My waters have broken too early, please help

[BadNails]

This probably isn?t the right place to post this, so I apologise, but I need to share this in the hope that someone can either help me or that this helps someone else.

I rarely post, am more of a serial lurker but haven?t name changed even though I could be identified in RL. I?m beyond caring about this now anyway.

On Friday, I had a PROM. I was 22 weeks and 6 days pregnant. I wasn?t near home and was with colleagues so ended up at the nearest hospital, lacking my notes and terrified. I was scanned and examined. Things were not good. The deepest pool they found was 1.8cm. My DD still had a strong heartbeat and my cervix was closed. No one gave me false hope, it was explained that the prognosis for her was poor.

With no contractions kicking in, I was able to go to the hospital I am booked into and my consultant took over. She only saw me on the Monday and everything had been absolutely fine. I remember that she had smiled at me and DP, saying she would not expect to see us again and wished us well for the remainder of our pregnancy.

We were told that the gestation we were at presented a difficulty in that if we had been at 17-19 weeks, they would be recommending a termination and yet if we were at 25-26 weeks, they would be fighting all the way. It was just bad luck apparently.

I had felt some tightenings and so believing that labour would start at any time, they placed us into a special room. I was so dazed that it took me until Monday to realise that this special room was where they were expecting our DD to be born and then die. I?m not sure how I didn?t see this when the sign on the door clearly stated that it was kindly donated by SANDS. We had been told that there was an 80% chance that labour would begin within 48 hours, so I would be monitored during that time for this or any signs of infection setting in.

Two and a half days we stayed in that room, situated at the edge of the delivery suite. The midwives were all truly wonderful. With no contractions, I started to regain some hope. I searched the internet trying to find out more information about loss of amniotic fluid and survival rates. I have been on the SANDS, ARC and Bliss websites. I have read about miracles and tragedies. Me and DP swing between hope and despair, but have remained strong.

But today, I think I can?t cope anymore. We have been back home since Monday evening, waiting for a further scan, to see if the fluid has replenished. I have felt DD kicking away, but usually in the area (she can?t really move now). I have prayed to a god I have neglected since my mother died seven years ago. I am drinking enough water to fill a swimming pool in the hope that this might help (I read it somewhere).

DD1 (4 yrs) lives with her dad and we have maintained the story that I am unwell at the moment which is why she couldn?t come at the weekend. Thankfully, she hasn?t asked any questions about the baby, I am only just keeping it together when I speak to her on the phone.

Apparently AFI should be 10cm or so and below 5cm is critical. So I knew that 1.8cm wasn?t good. Today, I was scanned again by the consultant. DD is well with a strong heartbeat and is cephalic and able to stretch her legs a little. There is no AFI. The consultant couldn?t even give us a deepest pool. She estimated 0.5cm. I think my heart broke when she said that.

A paediatric registrar had already explained the importance of amniotic fluid on lung and limb development. Every piece of information given to us was geared towards the worst case scenario. I don?t think I can even remember everything said to us, now I just keep thinking our DD is going to die.

We were given the option to terminate but I am 24 weeks on Saturday, that?s when it could all change. Steroids, surfactant? We won?t be terminating. At 24 weeks, it?s a 50/50 survival rate and half of the babies who survive will have a major disability. There is no way of knowing what effect her current situation is having on her and that makes me feel so terribly guilty.

I?m scared and angry and I don?t know what to do. Apparently, nothing I do will alter the situation. I am still leaking fluid and I feel despair every time it comes out. I?m sorry if this all sounds self indulgent, but I?m trying to make sense of what has happened.

Thank you if you?ve been able to read all of this.

There is a lady on here - Worzel? who ppromed at around your stage, baby born healthy at 27 ish weeks. Will try and find her thread.

Thinking of you. Have ppromed twice, once later than you with good outcome, once earlier than you with bad outcome.

There used to be a website called kanalen.org with more info on prom, will try to find that too.

When I had a nasty miscarriage I was much happier being with pregnant women and newborns, oddly enough, for exactly the reason you described. It was like all that good karma was rubbing off on me and I was much better able to cope with events. So if you feel that way, go with the flow. There is no right or wrong way to feel.

