By Cheri, Frisco, TX USA
PROM at 23 weeks + 1 days. Delivery at 38 weeks + 3 days.
Story added: 2007-02-23

At our regular 23 week sonogram, we found out that the baby did not have much amniotic fluid, had a one vessel cord and was measuring 2 weeks smaller than she should. Everything had been wonderful on the 18 week sono, so we do not know when the rupture occurred. I never had a noticable gush of fluid, just a lot of dampness over time. Since we live in a warm climate and I have 4 other children, I just thought it was sweat and never thought it would be a problem.

We were sent to the high risk perinatologist the next day to confirm the results and be advised as to how to continue. He was wonderful, but also realistic about the odds of going into preterm labor, or of developing an infection. We were sent home on strict bedrest, with only bathroom priveledges. I was warned that I would have to come to the hospital around 26 weeks and stay if things did not drastically improve. We were also given a tour of the NICU and shown what would happen if the baby arrived at various weeks, to help us prepare ourselves for our baby's birth.

My family were all wonderful, with my husband taking off to help as much as possible, my mom moving in with us and working from home a lot to help out and my older girls (aged 15 and 12) helping babysit the boys (aged 10 and not quite 2). Church and neighbors all brought food, books, playdates, and a lot of support. There is an old saying that it takes a village to raise a child. In our case, it took the whole village just to get her here safe!

As the weeks went on, I continued to lie in bed (on my left side mainly), getting up only to shower, use the potty and go to the doctors twice a week for sonos and stress tests. My amniotic fluid started to increase (I drank A LOT of water) and I stayed infection free. The doctors determined that I had a high leak, which never resealed, but due to the high location, the leaking was less if I stayed still in bed. I was able to stay home the entire 15 weeks! I was induced at 38 weeks, 3 days and gave birth to a miracle baby girl, Abby. The only complication Abby had was jaundice at 1 day old, which required her to spend the night in the nursery under the bili lights. She is now almost 6 months old and developing right on schedule!