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!!

Hope you get the insurance/medicaid sorted out soon southsea. I'm sure the people in the hospital will know exactly what they are talking about as they deal with costs all the time. Presumably you are on a tourist visa. Do you know whether you can stay longer than the 3 months if your baby is born and still in SCBU? I am sure USCIS are flexible about hospital stays but it's probably worth getting some advice from their website. Good luck keeping babysouthsea in for a while longer!

OMG - I'd like to say I'm shocked at their attitude, but tbh nothing much would shock me any more. I would be seriously tempted to do the interview and 'name and shame' them - but then i'm a cow!

I'm sorry you have gone through all this extra stress - just what you needed, i'm sure. DH and I are keeping all our fingers crossed for you!

Sparklies - yes I am indeed from Southsea. I moved there for university and never left, like about half the population of Portsmouth! We did even now consider doing a runner if we were going to get landed with huge costs, and as you know we mean HUGE, but of course it comes back to what's best for little'n and it simply isn't worth the risk . I am aching to come home. The funny thing about the anchor baby situation is I've got no idea what America is even like, let alone wanting to stay. I've seen the airport, BIL's house, and the hospital! We were supposed to be going to Baltimore the day my waters broke but obv never made it.

Worzselmummage - I just read your post about baby George. OMG I realise how close our experiences have been, including the support from mumsnetters! I cried when I got to George's birth, what an amazing story

Regarding the insurance company we will have to see what happens but we think we could contest it if necessary. We don't have private health care insurance unfortunately. Swines!

Blimey, baby is active this evening! Heart rate is all over the place and just shot up to 183 and s/he's a-wiggling all over . It's half six now so that's another day nearly through. We could be here for some days to come with any luck so I hope you don't get too bored with my whitterings

Keep hanging in there Southsea, we are all rooting for you. Give the insurance company hell!

Keep on keeping on southsea.
insurance claims do make you wonder why you ever got covered to start with- there always seems to be a reason for them not to pay out!

Hurry up iPad!

By the way I don't see why not over the journalist thing.
Not least so you can name and shame the insurance company

Oooh yes, not to worry you, but the tourist visa thing could be an issue, eek! They can be particularly unforgiving (I've heard it said the only way you can outstay it is if you're in a coma..) so definitely something to look into sooner rather than later. I don't know how easy it is, if indeed it is at all possible, to extend your visa once you are in the country.

A good place to ask might be on the British Expats website forum - there is a US section which has a special visa section and a ton of very knowledgeable people there who would be able to give you advice if you are completely in the dark. Or maybe your insurers(!) might have an idea or give you the services of an attorney.

Yep, I went to university in Portsmouth as well - 1996 to 1999 and then hung around for about 18 months afterwards until I split with my then boyfriend and got a job in Surrey and now I'm stuck in London, blech. I always love the compactness of the place, plus the fact there is the sea so nearby, and all that countryside just outside too.

I was actually informally advised by hospital staff to do a runner too if my insurance didn't cover it! A runner as in after all the treatment has been given, that is.. not before. Guess it's quite a common thing to do. Really makes one appreciate certain aspects of the NHS for sure, and just what value for money we get. Even now whenever I use an NHS service I get all twitchy expecting to pay, as my US experience really drove it home that you don't normally get something for nothing.

How sad you haven't managed to see any more of the US than this! Hopefully once you've had the little one you'll have a bit of freedom to have a potter about when you're recovered and not at the NICU, even if it's just to check out a few malls and fast food places which are so much better than ours. Think of all the amazingly cute baby clothes you will be able to buy - I love American children's clothes (so much cheaper too) and have cupboards stacked with them from the three visits we've made in the last five years!! Love the place :)

Heh, it's only when you're on constant monitoring like this that you realise just how much variance there is in their activity! Huge range of heartbeat.. which is why I laugh when people say very solemnly that their baby's heartrate was 150 or whatever at their scan like it really means something. Mmm, for 10 seconds maybe it was!

Keep on wittering - we love hearing updates!!

I just wanted to say hi - I've been following your thread for a week or so now, and wishing you all the best! I was pregnant in the US and managed to get out and back to the UK at 20 weeks, and am so so glad! Although I do recall the OB/GYN offices being much cleaner than the hospital over here - but at $150 a visit (and that was just my co-pay), they really had to be!

Anyway, it's great to read your story, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you and baby Southsea, good luck!

Hi, just checking in to say good morning south sea mum and baby, well at least it is here. Hope you both had a good night, thinking of you. X

Hang in there Southsea!

Sounds like the insurance company are talking through their backsides about baby not being covered...i was born in the US to British parents and i am British as well as American...having dual citizenship is great but also can be a bit of a hassle..i have to fill in a US tax return every year, and my brothers had to sign something when they were 18 to say that if there was a war they would fight for the US

Is there no way the insurance company can fly you home in an air ambulance?

paddyclamp - made me laugh about your brothers. It does amuse me - on the ESTA form you have to declare that you are not a Nazi war criminal or something!

I just wanted to write a quick note because anxiety is setting in. I'm leaking a lot. My tummy has gone squishy again. The baby's heart is running at a lower speed (I know this doesn't mean much but it's a noticable change to me. It's 135 average and dipping down a bit and was 140-145 average so not much difference but that's anxiety for you). I'm worried it has no fluid, it's not going to do well, it's going to be born with all sorts of problems....

I just feel terribly worried. Would it be better off out than in? There's no way that would happen until the clinicians were concerned themselves but would they rather I incubated a baby with problems than took out the baby now before problems develop? How long can it get by with no fluid at all? How long will it be until it starts to squash the cord, and how much squashing can the cord take before it starts damaging the baby's little brain? Or is it too late?

