By Molly, Charleston, SC USAI wish I could say my pregnancy was uneventful from the very beginning, but it was actually quite the contrary. I found out I was pregnant on August 16, 2005 (I was only 3 weeks, 3 days along) while visiting the doctor to find a reason for unexplained bleeding that began right after I ovulated. I had suffered this problem before, but it was especially bad this month. The doctor shocked me with the news that I was pregnant and decided the bleeding was coming from my cervix and not related to the pregnancy. I was terrified as I had suffered an early miscarriage in June 2004.
PROM at 16 weeks + 3 days. Delivery at 38 weeks + 5 days.
Story added: 2006-05-10
In addition, I got pregnant the first month we tried after losing our daughter at 23 weeks to a terrible condition caused by a freak genetic mutation. That was in April 2005. We waited three months and two cycles before trying again and were blessed to get pregnant right away.
The bleeding lessened, but I continued to have light spotting throughout the first trimester. Otherwise, I felt great…no morning sickness, nothing negative at all about the pregnancy. I took it easy though and didn’t do much lifting or overdoing it at all because of the spotting and my previous complications.
Then on the night of November 15, 2005, my life changed and the life I knew stopped. Everything went on hold. While sitting at the computer that evening I had an excruciating pain on my lower right side. I laid down on the floor and moved from side to side trying to find relief. Then the pain went away and I felt fine…until I felt something odd, a discharge of some sort. I checked and saw blood. I went to the toilet and blood gushed out. I was 16 weeks, 3 days into the pregnancy and I was terrified.
Soon after I was at the ER and after a long wait for the doctor (and more bleeding), I was devastated when the doctor said there seemed to be amniotic fluid when she did an internal exam. My doctor came to the hospital and tests confirmed the original doctor’s fear…I was leaking amniotic fluid. I was told that this was a devastating blow to my pregnancy and that it was highly unlikely that my child would survive. Though I was offered termination as an alternative, my doctor said there was a remote possibility he could make it…though he’d probably be premature. We started praying for this…hoping with all our might. That night, the baby still had some amniotic fluid. It was low, but not dangerously so. The next morning, it seemed to be holding steady.
I went home on strict bedrest. I only got out of the bed to go to the bathroom and to take a quick shower every two days (until after 24 weeks when I began daily or every other day showers...and allowed myself a little more time on my feet -- especially after 32 weeks). I did everything in bed laying down (eating, receiving visitors, reading, computer time, etc). I learned everything I could about PPROM. I began going to the doctor weekly for ultrasounds to check my AFI (amniotic fluid index) and I had my white blood cell count checked weekly as well (to monitor for infection). My doctors were fabulous because they gave me, they gave my son, a chance.
My AFI started out less than 10 but more than 5 cm. Within a few weeks it started increasing slowly. First it was in the range of 10-15 cm…then by the time I reached viability (24 weeks), it was well within the range of “normal” – it was over 15 cm. Though the plan had originally been to hospitalize me at 24 weeks, it was deemed unnecessary. I stayed on bedrest however. I received a round of steroid shots at 25 weeks, and a booster soon after. I began weekly NSTs to monitor the baby starting at 26 weeks. He seemed to be thriving. Our miracle was taking shape.
After I reached 38 weeks, my doctors decided to go ahead and bring our little miracle into the world. He seemed to be ahead of the curve with his size, and considering he had the benefits of steroids, they decided not to leave him to chance any longer. At 38w5d, I was induced. Hours after the induction began I felt a pop and then some fluid. My water actually broke (again!). I’ve never been so happy in all my life…until I heard my baby cry when he was born hours later. That was the sweetest sound my ears will ever hear.
I spent 20 weeks on bedrest (was taken off at 36 weeks) and every minute, every second, was worth it. On April 20, 2006 my son, Thomas, was born weighing a healthy 8 pounds, 4 ounces! He is living proof that miracles do happen and that odds can be overcome. The day I found out I was pregnant, I noticed a wooden cutout of the word “believe” on the windowsill at my doctor’s office. That became my mantra for the entire pregnancy. I believed and now there is a sweet baby boy sleeping peacefully next to me as I type.
I’ve learned in my life that all pregnancies are miracles and all babies are gifts from God. But there are some that are extra special…some that make us believe even when we don’t think we can. For as much as I had reason to doubt that my Thomas would make it, he had other plans. So please, if you are reading this after suffering your own PPROM experience, please know that miracles do happen.