Waters have broken at 28 weeks - we're in America!

[Southsearocks]

I've come over to the US for a two week holiday to my partner's family. No problems at all in this pregnancy (my first). Then yesterday morning the waters broke! I've been admitted to a local hospital and although me and baby are fine we'll be here for the duration. It's likely to be three months! Baby could come any time between now and full term so we're keeping everything crossed (including my legs of course) it stays in as long as possible. Either way we're not able to fly home for a looong time...

Our baby will be coming back to the UK an American citizen - how about that?

Pray the insurance works out for us!!

[Greedychops]

Well it'll certainly be a great story when they are older. Hope you get on well with your partners family - guess you will get to know them really well.

Hope the lo stays in as long as possible.

[Tarlia]

Oh my goodness good luck!! I hope baby stays put and the insurance company cough up.

Keep us updated!

[MeUnscrabbly]

Best of luck, I hope the baby stays put for a while yet.

The baby will have duel nationality, won't it? That's a very useful thing to have!

[midori1999]

Eek! My waters went at 14+5 with my twins and I managed to hang on for 9 weeks before going into labour. That's the exception rather than the rule though, 80% of ladies go into labour within three days of the rupture and another 10% within two weeks. There are a few ladies on here who's waters went early and have had very good outcomes.

Care for early babies in America is really very good, quite a way ahead of us here, so you're in good hands.

[MumNWLondon]

I hope you have insurance that covers the baby as well as yourself...

[PolkaDotRudolf]

Oh wow! Have you spoken to the insurance company? What do they say?!

Wishing you lots of luck and hope the baby stays put for a while yet!

Is your DP going to stay with you or does he have to come home?

[ragged]

Another one praying for your insurance.
That happened (the waters breaking, I mean) to my friend at 27 weeks. Baby born a week later... he's a brilliant little lad. Now 6yo. No ill effects at all from being so early.

I wouldn't be so enthused about the duel citizenship; it's mostly a life sentence for having to deal with the IRS.

[Southsearocks]

Lol! Thanks for you messages and support. We think we should be covered but the thing with insurance is it's a slippery fish! We'll find out in a few days so I'll let you know.

Lovely to hear other people have had good outcomes. We are still in shock I think and just can't beleive this is happening, especially so far from home. We're not sure when the baby will be able to fly and we'll have to get a passport sorted etc so could be here for months! Insurance will cover DP but we don't know how his work place will take it yet, although he can work remotely.

Got to go - more monitoring!

[WillbeanChariot]

Good luck. Prognosis for 28 weekers with no other problems is very good. I had my DS at 27 weeks, just wanted to wish you luck. Come back with any questions, or visit the message board at bliss.org.uk where you will get loads of support. What a stressful situation! Hope all goes well.

[Sparklies]

Been in a similar situation.. almost! At 18 weeks I was visiting the US and had a bad feeling something was wrong so had a scan. Turned out I only had 3mm of cervix left. Had a cerclage that evening, and for a long time I was told I would almost certainly have to stay until I delivered, and I'd be lucky to hit 24 weeks. Bureaucratic nightmare!

Fortunately after a critical two weeks everything looked good and I flew back first class (thanks to my travel insurance) as I had to be flat on my back! Total bill for everything - surgery, hospital care and flights around $120,000 - scary. After all the fuss and amazing treatment and care I had in the US, I was turned away from my local hospital shortly after arriving back with lots of contractions as they didn't care what happened before 24 weeks . Fortunately it was just caused by a UTI that antibiotics cleared up and my almost American-citizen baby was born 4 months later after strict bedrest healthy and fine at 35 weeks at a different hospital (Kings College) who gave a lot more of a damn!

Not to worry you, but when I was in the US I was warned that as the policy limit on my insurance was $500,000, there was a high chance a preemie could exceed that. Something to look into.. hopefully as you're passed 28 weeks it'll be unlikely to get that high but you never know!

Hope you get to stay put for the next 3 months (I knew a lady who had her waters go completely at 26 weeks and hung on for a further 7 weeks so it can be done) and have fun with the bureaucracy and insanely detailed monitoring and interventions!!

[Southsearocks]

Oh wow Sparkles - a very similar situation then. I'd be so happy if we could be stable enough to come home and I'm sure the insurance company would prefer that too. I'm going to suggest it! However the docs here are pretty sure I need to stay put and I'm still dribbling fluid.

I did check out insurance before we left. I emailed to tell them exactly how many weeks I would be and were we covered? They said as long as there were no complications prior to flying we were (and there weren't). Also have a doctors letter allowing me to fly. So fingers crossed....

Re "insanely detailed monitoring and interventions!!" this is so true!! No wonder it costs so much! Shame they don't spend a bit more on providing edible meals!

Thanks again all for your encouraging posts. I'm not going anywhere for some time so will keep popping back.