Btw, I didn't mean this in a "don't post here" way, keep posting. I just meant that maybe there are some people on the premature board who have been through PROM themselves.

My husband's friends wife gave birth very suddenly to her baby at just 25 weeks I believe, at home. The baby spend a long time in hospital but is now, not even a year later, totally fine.
It is possible. Don't give up hope and like other people said, rest a lot.

Ive not been in your situation, and I cant even begin to imagine how you must be feeling, but you need to keep strong and your baby needs you to keep strong. Every day that passes is a day you wont need to live through again, and is a day that has made your baby a little stronger.
If following MN has shown me anything, its that amazing things happen all the time. Dont give up hope, until there is no more hope to hang onto.
Please keep posting, we will all keep you company through this. xx

I really hope you can last out a few more weeks, I am rooting for baby nails.
I am so sorry you have to go through this though :(

Oeisha think I'll read the thread tomorrow. I sat reading the In Memoriam books in the SANDS room at the weekend knowing full well it would upset me. Sometimes, it's just reassuring to think I'm not the only one.

Wafflepuss I should be getting the injections next week. Fingers crossed I get there. I really am just ticking off the days.

Thank you for the prayers. I've been praying everyday and I am a classic lapsed Catholic. I've not made any promises to God, but when I can I have committed to go to church once, regardless of the outcome.

DP is being amazing - cooking, bringing me water and checking on me constantly. He seems to be living on energy drinks though, I can't encourage him to eat properly.

Have hope - there is hope. Only a few weeks ago a lady on another forum suffered a PROM and she was in the same position. A few weeks later, her waters DID replenish. It CAN happen. As long as your baby has a strong HB and is having some movements, she sounds like a fighter. Yes, some babies are not totally fine and it takes them a few years to 'catch up'. I've taught children who have been early (one at 25 weeks - she's now in her late teens) and a family whose little girl was born at 23 weeks + 5 days - she too is doing well.
Don't google any more though. I think it's easy t focus on the bad things than the good things.

Can't find the thread but searched under her name and her waters broke at 22+4 and baby def born at 27 weeks and is fine now. Your baby has a fighting chance.

I wonder if you can ask to have the steriods earlier - maybe 23 weeks?

When I prommed (too) early I was told by a nurse that in her opinion if you go a week after prom without going into labour you've got a good chance. It is possible for the waters to replenish, even a bit. It is possible your baby's lungs have already completed this key stage of development - what I understand to be the surfactant bit?! My baby's lungs were already starting it at 18 weeks.

Bliss messageboards are/used to be full of pprom Mums.

Not to mother you but get some rest tonight, this thread will be here in the morning!

Combine thank you, I will have a search. Sorry for your loss. Were you ever told why you had two PROMS? This is something which now worries me as with DD1, I was technically early at 36+6 but didn't think anything of it until this happened.
They won't give me the steroids until I'm over the 24 weeks stage, not sure why, but I guess they need cut off and start points.
I was going to post on Bliss, but feel more comfortable here at the moment, probably just more familiar with MN style.

Boffin I'm sorry to hear you went through a miscarriage. I have to be strong around pregnant women anyway, one best friend is three weeks ahead of me and one SIL two weeks behind. I'm just happy that they are okay.

Mum2be water replenishment is what I am hoping for the most. Even just a small amount.

MrsHuxtable it's okay, I didn't read your post that way at all. This situation didn't seem to 'fit' anywhere as I've not given birth yet or miscarried.

I think I'm going to try and sleep soon, so will check back in later. Sorry if I've neglected anyone's posts. I've been waking in the night, so I imagine I'll be back at 3am.

xposts diy I'm going now!

So sorry you are going through this badnails Do an advanced search for the thread started by southsearocks titled 'waters have broken at 28 weeks'. She hung in for a good few weeks before her dc was born with a good outcome. Sorry I can't link am on the iphone app.