I know this is anxiety. I've read all your stories of happy outcomes and they usually get me through but today....

The people who are looking after you are experts and they are monitoring everything very carefully and will make the correct judgement about when the baby is better off out than in. They will be fine if they are born now, so the fact that they have done nothing means that they are fine at the moment. No wonder you are worried about everything but you have to trust the experts. You are doing so so well - keep it up and it will all be worth it.

xx

I think you need to talk honestly to your doctors about your concerns. They can usually be trusted (I'm afraid I've been burned too many times to fully trust a doctor again!) but ultimately you do know your body and your baby best. They will be interested in your observations. At best they can reassure you, at worst they'll see it's an issue and deal with it.

I was told by a doctor that they're not as concerned about low heart rates (unless they're crazy low of course) as they are about high heart rates, e.g. over 200. For what it's worth, baby's average heartrate goes down to around 130-140 at term anyway, so maybe it is just natural and would have happened anyway?

Hang in there! Don't hold back from hassling the doctors until you get an answer!

Good morning southseas! Massive storms in our location too (think sunny and tropical). We had a gorgeous day yesterday, went whale-watching (wow), and I swam with DS in the evening (he iscsuch a water baby!) but about half an hour ago, the predicted storm moved in and it's a doozy.

I second being really honest about your fears with your OB team. You're asking really valid questions that deserve an answer.

Re the insurance co: bastards, most of them. I had an accident when I was studying in the US (broke my nose, ouch) and it needed to be fixed. My insurance from home in Canada wanted to fly me home to fix my nose (which would have lost me weeks of term-time, what with waiting to see doctors) rather than pay to have it fixed in the States, which would have meant being out of school for a week only. We decided to just go ahead and get it fixed in the States, and my parents ended up suing the ins co. (And winning, hooray.)

Hang in there. Sending you huge (((HUGS))).

Southsea - so so sorry to hear insurers are being (predictable) bastards. Grrrrrr . Also hope the 3 month visa doesn't get exercised (although i guess they may for DP ). I would imagine if you are BF (or expressing & feeding) baby then they would find it v v difficult to force you home before baby is fit to travel. I really hope they have compassion.

I don't know re waters, but i guess the obs/gyane docs are playing a balancing game between baby growing inside whilst it is safest to do so, versus not leaving it too long and baby getting into distress. It is DEFINITELY worth writing all your Q's down for when the consultant appears so you don't forget stuff. In my case (placenta praevia, so different but equal balancing act), they would have delivered at 31 weeks if necessary but really wanted me to get to 35 weeks. Much less chance of having to go to NICU then i would guess. DD1 was born at 36 weeks and stayed out of any special care, so i hope you can replenish water and make it a few more weeks

Have you heard any more from the journalist? If you do go ahead I would make sure you get to review the final article before press and are able to make any changes (and for them to be processed)

Do you know where the ipad is? Can you track it towards you? I hope the storms haven't held it up

Been following your thread with avid interest. Really really hope that everything turns well! Just thought I would suggest getting in touch with your local consulate as they are there to help us Britsh folk when we need assitance abroad. A bit like a non-elected mp.
Details are:
Address:

33rd Floor
1818 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Honorary Consul: Oliver St. Clair Franklin
Phone: (215) 557 7665
Everything crossed for you!

Try not to worry about the lack of fluid. Cord compression is obviously a very real worry, but from what I can gather it only happens in a very small minority of cases and you are in the best place to be in case of complications. Baby can survive in there with absolutely no fluid and you were well past the stage where you really needed to worry to much about lung development etc when your waters went. I had no measurable fluid at all for the whole 9 weeks aftr my waters went and baby was fine as long as she was inside.

I'm thinking anyone who wants to be supportive and help southsea getvthriugh this is "allowed" to post. :)
If you actually have to be pregnant to post, I'd better pack my bags because there is no chance of it :o

Southsea I have just read this thread from beginning to end, and I have nothing helpful to add, except to say that I think you sound like you are doing fantastically well. You are really taking it all in your stride, aren't you?

Take care, will keep an eye on this to see how mini-southsea is doing!

Just found your thread Southsea. I totally empathise, as although my situation was by no means as dramatic as yours, my waters went at 32 weeks with DS1. I managed to keep going until 35 weeks, when I went into labour spontaneously. Being in an NHS mangy hospital for 3 weeks was miserable, though the actual medical care excellent. (Worse part was being away from DD1 back at home, only seeing her for a short period every day.)

Please talk to the journalists, and keep naming and shaming this insurance company. Mnet is very influential with companies, they don't like the bad publicity. (After posting a thread slagging off Hertz for cancelling our hire car last year; they contacted me on the thread to reinstate my order and give me my money back!)

I will certainly never use "Direct travel Insurance" after reading this thread, especially not when pregnant. And, being 16 weeks pg and having a planned holiday in a few months, I need to check with my insurers whether the baby, as well as myself, are covered.

Good luck and God bless.

LOL, DH would file for a divorce or sue the GP for an ineffective op

Southsea, you're doing brilliantly and can't be blamed for having a bit of a wobble. I think if it was me in your situation I would constantly think of all the negative things that could happen and worry myself stupid, but you have been so positive throughout. Have a chat to your ocnsultant and I'm sure you'll get back to your positive self.

Hang on in there babysouthsea!

How's it going southsea?
I think they tend to keep baby in rather than out if possible.
My sister went into labour pretty much every night from 28-31 weeks and we were asking them to let her deliver but they kept repeating baby better in than out!

Has been really rainy here.
Any news on your brothers visit?