By Amy Cansino, Milledgeville, GA USAPROM result after Amniocentesis...
PROM at 17 weeks + 6 days. Delivery at 22 weeks + 2 days.
Story added: 2006-12-29
My son, C.J., was born on December 7th, 2006. He was 1 lb and 11 inches. His EDD was April 11, 2007. He was the most beautiful and perfect being I've ever seen. I miss him so much.
Our story~
This is my 3rd pregnancy. My other 2 pregnancies resulted in miscarriages at 9 & 14 wks. My pregnancy with C.J. began a little shaky as well. I had several scares when I began spotting and had several clots early into the 2nd trimester. Once those issues dissolved on their own, I was majorly relieved!
During my 16th week, my AFP test results were high indicating a possibility of spina bifida. My husband & I were terrified. Our doctors had recommended an amniocentesis before since I would be 35 at delivery. But, I just didn't feel comfortable and had chosen not to go that route- until, this happened.
My Ob/Gyn referred us to a Maternal- Fetal Specialist for a Level II Sonogram. Apparently our little one didn't want to cooperate that day and they could not determine anything from those results. We were told we would have to wait another 3 wks before he could see us again. Waiting 3 wks were unimaginable to us, so he offered us an amnio with promises of results within 72 hrs. After much discussion, we decided to go ahead with the amnio. The risks seemed so low (1 in 200) and we knew several friends who had had an amnio and came out fine, so we decided for the amnio.
The specialist did it in the office only a few minutes after our decision was made. He didn't use any anethesia, but just stabbed me. It was so painful that it made me jump a little. (I'm embarrased to say that it also made me urinate slightly in my underwear.) Afterwards, I rested at home.
Approx. 2 hrs later, I awoke to water soaked bedsheets! My husband rushed me back to the hospital where I was admitted for 5 days while they filled me with antibiotics. I was d/c and told that there was nothing we could do except bedrest and wait and pray not to develop an infection.
It drove us crazy that there was nothing we could do to save our baby! Just waiting was not good enough. My brother researched and found an excellent doctor from the Univ of S. Florida. He has been documented on the Discovery Health Channel as well. He has developed a procedure called an "Amnio-Patch." It seals the hole in the amniotic sac.
We took off to Fl after Thanksgiving holidays awaiting our miracle at Tampa General Hospital. The staff was exceptional and took excellent care of us! After the procedure I had absolutely NO LEAKAGE! We were so ecstatic as you can imagine!!! Except 2 days later, my sac ruptured again. We rushed back to the hospital where I was admitted for 5 days. There was no more they could do and I was told to go back home to GA. [I'm still very glad that we did this procedure. I would recommend anyone to do this. It is usually very successful.]
Two days after we returned home, I began to have cramps and couldn't sleep throughout the night. I thought they might be Braxton-Hix contractions. Well, the next morning I knew that they were the real thing. My husband rushed us to the hospital. My Ob/Gyn told me that my white blood count indicated that I had an infection. After 12 hrs, our perfect angel, C.J., was born. We were at 22wks 2days; therefore, C.J.'s little lungs were not developed enough to survive.
After the risk of losing my uterus to the infection was over, we decided to have the funeral on Sat., Dec. 16th. It was a gorgeous ceremony.
Christmas holidays were very difficult. In addition, my husband's business partner and her husband were expecting a son too. (They're our best friends as well.) Our sons were going to be 4 mos apart. The "Dads" had made so many plans for their little boys. She delivered a very healthy baby boy on Dec. 23rd. We went to see them at the hospital and I was able to hold their precious child. It was so very hard. I fell apart afterwards. I just miss C.J. so bad that it hurts to breathe. How do we manage to survive without him?