By Karen, Yorkshire England
PROM at 19 weeks + 2 days. Delivery at 39 weeks.
Story added: 2007-05-29

I wanted to share my story to give people hope and because I found comfort on your site through a really difficult time.
I have 3 older children and with a new partner in conceived after 2 years of trying, so it was a much wanted pregnancy. Everything was great considering my age (44)even nuchal at 12 weeks was positive.
After xmas we went for a couple of days break in London where i developed a cough.
I had a unsettled night with the cough and i developed bad asthma, although i had never been hospitalised with asthma i felt very unwell and decided to visit nearest hospital.
On admission it was decided to admit me, i was coughing and vomiting loads and felt a gush i tried to tell doc that i thought my waters had broken but they were more interested in my asthma.
Eventually after i started crying they took me uo to a early pregnancy assessment unit where i waited for four hours! A midwife said did i want an speculum examination i nearly said not to bother but we agreed since waiting so long i may as well. I saw all the fluid in the speculum and on the bed and the midwife confirmed she was very sorry but yes my membranes had ruptured. I have some medical knowledge and knew at 19weeks and 2 days this baby had no chance, It was explained to us both i would probably go into labour in the next 48hours and the baby would not survive. I cannot put into words how i felt as this point.
We were moved to the sands room on the labour ward where my asthma worsened. Shortly after, concerned for my health, i was moved to high dependancy unit to monitor my asthma. At this point i was gushing lots of fluid and more upset i was more my asthma became worse. We were not offered scan because no hope was given.
In high dependancy my asthma became really bad and it was suggested i may have an infection in uterus and to consider inducing my baby or my life was threatened. i had x rays and lots of treatment for my asthma because it was thought my baby had no chance.
On day 5 in H.D.U. it was suggested as i had not given birth yet and my health was improving i should be given a scan. I waited all day not knowing if my baby was ok only knowing that fluid was not gushing any more.
The next day a brilliant angel of a doctor visited me and was appalled i still not had a scan and gave me one within 10 minutes of meeting her. The baby was fine the A.L.T. or fluid level was at 5% all around the face. It was felt my waters had gone due to the pressure of my excessive coughing and vomiting with the asthma and not infection. I was still slightly concerned as how low had the fluid gone, why had it ruptured but realised the questions would probably never be answered.
I was discharged 2 days later and the care was taken other by my local hospital and consultant.
My consultant was great he scanned me every week i also had blood taken twice a week to check if my infection levels were becoming high which may indicate uterine infection.
i stayed at home and tried although stopped work tried to carry on as normal. Fluid continued to drain for another couple of weeks in small amounts but then stopped.
my consultant decided to give me bethamethasone at 26 weeks which i agreed to.
The fluid around the baby continued to rise until it reached 50% the optimum and stayed that way.
After a further scare at 28 weeks I contnued a normal pregnancy, Although it did not feel it i was warned i had a higher risk of prem labour and was anxious most of the time.
We agreed to induce at 39+ weeks if not given birth mainly due to my age, i was happy wth this i just wanted to see my baby.
Two days befor induction day i srom and did not go into labour so i was induced the next day.
On may 17th 2007 I gave birth to 6lb 7oz Imogen Olivia who with exception from initial slight jaundice is now 12 days fully breast fed beautiful happy baby.
I realise how lucky we have been and how i felt throughout this experience. I wanted to give some hope to those who are experiencing a similar situation.
Initially they gave Imogen no hope then this went to less than 5% i hope i have put that percentage up.
Good luck