[giraffesCantDanceOnAllThisSnow]

Oh gosh what a nightmare. fingers crossed you can come home soon

[midori1999]

Have you looked on the Bliss message boards? Lots of ladies there who have had pPROM too. It's www.blissmessageboard.org.uk

Also, www.kanalen.org/prom is a good website with lots of people's own pPROM atories with outcomes, good and bad. You can see whether the stories had a good or poor outcome prior to reading, so don't have to look at anything you don't want to. I preferred to be informed.

I am sure the doc have told you, but the biggest risk now really is infection. In the UK, guidelines suggest delivery at 34 weeks if labour hasn't naturally occurred by then in cases of pPROM, not sure if this is the same in the states? Presumably they have you on antibiotics? I can imagine they are even more cautious than we are here!

I know you must be terrified, but try hard not to worry too much. A baby born at 28 weeks has a really, really good chance and every day or even hour makes a difference.

I hope the insurance works out.

Do try the above websites if you can, lots of great help and advice on the Bliss forum especially, relating to both premmie babies and pPROM.

[beijingaling]

Fingers crossed for you and best of luck.

Regarding flying and passports I would check (you can do this online) which system (UK or US) is faster.

You can get a British Birth Certificate (very useful as you can always easily order a new one online) by someone (PIL, DP, etc) taking the American one to the British consulate along with your & DPs passports plus some other documents. You don't have to do this to get a UK passport but you might find it an advantage to do it. All the info is here

A British passport is just applied for in the normal manner. Go here for all the information. It takes about 6 weeks for a first passport.

Not sure how long it takes to apply for a US passport though and which would end up being cheaper and easier in the long run.

Stay positive and let us know how you get on.

[midtowner]

Southsearocks,

Where are you (there are a few of us scattered around the US if you need any help/support)?

[JackSawMamaKissingSantaClaus]

Yes, where are you? I'm in Canada but only 2.5 hours from Seattle if you need anything!

[Southsearocks]

Oh my goodness, you've made me cry! Thank you all for your advice and suggestions and support, and for taking the time to find things out for me (Midori and Beijingaling thank you). I can't tell you how grateful I am.

I'm in Riddle Hospital near Philadelphia so if there are any Mums-netters near-by feel free to pop in

I've been feeling pretty positive so far and I think it's because the care is so good and I feel so well monitored, but I can also see that it's going to get hard, not only having a prem baby but also being so far from home and my family . My parents aren't able to travel although bro and SIL may come over. And I've been on Skype to friends and family which helps. A few of them, including parents, have been able to meet the nurses and watch procedures as they happen in the hospital room - how amazing is that?

Once again thank you all. I'm a bit weepy this morning so your messages have been lovely and I'm looking forward to seeing DP when he comes in later. He's going to stay over in a pull out bed next to me tonight. I'd give anything to be back home waking up with him and the cat and the Bump..... Sniff!

[beijingaling]

Just try to keep positive Southsearocks. You know you're in very good hands, you know you have lots of RL & MN support and you know there is always somewhere (MN) to come and moan or cry or worry or ask questions. Keeping positive, if nothing else, will make the waiting more bearable and hopefully keep the worry at bay.

Please do keep us updated on your progress.

[SarahScotChristmasSpirit]

Southsearocks, you sound very calm, positive and sensible about everything. Fingers crossed about your insurance, sounds like you're in the lap of luxury compared to the care you'd get here in the UK though. I wish you the best of luck with everything and will be following your thread.

[MiasMARY]

This happened to me. Twice!

Waters went at 30 weeks with dd and I managed to stay pregnant with her until 32+2.

Waters went at 22 weeks with ds and he was eventually born at 25+5.

Pretty hairy time with them both, especially ds, but they are two and six over the next 10 days and are both fab and perfectly healthy :)

[MiasMARY]

Ds was born at 27+5 I mean.. He's clambering over me as I type

[Amapoleon]

Best of luck!

[hippy3]

just for some reassurance.... I am due with twins and my consultant said that the aim is to get me to 28 weeks... then we can relax a little. The reason being that at 28 weeks the babies/ baby .....should be fine, or at least stand a better chance of no complications.....x

Hope your health insurance works out for you.... dual nationality is a good thing!!! they will be able to travel a lot more freely. I was always a tad jealous of my friends with dual nationalities !! will be thinking of you...

[JackSawMamaKissingSantaClaus]

Southsea, how are you today? I'm three hours behind you (it's 8 am here so 11 am in Philly) so am up roughly when you are. Maybe pop on over to the Living In America thread to see who's in Philly? They're a really nice bunch :)
Hang in there!!!

[gruber]

Hope all is going as well as it can. I noticed your name - are you by any chance from Southsea?? Is there anything I can do for you in Southsea? (drive past and check your house, call your work?)

Praying baby stays put for a good while yet!