I am worried sick. My sister has been taken to hospital as she is losing fluid. She is only just 24 weeks

[Pinkchampagne]

She has had a stressful pregnancy. She has had bleeding problems from the start but every scan has showed that baby & placenta is ok. She is now just 24 weeks and has been losing fluid since 1pm today. She says she can still feel it moving around.

I am out of my mind with worry. The baby will be too little to stand a good chance of survival.

At 24 weeks, they do havesome chance of surviving. And they will do what they can to keep baby inside as long as is safe

They will most likely administer steroids to give baby as much strength as possible

Offering a hand to hold, and a hug, and I'll keep them both in my thoughts tonight

Right, firstly has it been confirmed as fluid by the hospital? Many, many women turn up to hospital thinking their waters have gone and it turns out to be increased discharge or they've leaked some urine.

If it is fluid it isn't always bad news even at 24 weeks - babies can hang on for weeks and weeks even after membranes have ruptured. She'd be given antibiotics to reduce risk of infection and also steriods to help mature babies lungs. I met someone once who had a SROM at 23 weeks and went on to over 30 weeks gestation, I think about 34.

Membranes can reseal themselves as well. Sometimes its only a small hole which reseals. Fluid can then replenish.

Sending positive wishes to your DSis and baby. xxx I second what Imnot said about the fact they'll try and keep baby in as long as possible to give them the best chance.

My DSis was in hospital with DC2 at 24 weeks, and DN managed to hang on until full term. My DN was injected with steroids to help her lungs, and my DSis was made to have bed rest.

Do a search on southsearocks in classics, her waters went when she was in the states(around the same gestation I think) but her and her son came through with no problems.

Thank you all for the reassuring messages. I am beside myself with worry for her & the baby & cannot focus on anything else.

My mum said it definitely appears to be her membranes leaking (she has gone over to take care of my nephew), but when it first happened at 1pm, my sister thought she had wet herself. Apparently the water has continued to leak since then though.

They cannot see her until after 6pm so we won't know more until later. I am just praying all will turn out ok

Thanks, fridakahlo - will do a search for southsearocks

Just had a look at her thread. She was 28 weeks so a little further on than my sister, but great to read that all was well.

I am just so very worried for her & hoping for a miracle right now.

Hi pinkchampagne how worrying for you, i have also been following a thread by badnails whose waters broke at 23 weeks and she went onto have baby at 24 +5 weeks, I think, all has gone well for her and although she is not out the woods yet her baby must be close to 35 weeks. It might be worth search for her thread.
Thinking of your dsis

Thank you, HDA. I have taken a look at badnails thread & it has given me hope.

I still haven't heard anymore news. I am literally worried sick & can't stop crying.

Hi

I feel for you and your sister. I have a real bad pregnancy with my DD. i had a SROM at 29 weeks, then laboured at 34 weeks to deliver 66 hours later to a happy healthy beautiful girl. Shes 9 months now.
I no your thinking the worse, but try to stay positive for you sis. Badnails thread was really good and had me gripping for days!!!
Please let us no how your sister gets on, and sending lots of MN hugs your wy
X

Can you believe, they have sent her home! They checked baby's heartbeat & as she has stopped leaking water now, they are going to scan her on Wednesday. Am a little shocked they have discharged her so easily

Hoping that is a good sign. Sending and telling baby to stay put for at least another 14 weeks (in a very stern kind of voice!)

I really hope it is a good sign. Guess it means they can't be too worried, which is reassuring. She apparently soaked through 2 pads though, so obviously leaked quite a bit of fluid. Just need to keep everything crossed for her.

oh bless her pink and you for your worries, yes i am sending hugs and asking mother nature to keep little one safe and sound inside for a good while longer.

all my love x

Hope it's a good sign Pink. Fingers crossed xxx

That's reassuring, pocpoc.

Sounds like she lost a lot of water. She said she soaked through several pairs of trousers & loads of sanitary towels, but by the time she got to the hospital (hours later as they couldn't see her until 6) it had stopped, so they said they didn't have proof! The MW there then told her how the baby would stand little chance of survival if born now!

My sister claims her bump looks a lot smaller, but baby is still wriggling & heartbeat was ok, if a little on the high side today. She has a scan on Wednesday, so I just hope all will be ok. It is all very worrying.

Hi,

If it is any reassurance I lost the majority of my waters at around 22/23 weeks. I held out until 28 weeks but know of many people who held out far longer, to 34+ weeks. Depending on where the tear is, the bag can reheal and water will replenish. Even if they sent her home (probably as much for her sanity as anything else) they will keep a very close eye on her.
It's so easily said but try not to worry too much. If she does go on to deliver early, neonatal medicine is incredible and improving all the time. Also, a lot of the survival statistics you may read are often from an out of date EPICure study which was initially conducted over 10 years ago. A more recent one of early gestations was started in 2006 but as far as i am aware has not yet published findings, especially those long term. Also, re survival rates (such a horrid word!) remember they are just averages and that there are many individual factors which will increase chances. Bliss have some really useful up to date information.
Best of luck to your sister and baby and to you, hoping you get some sleep!

That is reassuring, amymouse.

I didn't get the best of nights sleep as I am worried about her & concerned that the hospital didn't take it as seriously as they should. I was under the impression you were meant to be given antibiotics to help prevent infection & a steroid injection to help baby's lung development, neither of which she was given. She was apparently just given an internal, told her cervix was still closed & sent home.

So they didn't scan her to see what her fluid level was? That doesn't seem right to me. I would suggest she insists on a scan today. What's the point in waiting to Wednesday?

Where I work that's quite normal. Drs say it's to give the fluid levels time to settle.

Oh I see - thanks viva. I still wouldn't want to wait though!

They said they wouldn't be able to tell much from scanning her at that point, which I didn't understand, as her 20 week scan showed her fluid levels clearly. She said her bump has gone right down to how it looked at around 3 months, and she was pretty tiny for 24 weeks as it was. I have suggested she gives her own midwife a ring today, just for extra reassurance.

She also said baby's heartrate was faster than normal & she was worried it was because it was distressed, but mw didn't seem concerned