By Samantha Holloway, Phoenix, AZ USA
PROM at 16 weeksDelivery at 32 weeks + 2 days.
Story added: 2010-09-09
After years of trying to get pregnant on our own my husband and I turned to IVF. On our first round we implanted two embryos and were so excited to find out that they both took and that we were going to have twins. On the first ultrasound at 12 weeks we were told that everything looked great and the tech guessed that we were having boys and she was right! Our next appointment was at 16 weeks. Typically no ultrasound is done, but I was so excited that I begged the nurse so that we could have one. She gave in and that is when we found out that baby b had extremely low fluid. They sent us to a perinatologist. The first one we met with misdiagnosed the baby. We were told that the baby had Potter’s syndrome, which is an obstruction is the urinary tract. We were devastated. The doctor told us that more than likely the baby would not survive. Luckily something was not sitting well with me and we decided to get a second opinion. We met with another perinatologist the following week. After the ultrasound the doctor said this baby does not have Potter’s Syndrome and said more than likely it was PPROM. Even though I had not felt a rupture the doctor said it was possible that there was a slow leak that could go unnoticeable. The good news was that the rupture was on baby b who was at the top of my uterus meaning that baby a was helping to protect baby b from infection. Regardless we were told that without enough amniotic fluid around the baby, his lungs would not develop and he only had a one percent chance of survival.
The plan was to get weekly ultrasounds and then at 24 weeks (the earliest that a baby can survive outside the womb) I was to go into the hospital and be on bed rest until I delivered. At around 23 weeks the fluid level started to go up, the doctor said he thought I should wait and go into the hospital at 26 weeks. When I was 25 weeks, I started bleeding one morning. We went to the triage, and I was contracting, but not dilated. They gave me a terbutaline shot and the contractions stopped so they sent me home. Later that night my water broke and back to the triage we went. They confirmed that my water has broken and I was admitted to the hospital. I was given magnesium for 3 days and more terbutaline because I was contracting again. Luckily I made it past the first 72 hours which is the most critical.
I ended up being in the hospital for almost 8 weeks. Those were some long and hard days. Thank goodness for my family, friends, Skype and the hospital staff or I would not have made it. I had NST twice a day and other than that I just waited hoping the babies would stay inside of me for as long as possible. One night I started bleeding. They determined that my placenta ruptured and I had an emergency c section. Baby A, Aaron Clifford was born March 29th, 2010 and weighed 4 lbs 10 oz. He was taken to the NICU and put on CPAP without supplemental oxygen. Baby B, Isaac Vinson was born one minute later and weighed 4 lbs 5 oz. He was in pretty bad shape that first 24 hours before they were able to get him stabilized. I cannot put into words the relief we felt that Isaac had made it!! Baby A was sent home after 3 weeks in the NICU. Baby B sent was diagnosed with BPD and spent 6 weeks in the NICU before being sent home on .2 liters of supplemental oxygen.
They are now 5 months old and doing awesome great. Aaron is 16 lbs and Isaac is 13lbs! Isaac is still on oxygen, but we are hoping to have him off in a couple of weeks. The best advice I can offer for other couples going though this is to never give up on faith. Our baby was given a less than one percent chance of survival and he beat the odds. If they are willing to fight then you need to fight with them by their side. Never underestimate the power of prayer.
Please feel free to email me if you have questions and/or need advise!