By Andrea, Canada
PROM at 29 weeks + 1 days. Delivery at 35 weeks + 1 days.
Story added: 2003-02-11

I was suspicious that something was wrong when I lost my mucous plug completely at 29 weeks. My OB however, didn't seem concerned. He never even checked me to see if I had dilated at all. I was sure that I had because I had been having really strong braxton hicks contractions as well. Now that I look back, I am sure of it. At that time, I commented to everyone that I know that I thought this baby was going to be really early. Everyone laughed and told me I was being paranoid. My mom even gave me a preemie sleeper as a joke at my baby shower 2 weeks later. I asked her for the receipt so that I could exchange for a bigger size, but she never did get around to giving it to me. At exactly 35 weeks pregnant, I was feeling really tired and slept almost the entire day. I told my husband that we really needed to go to the store to get me some things for my hospital bag, which I had not packed. The next day, at 35.1 weeks, I made myself a cucumber sandwich (my favorite) for lunch and almost immediately vomited it up. I commented to my husband that this can sometimes be a sign of labor and that we should really get out to the store so that I can pack my bag. A 1/2 hour later, while I was writing my thankyou notes for my baby shower, my water broke. At first I thought I had leeked urine, afterall I was always having to go to the bathroom lately. I went to the bathroom and when the flow did not stop, I knew it was my water. My husband however, was in denial. He was sure I had peed myself and still didn't believe me when we got to the hospital and I was soaked.
I gave birth to my son 4 hours later via c-section (he was breech). He weighed 5lbs 5oz, with apgars of 9,9, and his lungs were fully mature. He was a bit jaundiced, but other than that he was perfect and strong. He spent no time in the NICU, and came home with mommy 4 days later. The preemie sleeper my mom had bought was what he wore home from the hospital:)

They discovered during my c-section that I have a rare uterine abnormality in which I only have half a uterus. My son simply ran out of room in there. I am lucky to have carried him as far along as I did. Many women with my condition have their babies a lot earlier. I will probably always have preterm babies.