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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

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

827 replies

Southsearocks · 28/12/2010 15:56

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? Shock Grin Confused

Pray the insurance works out for us!!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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IAmReallyFabNow · 29/12/2010 16:11

Hope all goes well.

madwomanintheattic · 29/12/2010 16:14

best of luck op - you can get passport etc when it's time from washington - it takes about 6 weeks (and as the baby won't be allowed to fly longhaul until 6 weeks that'll be perfect Wink) but plenty of time to sort all that out. Grin hopefully you won't need to be thinking about it for some time yet.

good luck with your insurance x hopefully they'll pull through for you. don't lose your 'fit to fly' cert! Grin

NonnoMum · 29/12/2010 16:19

Good luck OP.

ledkrsbellyislikesantas · 29/12/2010 16:31

mine went at 29 wks with ds2 who is now 23 with size 13 feet and is 6ft 4" bless the big oaf.I only hung on for a day but he weighed in at 5lb 1oz.good luck to you all xxx

Mumsnut · 29/12/2010 16:36

Mine went at 30wks in the States, where we were living, and I managed to hang on for 8 weeks (boring bedrest but worth it!).

Good Luck!!

sarah293 · 29/12/2010 16:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

sh77 · 29/12/2010 17:13

What an experience! You sound very positive. Really hope all works out well with the birth and that the insurance company will be good to you. I am 28 weeks also - will be following your thread avidly!

Don't worry about baby being born prematurely as you are out of the extremely prem stage (22-26 weeks). Baby has a very good chance of being well. You might want to ask about being swabbed in case of infections.

All the best. xx

Original poster
Southsearocks · 29/12/2010 19:35

Thank you everyone! It is jolly boring but I just have to keep remembering that every hour that goes by is good for bubs.

I'll keep you posted.... Smile

OP posts:
Tarlia · 29/12/2010 19:53

Just checking in on your thread.Smile Glad you are managing to stay so positive, as you must be so bored. Skype is a pretty amazing way of staying in touch, enjoy.

Look after yourselfSmile

geordieminx · 29/12/2010 20:38

Hope you are doing ok. X

fannybaws · 29/12/2010 21:13

Hi Op hope you are doing ok, my sister who lives in the Turks and Caicos (british islands) had oth her babies in Miami and had US passports for them within a week.

Sparklies · 29/12/2010 21:15

Sounds like your insurance should be fine :-)

Sadly they almost certainly won't let you fly home. The only reason I was is because if I went into labour during the flight, the only risk was to me (the stitch tearing through my cervix which ironically it did at 34 weeks anyway) as the baby would be unsaveable wherever it happened. Which sounds horrible, but it's how they decide these things. Post 24 weeks when babies are considered saveable they don't want to risk the baby on a flight, especially not long haul without a full NICU and curiously airplanes don't seem to have them!

I was told to fly before 24 weeks or not at all, so we cleared off at 20 weeks - I had a letter from my doctor which did not disclose the full truth but just said that he considered me safe to fly. The odds of going into labour were tiny after all and yes, it was all okay!

Glad you have internet access at least - it was a life saver for me. I was visited by somebody I only knew on a forum so I hope you will get lucky too. The four months I spent on bedrest (thankfully most of it out of the hospital) seemed to last forever at the time but afterwards felt like the blink of an eye.

Hang in there - sounds like things are looking promising if you're still not in labour!! Grin

JackSawMamaKissingSantaClaus · 30/12/2010 01:30

Hi southsea, it's 5:30 pm here so near your bed-time (unless you're up on MN all night Xmas Grin) and I just wanted to pop in and say hi and see how your day went?

Original poster
Southsearocks · 30/12/2010 19:48

Hi all,

It's about 2.30pm here now and DP has been hogging the computer all morning! It's very boring for him but I so appreciated him staying on the pull out bed last night and I know he wanted to be here. He's left now and will be back tomorrow.

I've been a little upset today and am feeling low and irritable. It's probably just stress and the dawning realisation of how helpless I've become. Also there's the usual dose of hormones which hasn't gone anywhere! I'm now on oral meds instead of IV but the constant round of monitoring is getting to me, although I do also appreciate how necessary it is.

No word yet from insurance but have heard it costs up to £100,000 per week for intensive care for the baby so would appreciate them hurrying up a bit!

Sparklies, thanks again for making things a lot clearer. I have had thoughts of being repatriated but I realise you are absolutely right and there's really no question of it. I wonder if they will let me have a few days with the DP's family, who are only 10 mins away, if things stay settled.

I've got a more detailed scan apparently this afternoon and a meeting with a consultant so let's see what that brings.

Thank you all. I feel so supported it's amazing Smile

OP posts:
bramblebooks · 30/12/2010 20:08

Hi, my nephew was born at 28 weeks and we've just celebrated his 3rd birthday - he is ace!

All the very best.

Eglu · 30/12/2010 20:17

Just found your thread. Wanted to say good luck with everything and hang on in there.

Original poster
Southsearocks · 31/12/2010 00:02

Just had a scan and saw the consultant. Baby is the low end of normal at 1lb 13oz so that's got me worrying. Also not much fluid around in there. He said there's a less than 2% chance of this kind of thing happening so it is rare and also that most people give birth within a week.

Now I know all this I'm more concerned about leaking fluid constantly as I had thought it could be building up again (somewhat naively)and that we were going to be fine for weeks. I want the baby to get bigger and stay put! The nurse just told me to stay still and only go to the loo or shower and to get other people to fetch stuff for me from around the room, but it just doesn't feel right when it's only a meter away.

Oh lord...

It's only 7pm here and I just want the day over with. Gonna go and have a boo hoo...

OP posts:
llareggub · 31/12/2010 00:08

Hang in there! My friend's waters broke at 25 weeks and lasted until 30 weeks (or was it 32?) and they are doing remarkably well. She had twins and like you was on bed rest in hospital.

Best of luck.

Maelstrom · 31/12/2010 00:15

I really don't have anything to say, but wanted to wish you all the luck in the world.

hellymelly · 31/12/2010 00:29

Good luck Southsea,hope all is ok.

CrystalTits · 31/12/2010 00:36

Hi Southsea, just found your thread. Sending you masses of good luck and calming vibes along with the support you've already had here. Sounds like you're in really competent hands.

Hope you manage to keep occupied and positive most of the time (hey, there's nothing wrong with the release of a boo hoo now and then!). Am thinking of you and your little one. Let us know if there's anything we can do from the UK (am quite near Southsea too, if that's any help).

LoopyLoopsOfSparklyFairyLights · 31/12/2010 00:37

I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you. We'll all be here for the duration for a chat. :)

MadamDeathstare · 31/12/2010 00:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

norfolkBRONZEturkey · 31/12/2010 00:47

Another good news story. my perfect 4 yr old dd was a 27 weeker (started leaking at 11wks)

Hang on in there

doozle · 31/12/2010 00:53

Southsea, the same thing happened to me although my waters broke in a different part of the UK rather than abroad.

I can relate so much to how you're feeling right now - all the waiting around, the worry, the boredom even.

I hope the baby can stay put for a while.

Many do go into labour quickly but not all. I didn't go into labour for over 2 weeks after my waters went and some can go even last to 36 weeks. I do reckon staying as inactive as possible is good advice.

You must have had the steroids by now presumably?