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!!

Girlsyearapart, are you posting on an iPhone? :o
"3pm is a fab weight", "they want babies to get to 5oz" - that's the kind of auto-correct stuff my iPhone does to me :o

Love this thread!! Southsea you are doing so well!

Marking my place for gratuitous baby pics.........

I've been following this for a while.

So heart warming to hear of your SIL and her friends rallying round with baby goods!

Good luck!!!

Hi,

The lady last night came in dilated at 9 or 10 cm and gave birth 12 mins later. It was her first too. God it sounded painful!

Thanks for your encouraging words. I spoke to one of the docs this morning about getting to 34 weeks and she said they'd initially suggested inducing me then but hadn't expected me to get so far! So now that might be a different picture. I think it will be reassessed at that time. I found the name of the infection we are trying to avoid. It is chorioamnionitis and can be very harmful to the baby and can cause cerebral palsy, so now I understand better the need for the close monitoring of temperature and white blood cell count, and they will also be looking at the heart rates of mother and baby.

The theory is that at 34 weeks it's advisable to induce because a prolonged period with little amniotic fluid increases the risk of infection. I have never doubted their treatment but It's good to have the facts too. I thought infection referred to any old infection but it's more about this (I think so anyway).

The Pebble has been very active of late and has finally shifted a little. S/he's been in the same position for the whole of my pregnancy as far as I can tell, all over on the left. S/he's face down so we didn't get to see a little face yesterday and we've only ever seen a glimpse of it so it really is going to be a surprise.

DP has nearly finished Angry Birds for me but I'm after golden eggs now. Thanks for all your suggestions for games, I'm trying them all out The iPad has been a brilliant investment. I love reading the Times, although it's not what I'd normally read, but it feels like home and takes hours to get through. I love the fact you can watch TV and films on it too.

Thanks for staying with me. I really look forward to popping into MN during the day. And my latest past time when I go to bed (you know what I mean) is to read the AIBU threads - I think some of you might be regulars there, I love it! X

Southsea - I have been following for a while and so pleased that you have made it this far. I think we have the same original due date as I was 32 weeks on Monday also. Were you on the March thread at any point?

Hope all continues to go well and the ipad gets you through.

AIBU threads - intrigued now - might have to have a look.

x

Ooooh AIBU threads get my blood pressure up sometimes and I'm not pregnant......take care of yourself

DS had a mahooooosively long nap yesterday and I was so bored that I actually read the AIBU threads, LOL :o

It's good to have explanations. You're doing so well!!!
xox

I have been keeping up with your threads - I can't believe it's 32 weeks already, fab news!

Glad to hear you're keeping your spirits up and take care

Have just come across this thread and wanted to add my support. You sound like you are dealing with this incredibly difficult situation so well and I am in admiration of your bravery and humour so far!

I will be following your posts with interest. Good luck - you have the power of MN behind you I see!

So pleased toy you are keeping your spirits up!

Have only just seen this thread- you are dealing with this all so well!
I have to say my son was born in the USA- although it wa splanned as w elived there then. My birth experience was FANTASTIC- no the medical nightmare I was expecting! fab nurses, a brilliant Obstetrician and wonderful post natal care(and great food!).

We moved 5 weeks after I gave birth- airlines will take babies at a week old normally - you will probably have to get your Paed to declare the baby fit to fly.

Getting a passport was surprisingly easy- we got the Birth certificate in the hospital and went to the State capital to the register's office(or whatever its called- I forget_ to get more copies- it was easy and passport was easy. baby will be required to leave the US on a US passport anyway- don't worry about getting baby a UK passport til you are back here!
I do remember Passport control asking if my baby was 'just visiting" as he only had his US passport and we all had UK ones- made me laugh like I would be sending him back in 2 weeks!!!

Seem to remember we paid extra for passport to come quickly but it was really fast.

Good luck and hang in there little baby!

Hi Southsea

I don't usually read or post in 'pregnancy' as I am not pregnant, but clicked on it by mistake and came across this thread.
It has taken me a while but read the majority of the posts here.

I'd just like to say how brave and positive you seem to have been throughout this, how difficult and anxious it may also have been for both you and your DP, especially with being so far from home, friends and family. I do admire you both for being so upbeat.
Well done for getting so far and keeping your little pebble (cute nn btw) safe and sound in there.

Glad you have DP family supporting and helping you out, so wonderful to hear people being so thoughtful with gifts etc.
Im sure the visa and insurance will be fine.

Will now continue to watch with interest. Hope you reach that 34 weeks goal.

BTW have you thought of any names?

