while I lay in the hospital bed trying to figure out if I should keep my baby. The good stories gave me hope and the sad stories gave me perspective. Although I am one of the lucky ones after a complicated amnio, I still faced the impossible decision which you are all facing... Please feel free to contact me if you would like advice, I would be more than happy to help in any way that I can.