Hospital wants to send me home after PPROM. I don’t want to go. Help.

[CatsEye99]

Posting for traffic. My waters broke at home and were bright red, and I was 26 weeks with DCDA twins. I called an ambulance and was rushed to hospital where I had a huge gush of red fluid. I was counselled about preterm birth and given steroid injections. I saw a neonatal doctor who stated the most important thing was to deliver at a hospital with NICU cots.

Despite severe agonising pain, a week has passed and I haven’t given birth. Twins aren’t distressed and my observations are fine.

However I feel incredibly unwell. I keep burning hot and turning red but my temp is not raised. I feel like I have the flu or another illness. I have no energy and can barely move due to pain. Codeine won’t touch it. A midwife told me to have a hot bath which I am sure is contraindicated.

The staff want to send me home. I have stated I do not want to go home due to me living an hour from the hospital and the risk of infection, cord compression, preterm delivery and stillbirth. I do not want to lose my babies. I want to remain in the unit with NICU like the doctor advised.

Can anyone give me any advice? I can’t find any info on this anywhere and feel like the staff are fobbing me off.

I dont know :( ive been bleeding for 24 hours now, normally it stops for a few hours and goes again. I'm starting to get concerned

What does the consultant or MW's say about the bleeding?

Wow I don't know how you are keeping sane. I would be a nervous wreck not knowing what's going on inside.

I know that doesn't help you any, I'm sorry. You are doing so well to still be calm.

To tell them if it changes. I'm going to call them if I soak another pad in 10 minutes like the last one.

I tend to shut down and become a robot in traumatic scenarios. I don't know how either.

I think you are doing amazingly advocating for your babies.

Hey - mum of a 28 weeker here. I went into labour at 22 weeks and he was stitched in. I stayed in on bed rest until he came. He's now absolutely fine nearly 7 years later.

It feels like you're really worrying about the meconium issue and you should get some advice from the consultant on that. I don't think the babies are old enough to worry about it. The meconium is made up of all the bits a baby swallows over 9 months. They may not be far enough along to accumulate enough for it to come out. As it seems to be worrying you, ask about it. Apart from that, try to stay calm, lay down lots, try and get into the rhythm of the ward and make sure you tell everything to the midwives and consultants as it happens
Xx

It sounded like the consultant wanted to know if anything changed. I think you should get them to assess you again, if they don’t want junior doctors making decisions then that should apply to midwives too. And assessing your bleeding & possible meconium as not significant IS making a decision.

I don’t want to scaremonger but it seems like you are in a situation that could deteriorate rapidly if signs are missed.

@CatsEye99 sorry that you're going through this, it must be a very worrying time for you. If it helps settle your mind a little, as a previous poster has said, meconium prior to 34 weeks gestation is very rare.

Hope things stay stable for you and your babies x

Was told to just keep an eye on it. Still bleeding. Had sudden pain so severe it makes me want to bang my head against a wall just to make it stop. Feel like I can't do this any more with this pain.

Will they let you have gas and air, if that has helped you before?

Think they only have it on delivery. Someones gone to get me some pain relief. I don't know how much longer I can cope with that type of pain. It honestly makes me lose all sense of rationality and just scream and go berserk. Never experienced anything like it before

Ask for the Acute Pain Service. You’ll get to see an anaesthetist and they know an awful lot more about acute pain control than anyone else. Every hospital has one. It’ll usually be the on call anaesthetist out of hours.

Good luck OP.

I'm so sorry you're going through all this pain and worry OP, it might be terrifying.

I would recommend to anyone reading this thread wondering why the waits are so long to see a doctor, to read This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay. It's a non-fiction semi-journal of his experiences as a jr obs & gynae doctor. It's sadly almost identical to OP's story, just from the NHS' side.

OP, I hope you get some reassurance soon X

It doesn't make sense that you're in such pain. Normally, pregnant mothers are in superb health. Do you feel yourself it's Braxton Hicks? Could it be sciatica or something?

oh no @CatsEye99 it sounds horrendous. I hope you get some relief soon and that they call a consultant to see you asap.

Thank you. Pain is easing now and I have had codeine. Next time I see someone I will ask for the acute pain service!

They think the cause is the babies are both very low and their heads are causing pressure in the pelvis combined with the uterus being aggrevated by a placental bleed. Every so often it causes severe pain.

Ok, so it does sound like they're pressing on a nerve or something. Super painful I believe. I'm glad they can give codeine.

You may need movicol or something if you are having a lot of codeine

Hope you've managed a comfortable afternoon OP.

Read this whole thread. OP, you're doing great. So sorry about your shocking lack of care. Looking forward to a twin baby pic (but not too soon)!

How are things today?
You've gone a little bit quiet- I hope that means you're resting up x

Hi everyone. Been mainly resting. Situation is pretty much the same, still bleeding and still getting pain at random times. Hate being in hospital but glad they have let me stay.

My mum is bringing my son to see me later today which will be nice as I miss him so much.

I wish hospitals had sort of common room areas for inpatients with seats and books. Theres nowhere to walk to other than a sad half filled vending machine! And I can't walk outside the hospital because the fluid gushes unexpectedly.

It will be nice for you seeing your Mum and your son later. Enjoy.

Perhaps they could bring you some books or other reading material, and perhaps sneak in some nice snacks because hospital food can be a bit samey when you are there for long.

On the CTG and twin 1 is having readings I am concerned about. His heart rate is usually 145 and above. He keeps dropping to 128 and 133, then going back to 145. He hasn't done this before! I know 120-160 is normal but he is always 145!