Keep posting once you've had some rest (and drinking!) Wishing you lots of luck xx

My waters started leaking at 22 weeks with ds2, it was very difficult and a long road but we did make it. There were a few really bad times when they prepared scbu for a 26 weeker just in case as they thought I was getting an infection from my blood results but all was ok. I had lots of scans and tests and they checked growth and fluid levels which varied but were enough to keep him going. It was a slow leak luckily and did keep replenishing and around 34 weeks the leak stopped. They think it was the hind waters and they eventually resealed.

Some days I lost fluid than others but I was on bedrest and drank lots of water. In the end I went to 39 weeks after refusing an induction at 37 weeks, I don't know what I was thinking as I would have just agreed to it if it were now. I think I must have been in shock and stressed but I'm just thankful that he was born safe and well. He's now almost 5 years old :)

I still remember laying down having my cervix checked by one of the doctors and him saying he could see fluid leaking from my cervix, I was in total shock. Even though I'd had a gush of liquid I assumed it wasn't my waters at 22 weeks.

Hang on in there as there are good outcomes possible, I read a lot about pprom and found a lot out which helped. We had steroids to mature the lungs once we got to 24 weeks as well and I was given anti biotics just in case.

With DD1 my waters broke at 36 weeks and she was born the next afternoon but I've never gone to 40 weeks. Ds1 was 38 weeks and Dd2 was induced at 37 weeks but was sadly stillborn, that was the reason for the induction.

Hi. My waters went at 17 weeks, my daughter turned 1 this week and after a year on oxygen while her lungs developed she has outgrown all her problems and is a normal happy if somewhat small toddler.
the hospital were still asking us if we wanted to terminate even as i went in to the op room for a c section at 27 weeks ( I also had pre clampsia and IUGR (no blood flow to baby) so they where forced to deliver). we where on the noenatal unit for many months fighting, while we where there there was another fanmily also pprom and delivered at 25 weeks also normal and fine.
You must do what you feel is right - for us right was fighting for her while she was still fighting and she always had a very strong heartbeat.

I drank loads of water - I too read it somewhere - to me it seemed to help if nothing else it made me feel like i was doing something to help. I rested alot and tried not to move too much. It feels terrible when it leaks and gushes out this i know very well, but there is nothing they can do. I had no water at all after 20 weeks. Be careful reading too much on the internet as it is treated very diffreently in the US.

The main things it affects are lung and skin development. A child grows a complete new set of lung tissue by the time they are 3 so being born with damaged lung tissue (chronic lung disease) is not always a permanent fixture in their lives if the structure is in place and some of it is working. The steriods you will hopefully get will give the lung development a major boost.

I too bounced on and off the labour ward with pains and them saying i will go into labour anytime and not have much warning. Key factors that seem to really affect survival rates are number of weeks and size. So everyday you can hang on increases their chances. If you have no other complications there is a good chance of going a lot further than you are now and each day helps, although pprom rarely get to full term because of infection they dont normally stop developing. ( I am assuming as you havent said so that your little on eis a normal weight for age?) I was recommended to use very mild antibactical type wipes instead of loo roll in an effect to mninimise infection getting in. Also recommended no baths/swimming pool/ only very quick showers, completly minimise the chances of injection or transfer. Also no sex (like you really feel lije it with everything going on!) Also dont stand under shower with water on breasts as that stimulates and can sometimes remind the body to start labour.

It is a horrid situation and one that unless you have been there is impossible to imagine. At 24 weeks and a normal weight it is as you say touch and go, but if there are no other problems there is a very good chance that as you havent delivered imediately on waters breaking that you will be able to hold on a lot longer. the neonatal unit is a very hard way to come into the world and it is not an easy fight and you are right not all of them make it and some are severely and mildly disabled as a result. The medical staff repeatedly told us to discount our little one from the equation of what to do as they where absolutley certain she would not survive being born. She hung on form 17 weeks until 27 weeks and would have gone longer except for my getting pre clampisia to complicate things. She was 1 lb 4 oz and has just turned 1 this week. She is a little fighter and it has not been an easy year but one that I cant imagine not having given her the chance for. You can normally ask to go for a tour of the neonatal unit and talking to the experts there about what might happen and seeing it really helped me to panic less.

