By Kristi, Michigan USA
PROM at 22 weeksDelivery at 26 weeks + 3 days.
Story added: 1999-09-20

My husband and I are 27 years old and in December of 1998, we were vacationing in Florida. I was pregnant for the first time with twins. On January 1, 1999 at 2:00a.m., one of the sacs ruptured and we went to the hospital. The doctors told me that I would go into labor with the next 24 hours. I was only 22 weeks along so they said the babies (boy and girl) would have no chance of survival. They placed me on complete bed rest, stuck me with IVs for fluids and placed me on antibotics. One of the causes of PROM is infection so they hoped the antibotics would help. I was in Florida for 7 days total. After 3 days in the first hospital, they transferred me to another because there were two perinatologists specialists in high risk pregnancies at the second hospital. The specialist was realistic but hopeful. He said I needed to at least get to 24 weeks gestation in order for the babies to even have a chance due to lung development. Given I was only at 23 weeks, they gave me the ok to fly home to Michigan. I was not having contractions and if I were to have the babies they would not survive.

We came home and I was still on bed rest. We saw a specialist in Michigan and he was very, very discouraging. He said even if the babies made it to 24 weeks, the chance of survival is small and the risk of long term disability is high. We had to decide at what point we wanted them to save the children. We decided that at any time they should save them. So I was at home and on bed rest taking only antibotics. I received 2 doses of steriods to develop the lungs of the babies.

I started having contractions on January 26, 1999. We went to the hospital and I was admitted. They could not check to see if I was dilated because this would risk pushing infection up into the area. They also decided to only give me medication to stop the contractions for 2 days. If the contractions where the result of an infection, they could not mask them. If I where to get an infection, the baby and I could die. I held out for 6 days and the twins were born on February 2, 1999. Rachel Lynn weighed 1 pound 12 oz and Justin Thomas weighed 1 pound 15 oz. I was 26 1/2 weeks along.

I am writing my story because when I was on bed rest, the only positive information that I received was from this site. It was so comforting for me to know that some of these babies did well.

Well, here is my success story! Rachel and Justin spent 3 months in the NICU. Rachel endured 2 infections, a surgery, PDA, several days on the ventilator and many sleepless nights for us. Justin did well. He had PDA and ROP but spent most of his time growing. They came home on alot of medicine, oxygen and monitors.

Now they are PERFECT 7 month old babies. No PDA, no lung problems, no medicine, no oxygen and developmentally sound for their adjusted age. Praise God!!!

Justin now weighs 15 1/2 pounds and Rachel weighs 12 pounds.

I hope this success story gives many people hope.

Kristi