By Ashly VanAlstein, Bakersfield, Ca USAMy name is Ashly and here’s my story:
PROM at 16 weeksDelivery at 28 weeks + 2 days.
Story added: 2005-12-02
One night around 16 weeks I woke up thinking that I had wet myself in bed, so, I went to the bathroom and realized that it was urine. The next day I went to the doctor and he did a U/S and didn’t tell me anything but “I need you to come back in 2 hours to see the fetal/maternal specialist”…he said nothing more. I called my husband, crying, the doctor told me in a serious tone that it was very important that I see this doctor. His name was Dr. Fassett; really nice FMS…my husband took off work and came down with me to see him. He first did a PAP smear and U/S. He told us bad news…my water had broke and that there was 0 cm of fluid *normal is usually about 5cm for 16 weeks and 25 cm max* and that it was a matter of time before I went into labor and had my baby. I was so scared, my husband comforted me. All I was told I could do was to take a leave at work and stay on strict bed rest with only shower and restroom privileges. I started contracting at 17 weeks, I was in preterm labor but wasn’t dilating or in any pain. So, I was given hydration pills since I had a really bad bladder infection that may have been the reason why my water broke *this is the only thing the doc’s could see as being a possibility for my early rupture*. Dr. Fassett told me that if I did make it to 24 weeks where when the baby COULD be viable, which was very slim chance *about 1 percent*. I was still in labor but not dilating and finally made it to 24 weeks. My AFI *amniotic fluid index* was as follows:
16…0 cm
17…0 cm
18…1cm
19…2 cm *I had an amnioinfusion at 19 weeks 1 day but leaked it all out the next night*
20…0 cm
21…1 cm
22….1 cm
23…0 cm
24…1 cm
Finally, 24 weeks, I made it…being in labor but not delivering yet. At 24wks I was put into the hospital to observe me for infection or signs of labor. The NICU ended up having an infection that was spreading around to other babies. So at 26 wks the doctor decided to send me to the Kaiser Hospital in Woodland Hills (in the LA area). So I left my husband and was transported from Bakersfield to LA. I stayed there a week, doctors told me just to go back home b/c the baby's chance of survival was 0% b/c of lack of fluid to help with lung development. They said she wouldn't even make it to the NICU. My husband came and picked me up from LA and brought me home. I went into labor at 28wks 2days. My little Amilliah was born via c-section and weighed 2lbs 7oz and was 13 inches long. She made it to the NICU and proved everybody wrong. Unfortunately I ended up delivering at the hospital that had the infection in the NICU (I have Kaiser and this was the hospital I was preferred to go to). So 2 hours after she was born she was send to a hospital across town so she wouldn't be exposed to the infection. The NICU that she was transferred to took x-rays of her lungs, they couldn't see hardly any. The neonatologist put her on a high frequency oscillator to see if it would help open her lungs. The first couple of days were so stressful she had made it but it was a matter of time to see if she would survive. She did very well on the machine and the doctors said that they thought she would be on it for at least a month or two. Amilliah proved them wrong again! At her being only 2 weeks she was winged off the machine and put onto a vapotherm. At 4 weeks she was put back onto a normal ventilator because her CO2 level went up to 95. At 6 weeks she was put onto a CPAP and her CO2’s were in the 60-70’s *normal babies are usually in the 20’s*. She has chronic lung disease (CLD). She’s now back on the ventilator but hopefully will be coming off soon and goes back to the CPAP. I’ve only held her twice and done kangaroo care with her once since she was born (Nov. 14, 2005). The doctor’s did an U/S before my c- section and saw no fluid and told me that she would come out stillborn. But…when they did the c-section magically there was some fluid that came out…how about that!!! Machines aren’t God and can’t make the rules and let you know exactly what’s going on. They’re not 100 percent accurate so I have found out. I have much more news, if you want to know more e-mail me!!! I had PROM at 16 weeks and have a surviving 28 weeker and had NO FLUID AT ALL during the whole pregnancy and was in labor for 12 weeks. And now I am the one who had a miracle baby who had "no chance of survival b/c of lung development".
Update Feb 6, 2006
My little Amilliah Rae VanAlstein passed away Jan. 18, 2006 after 9 weeks of fighting and showing everybody that there is hope. She just got too big for her lungs and eventually got to the point where she was reciving 100% oxygen and was turning blue from her lungs not being able to take it. So we decided to take her off the machines and let her pass. She went into respritory arrest and fought for an hour and a half and her family all visited her and as soon as she saw her grandpa *the last person to come and see her* she went into her father's arms and passed away. We are sad, but glad also that we got to spend the time that we did with her. Do not give up hope and just know that each minute is precious.
March 21, 2006
I am the spokesperson for the March of Dimes for my work (Bank of the West in Bakersfield, CA) and trying to raise money for the March of Dimes. Please help the March of Dimes by donating. Please visit my page to see a picture of my daughter who passed and to sponser me in my Walk Across America for the March of Dimes. Thank You. Ashly. www.walkamerica.org/AVanAlstein