Hold on, rest, drink lots, try and stay positive, stay as infection free as possible, and count off the days as each one will make a huge difference to your little ones chances. good luck to you and your family. I really hope this helps you and if you want to message me you are very welcome to. xxx Jennie

here is a very inspirational PROM thread, with a lovely outcome.

praying

worzselmummage's thread another source of hope and information here.

My thoughts are with you. Keep strong! I am also rooting for Baby Nails.

I also think they told me that the first few days after rupture were critical as that was a higher risk time for labour to start. They tested me for fetal fibronectin explanation here as well.

www.kanalen.org/prom/

This page seems to be mentioned a lot on other PrOM threads.

BadNails I have a clotting disorder called antiphospholipid syndrome, somehow the clots caused the membranes to rupture, in my 2nd case it turned out the placenta had partially abrupted too. Other reasons for pprom could be an insufficient cervix, or infection. If its happened to you twice it might be worth asking to be tested for clotting disorders after the baby is born.

It is worzselmummage I was thinking of, I hope she sees this thread.

Cheese I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your DD2, it seems even crueller after the fight you had with DS2.

Jennie your story is inspiring, it is nice to hear from someone who was the one in a million. Second your point about the US, they do various things to try to save the baby, where as in the UK it is very much watch and wait, that's if they are not trying to push you into an induction of labour.

BadNails are you on any prophylactic antibiotics and are they monitoring your CRP count?

Hello, I haven't disappeared. Slept rather badly, but that is becoming normal and spent most of the morning reading all the links above. MIL has been (she's been coming everyday, buying food and just generally being an angel) and kept my mind off things.

Thank you Cheese, I am so sorry you lost your son. I am hoping that everything reseals like it did for you. My consultant has described the break in the lining as being like a sieve which strikes me as a rather depressing image!

Jennie thank you for sharing your story. Yours seems very much like what I am going through and I am following some of your advice already. DP was sent off with a shopping list this morning but the shop assistant in Boots became confused about the antibacterial wipes and so now I have Dettol surface wipes! Don't think I'll be using them on my lady parts somehow!

Funny that you should mention sex, I asked the midwife if there was anything at all I could do to help and she said don't have sex. I looked at DP and we both laughed. I guess there may be some people who would be up for a bit in spite of the gush of amniotic fluid oh sorry, probably not appropriate

DD is estimated to weigh 1lb 3oz at the moment. We've been told that is a good weight for her gestation, so now I'm wondering if I can improve that by eating more... am I going mad?? A couple of weeks ago I was worrying about putting on too much weight and adding to my vast collection of stretch marks

The treatment methods in the States do seem vastly different, so I am reading anything from there with that context in mind. Watching and waiting is certainly the order of the day from the NHS. I managed to read my notes from yesterday and I thought I had made it clear I would not be willing to terminate, however it has been written that BadNails is not psychologically fit to make that decision (or something similar). Erm, actually, the rather brutal way it was described as injecting my DD to make her heart stop and then I would have to go through a VB is what undersold that as an option. Sorry, I'm digressing, but

Combine I'm not on antibiotics. I was initially at Southampton and the consultant there stated it was their policy not to give them as some studies show they could have an adverse effect on the baby. He said it might be different at mine, but then it transpired that they had the same policy (although a couple of the midwives said otherwise )
I am however having the blood tests every couple of days starting tomorrow morning.

I will definitely be asking questions about my susceptibility to this situation later on down the line. I can't go through this again.

Thank you for the continued support, it really is helping. I have often read support threads and have been somewhat sceptical about how much help they could be, but I stand 100% corrected

And I'd like to start counting, I think.

So... today I am 23+5. My aim at the moment is to get to 24 weeks. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

My fingers and toes are crossed for you - good luck - you have all my best wishes that everything works out for the best. x x

Fingers and toes tightly crossed for you, your DH and your baby x

I have just come across this thread and I just wanted to say that I am deeply moved and my thoughts are with you. I am at a similar stage of pregnancy (or maybe identical, my due date is 5th February) and I really cannot begin to imagine the ordeal you must be going through. Please let us know how you and DD are. Best of luck to you both.