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.

If you are getting no joy from the ward team, call PALS.

They should have an email and phone number. They can come and talk to you on the ward.

I have known people with PPROM at

It’s an awful time to have to dredge up all the assertiveness you can muster, but please do it. DM or DP need to help you stand your ground. Go with your instincts and ask them if they’re prepared to be accountable if there are further complications or issues arising out of you being sent home? My DD has just had the twin pregnancy from hell and said she just knew whenever things weren’t right. Whatever you do, don’t let them treat you as If you are being over dramatic or that it’s a minor hiccup.

Jesus OP I feel for you. What happens if you just straight up refuse to leave? I've only had this the other way, when I wanted to go and they wouldn't let me (not enough staff to do the discharge ) but surely they can't manhandle you out of the bed in your condition? Just sit tight and refuse to budge, staying where you are is the safest thing for the three of you. I take on board what JessieLemon and others say about the service being overstretched, and yes there is a moral obligation on us not to waste services/staff time, but in this case I think you are legitimate to say sod everyone else frankly - your babies are at risk, and you are right to do whatever you have to to give them the best possible chance.

Good luck OP xx

I'm thinking of just refusing to go. Still waiting for the doctor so no updates yet. Still in pain.

They're really funny about pain relief too. When I asked for codeine she looked at me like I had requested heroin.

I agree with Ennirem. Just refuse to go. They can't just chuck you out. Can you speak to your gp and get him on side?

If just refusing to go is what it takes then do it. Keep repeating that you feel ill, this is a high risk pregnancy to start with and that PPROM puts you at further risk and you feel unsafe and need proper monitoring. I feel so sorry you are having to fight your corner at a time like this but you and your babies need appropriate and professional care right now.

The pain is making my eyes water. Just been and asked how long the Dr will be but there are no midwives around anywhere. Been told they'll come and find me. They never actually come back.

Don't just refused to go, it will look bad and you are likely to be labeled troublesome. Instead explain your concerns and fears. Ask for reassurance and why they feel it is safe to discharge you. They should take the time to listen to you and your concerns but at the same time they can't keep you in bed if you are clinically safe to be discharged because you are scared to give birth early.

Can’t see the pad picture but it is very unlikely to be meconium at 26weeks and would more likely be old blood if it is brown as meconium is usually a green colour .

Unfortunately a patient who is refusing to leave despite medical advice, and requesting specific opiate based pain relief, is generally a patient who is abusing substances and malingering. I know you’re not, but hospital staff are so used to seeing it they make snap judgments based on past experience.

I know you’re only thinking of the short term but it could cause more problems than it’s worth if the hospital peg you as a risk in other ways, such as being mentally unwell and uncooperative, the codeine request, etc. I would really carefully think this through OP. You can’t just not leave if you’re discharged, ultimately it isn’t a negotiation and hospital staff are encouraged not to treat it as such when you read the guidance.

JessieLemon nowhere has the OP said that she thinks this is an unusual event.

You are quoting someone else who made a similar extrapolation. Only now you have taken it further and said "who told you it is an extremely rare event. ".
She didn't say that.

You're right. None of us have the medical notes and it is not helpful to assume medical professionals don't know what they're doing.

But it is equally unhelpful to suggest the patient and mother is merely anxious or to tell them that PPROM at 26weeks with twins is usual. Especially when that patient has unexplained pain which has not been addressed.

I originally asked for anything other than codeine because codeine gives me an upset stomach but was told I can't have anything else. I dont even drink alcohol so it's a bit of a joke if they think I'm after drugs!

Yes to calling up pals. they can come and see you. I can’t believe they are not addressing the pain. And even worse making you feel shit about asking for pain relief.

You are NOT being precious

You poor woman. Your labour sounds just like mine I wasn't listened to either and nobody referred to the pain I was having as contractions even though they were, so I never had any pain relief either. They talked me into trying a natural birth too although I had wanted an elcs... then the cord prolapse and emcs happened. Apparently there's a much higher risk of prolapse with premature babies. If you want a Cesarean then you have the right to request one regardless of what anyone else thinks of it. What do you want to happen now op?

Have you contacted PALS yet? If not, do it now.

Ask them what pain relief they can give you. Codeine is addictive, so that may be why you were looked at funny when you asked. IV paracetamol is much better than paracetamol in tablet form, I've found, so maybe you could have that. Or ask for gas and air.

I want reassurance that my babies are okay. I can't feel twin 1 because of his position and he has very little waters. I also want to know why I feel so ill/in pain because I genuinely feel more ill than I have ever felt in my life. I want to feel I am being taken seriously and that my babies matter

Waiting for my partner to arrive and we are going to ring them together.

Is there anyone else at all that you can get there to help you?

Frankly I wouldn't give a toss how I came across or was labelled. Doesn't matter. Keeping her babies safe matters. I'd rather feel a dick for sitting in a bed unnecessarily with midwives tutting at me and having a perfectly normal birth in the end, than nod my head and toddle off with my high risk pregnancy and my unexplained pain like a good little girl and run the risk of losing my baby and knowing being in hospital might have made the difference. Seriously, how could anyone do otherwise in this situation where something is clearly wrong and they don't know what?

Don't wait. If they keep office hours, they might go home before your partner gets there.

He's on his way so shouldn't be long.

Cross posted I'm glad that your partner is on his way. If you can grab hold of a midwife then you could ask them to put you on the monitor?

Don't be worried about getting yourself labelled as a troublemaker. In my experience the squeaky wheel gets the oil.

Good luck OP.

Glad your OH is on the way. Good luck xx