By Joane, Singapore Singapore
PROM at 20 weeksDelivery at 28 weeks.
Story added: 2007-03-25

It all started on March 27th when we went for our 20-week ultrasound. I was 20w4d. Everything was fine, except the baby was positioned too low to see the base of the spine, so we were told to come back the next week.

Fast forward a week to April 3rd (21w4d). Back we went for our ultra sound and we were told that my water level was a little low – not terribly low, but low. We couldn’t figure out how this was possible, as I had never felt or seen any evidence of leaking. We didn’t really like how the technician and doctor were dealing with our questions, so I asked my doctor to refer us to someone different at another hospital. So, on April 6th, at 22 weeks pregnant, we went for a third ultrasound, to see what was really going on with my water. It was even lower than it had been 3 days prior. It was critically low, but I still had not noticed I’d leaked.

We were given an EXTREMELY dire prognosis. The baby wouldn’t make it another week. If it did make it to viability, it would be born and not be able to breathe. Its lungs would be horribly underdeveloped. It will be deformed from lack of space. It has a 10% chance of survival.

I tried to keep it together, but couldn’t. I cried and cried and worked myself up into absolute hysterics while lying there listening to all of this. While DH went to settle the bill I tried to regain my composure enough to walk through the crowded waiting room. We went home and cried some more and talked about what to do.

My doctor called after she learned of what transpired at our appointment and asked us to come down to see her immediately. We did, and she basically repeated what we had already heard. It seemed our only hope would be to start on bedrest at home and see what happens, unless of course we wanted to abort. DH and I looked at each other and knew that we could never do that. We would let nature takes its course and hope for the best. How could we make the decision to end our child’s life before it even began? We at least wanted to give him/her a chance.

So bedrest began at home. Five days later, April 11th (22w5d), about an hour after I woke up, I felt a tiny trickle of water. We called my doctor and she told us to come in and bring an overnight bag. We were there within 20 minutes and I was admitted to the hospital for bedrest, immediately. We continued to be told about the slim chance our baby had to survive for the next five weeks as I lay there. I kept a positive attitude as much as I could. I would love this baby no matter what.

Jack was born at 28 weeks, on May 18th, via emergency c-section. He was 2lbs and 13.5" long. He was ventilated immediately and took to the NICU. He spent 13 weeks there and came home 6 days after his due date. He had lots of ups and downs, but is doing wonderfully now.

Jack is my miracle.