Catching up pleased made it to 32 weeks and 3lb is good dd was just under 5lb at 37 weeks

Do be prepared for just how small they will look it really shocked me (but that might been because ds2 was 10lb s). one extreme to the other

Yes jacksmama middle of night posting plus iPhone leads to non sensical posts from me..

Hey ho southsea it's the thought that counts

I'm so amused by iPhone auto-correct. I just tried to type "fuckwits" on another thread and it gave me "ticketed" WTF :o

Middle of the night always makes it worse. On that note, I'm off to bed. Ny ny southseas, hope you're sleeping well!

,Horrah for 32 weeks! It is so amazing, particularly since the doctors expected you not to go much beyond 29, I seem to remember. And could someone just tell of what AIBU is?

Aibu is am I being unreasonable so the reply is either yabu - you are
Yanbu- you're not
Yadnbu- you're definitely not

The lullaby is playing, there's a new baby on the ward! X2 so twins again, how lovely.

Well, the snow is coming down thick and fast and I am praying our Pebble does not choose today to make a show, because I don't think DP will be able to get here unless it is by snow plough The weather forecasters had predicted 2 - 4 inches but it looks like it's already a lot deeper than that and the roads haven't been prepared this time around. BIL is stuck in Dunkin Donuts somewhere on his way to work. Hells bells....

I've realised this morning how much of an emotional bubble I'm living in right now. I got a bit shirty with DP on the phone over something trivial but then got really upset and gloomy (there was really no need to be) and I feel all anxious again. It seems that the smallest thing sets off a torrent of emotion and the slightest bit of stress gets exagerated. I'm not generally like that and can cope with stress ok but I think living in this room is a bit like living in a bubble in lots of ways. I know that there is a good dose of hormones in there too! I can see I'm in for a long day so need to get mentally prepared...

We had a bit of good news too. The insurance company has finally confirmed that they are covering our travel and my medical costs but also they will pay for Pebble to come home when the time comes. They still won't be paying medical costs for the baby but it's a relief to know they will at least help us all get back to the UK. What a huge weight off our shoulders that is! We only have to hope now that the baby will qualify for Medicaid and with any luck s/he won't need too much care in the NICU.

I think I am going to read a lot today. I'm finishing off the last of the Lisbeth Salander books and I've got The Forgotten Garden to read for SIL's book group that I'm going to when I 'get out'.

Last night I spent faaaar too long reading AIBU threads but the one about Steve Wright made me laugh out loud! Cor, you have to be a brave woman to post on there sometimes....

DP has just phoned to say he will try to get here later but I won't count on it, although the snow appears to have stopped! I hope he does. Poor DP has been brilliant and doesn't deserve rattiness from me.

Phew about the health costs!

I doubt your Pebble would be so cussed as to arrive in a snowstorm after all this.

Be kind to yourself Southsea. It's a very unusual thing that is happening to you. You are doing a fabulous job, holding onto this little Pebble for as long as possible. As you say s/he is pretty much out of danger now and will probably require little or no intensive care after birth if born from now onwards. There's no reason not to be glum, being stuck for weeks in limbo, but remember that you are both doing brilliantly.

X

Hey SouthSeaRocks

If you're bored, this might raise a chuckle:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqGLHluDoe0

Basically, a healthy young Australian guy got diagnosed with a rare strain of tuberculosis last year and put in quarantine in hospital for six months.

To ease the boredom, he started making funny music videos on his laptop - which then started going viral (no pun intended!) on the internet. He calls himself The Fully Sick Rapper. This video had me in stitches!

It might not be your sense of humour, but you might relate :)

Just reposting as a link in case Southsea can't access it on her ipad.

Keep your chin up southsea you are doing a great job! You are bound to be a bit emotional at times! Good news on the insurance, by the way. That must be a great relief.

Aw Southsea, well done on 32 weeks! I read The Forgotten Garden and loved it, I hope you do too. It's a bit of a tear jerker though and in your heightened emotional state it may be worse?! Take care of yourself and the pebble, don't get too upset.

I love a bit of AIBU too, maybe see you there!

I'm on an iPad too it amuses and annoys me equally when it insists on autocorrecting and sticking capital letters/ full stops in random places...

Sorry haven't posted before I don't think but I have been following your bread and I'm really pleased you've done so well. I'm 26 weeks pregnant with my fifth and had bad spd last time so can relate to lying around a lot (although not in hospital).

Staying in all the time definitely make me feel anxious and messes with your head a bit esp when you factor in the hormones. It's crap but not too much longer for you hopefully! So exciting :)

• thread not bread

Lol