By Trina Hubick, Regina Canada
PROM at 21 weeks + 2 days. Delivery at 22 weeks + 3 days.
Story added: 2006-09-16

I found out I was pregnant in May 2006. We had suffered 3 previous miscarriages. The doc determined that I was deficient in progesterone. This was the first pregnancy with prometrium. We were very excited that they had found something that was treatable. We had never made it past 8 wks before. When we had our 8wk ultrasound and heard the heartbeat, we were so elated. At 12wks we had another u/s and everything was progressing as it should. In August at 21wks+2day I started to leak fluid. I researched it on the net and read some books. I thought that it was just a weak bladder because the baby was so low. I continued to leak a very small amount throughout the week. On Friday night there was a big gush of fluid that I tested the pH of. (I work in a lab). It was neutral. I hysterically called my husband and told him to meet me in emergency. They took us up to L&D and confirmed that I had ruptured my membranes. They took me to the mother/baby unit and I stayed there for 3 days while they monitored myself and the baby. There was still a lot of movement and a strong heartbeat. We just prayed that I wouldn’t go into labor. They sent me home on Monday on strict bed rest. The next morning I woke up with cramping. I was in denial. I waited 7 hours before going to the hospital. I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on Wed Aug30, 2006 at 0530. She lived for 39 minutes. They would not resuscitate her because her lungs were not developed enough. The hospital staff were wonderful to us. They allowed us to be with her until she passed on. They took pictures and fingerprints and toe prints and we will cherish these mementos forever. We feel blessed for having Ava, being parents and experiencing childbirth, even if it was only for a moment. I am very sad and feel very empty. I don’t know that I will ever have the courage to get pregnant again. I don’t think my heart could take the pain. My husband is eager to try aga