By Beth, Chicago, IL United States
PROM at 17 weeks + 4 days. Delivery at 26 weeks + 4 days.
Story added: 2008-09-30

My first pregnancy could not have been more uneventful. We did use IUI to get pregnant, but after that everything was a breeze, including the delivery. My second pregnancy couldn't have been more different. It took us more IUI rounds and different kinds of ovulation drugs. But finally we got the great news, we were pregnant. When we went back to the doctor to have our first ultrasound, we got the surprise of a lifetime...triplets. Honestly, I got in the car and I cried. If only I knew what was to come. At 17 weeks and 4 days, I woke up and noticed a little wetness. I didn't think much of it and went on with my day. Then at 9:30 a.m., my world changed. I felt a huge gush and I knew instantly what had happened. My husband and I rushed to the hospital. They didn't like what they saw at all and I was sent by ambulance to a higher level trauma hospital. Triplet A's (Anna Grace) membranes had ruptured They told me I was 3 cm dialated and with all the blood, I would good into labor by days end. Well I didn't. They kept me three days and pumped me full of antibiotics. I was then sent home and was put on strict bed rest. If I some how made it to 24 weeks I would then be on bed rest at the hospital. Each day they said I should be prepared for the worst. Days then turned into weeks, however my doctor told me more than once I should consider ending the pregnancy. At 23 weeks and 5 days I entered the hospital. It was at 24 weeks exactly, I started to feel some pain. It was pretty mild at first, but quickly got intense. Anna Grace entered the world at 5:58 a.m., but somehow they doctors were able to keep the other two babies from delivering. Anna was tiny, but beautiful. I never saw her eyes, but I was holding her when she took her last breath. I will never forget that moment. She lived just over eight hours. It was hard to grieve for a baby when I still had two babies to think about. Triplet B (Ellie) and Triplet C (Gillian) were able to continue on despite all that happened. The next few weeks were rough, lots of bleeding and multiple trips back to L & D. At 26 weeks and 4 days, I woke up to heavy contractions. I knew from experience what was going to happen that day. Ellie was born first and Gillian followed 8 minutes later, both vaginally. They were small but strong. Ellie was off her vent in less than two days. Gillian just over two days. It was a long 67 days in the NICU, but mostly uneventful. Gillian had contracted an e-coli infection that send her back on the vent for a week, but other than that just typical preemie breathing issues.

Ellie and Gillian came home on APNEA monitors and multiple types of meds. I won't lie, the first few months were incredibly tough. The girls are now 7 1/2 months old(4 months adjusted). They are healthy, gaining lots of weight, and appear to be developing normally. I never refer to the babies as twins, for me they will always be triplets. They girls will grow up knowing how strong Anna Grace was and how she kept strong until it was time to go the the hospital. She did exactly what she needed to do to save her sisters. She will never be forgotten.

I always think back to the day my water broke. What if I had gone to the hospital sooner? What if I had stayed off my feet more? So many what if's. The doctors don't know why it happened and I never will either. With time I blame myself less. If this has just happened to you, try not to be so hard on yourself.

If PPROM happens to you, be realistic, but be brave, you just never know what might happen. Prayer is a powerful tool.