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.

ring her own midwife, i agree, can't hurt

Oh, I hope all goes ok. I'm always surprised about how cavalier medics seem in instances such as these. Surely staying in and monitoring would make sense, even just to reassure your sister and make her rest? Good luck anyway.

wishing you and your sister well. I know its easy to say but try not to worry too much, and the fact she was sent home is a good sign. There are many many of us on here who have had complicated pregnancies, prom, bleeding etc and gone on to deliver fine (if sometimes a little early) and neonatal medicine is ever improving.

I had my DS at 29 weeks, so a good few weeks later, and when things are a bit calmer your sister may also want to sepak to a neonatologist, and go to NICU (they will usually let her if there is a risk of a premature birth) as it will give her a clearer idea of what might happen next for her baby at different gestations. In the meantime the LO has a good heartbeat, and she will be monitored as things move on.

The other thing I would say is try to listen if your sister wants to talk, and not push her if she doesn't, and try to help with your nephew as it will be easier for her the more normal it is for him

Fingers crossed xx

Hi, just to say that this has happened with all 3 of my pregnancies, my waters went at 27, 23 and 18 weeks- the fluid levels went up and down a little every week and all 3 stayed put until 35/36 weeks.

I was scaned straight away and they could clearly see the fluid was gone, I am surprised they didn't give your sister steriods straight away as the first 48hrs after the waters go are when she would go into labour if she was going to (IYKWIM).

Anyway, there is hope that all will be ok, I was given very little/ no hope when mine went and they are all fit and healthy.

I would get your sister to contact the midwife as they should be taking it a bit more seriously- IMO

She has contacted her midwife. Steroids were mentioned but they said they would need proof it was her waters first, and as they had stopped leaking by the time she finally got to hospital, they are saying they don't have the evidence. Anyway, I am relieved to say they are now scanning her today rather than tomorrow, so fingers crossed for her. Just waiting to hear something back from her. Not sure what time they are scanning her.

Pinkchampagne I cannot express how much I HATE it when medics say they have 'no proof' your waters went. If the patient has just told you her waters have broken, then as far as I am concerned it should be treated that they have. Imagine if you went to a doctor and said I vomited this morning and they said 'well we've got no proof that you were sick have we?' If the patient is in any way unsure, then that's different. I had prom with my first pregnancy and then the same thing happened again with the second pregnancy but much earlier. I told them the waters had broken but they said they had no proof and refused to arrange a scan. This despite the fact I knew what it felt like to have my waters break.

Of course the waters had broken and in due course I contracted an infection and finally they scanned me but too late to do anything re antibiotics etc.

Anyway in your sister's case I am so so glad they are scanning her now. She needs to get her blood tested to check her CRP count to see if she is fighting infection (baby's heart rate being a little high can mean there is an infection). She needs steroids and poss prophylactic antibiotics. The fact she is already 24 weeks is fantastic - key lung development which amniotic fluid is required for occurs between 22-24 weeks. Docs also more willing to put the fight in for a 24 week baby.

Any news???xx

My waters went at 30w with dd and 22w with my DS, they were both prem but are fine now.

Combinearvester It pisses me off too, after my second prom the midwife who admitted me asked if I was sure it wasn't just urine I replied that It was coming out of my vagina in an irritated voice and she started taking me a bit more seriously. I had already ppromd too so knew they drill. Sometimes professionals really don't credit women with an ounce of intelligence.

pink I hope you sisters waters have just leaked a bit a sealed up again, it is very possible for this to happen :) God luck x

fingers crossed

Have just heard that she is still waiting to see the doctor. I am hoping they will keep her in tonight & keep an eye on her

Apparently the midwife at the hospital she was scanned at was appalled at how shoddy her treatment was yesterday

Sorry, just noticed that I haven't updated you on the scan results...I thought I had - clearly worry & lack of sleep has had quite an effect on me!!

She had scan earlier & it revealed that her waters had gone but that there was still a little around the baby & it's bladder & kidneys were still producing fluid so there is hope there.

She has been taken back to the hospital to start treatment, whatever that may be, and atm they are still waiting to see a doctor. Apparently she was only seen by a junior doctor before being discharged yesterday. It is all very worrying.

Just heard from her. They are admitting her into hospital for a few days now

INSIST on a registrar or Consultant before they go home for eve. Insist on DexMex steroid jabs, i speak from experience :(

I take it this happened to you, MABS?

They are keeping her in hospital for a few days now. Am relieved they are finally taking her seriously but am worried sick. Will pass that info onto them. Thank you.

I lost quite a bit of fluid at 24 weeks. I was in hospital for just over a week, given steroids and scanned. Once I was discharged, I was then scanned twice weekly and had blood tests and swabs done weekly to check for infection. I also had to monitor my temperature daily to check for any early signs of infection. My sac resealed and while my waters were never quite as they should have been, I hung on until 35 weeks when they started to leak again and he was delivered that day. He's now 4 and totally fine.

You have given me hope, HLUF. So pleased all worked out ok for you. I really hope my sister's little baby can hang on in there for a while yet. I guess at least she is in the right place now & they should be keeping a careful eye on her.

Wishing your sister all the very best. I remember how scary it was - not only for me but for my family too.

Thank you. All we can do now is keep everything crossed for her & hope for the best. I feel better for knowing they have admitted her now & are actually taking it all seriously.

Just heard from her. She has been given steroids & started on antibiotics. They plan to keep her in for 24/48 hrs & have someone from neonatal coming to talk to her about what will happen if she delivers early

when she is released she will have weekly scans & blood tests. They have told her the greatest risk is infection

Thinking of your sister, you & all your family in this scary unknown time. X

Thank you. It has been really reassuring to read some of the positive stories on here. Keeping everything firmly crossed for her. I know she is now in the best place.

Hope everything works out ok x remember doctors don't know everything x it's important to be realistic but never give up hope x many a baby has hinge on in there far longer with ver little fluid than any doctor could have predicted x and that little baby is so very lucky to have an Aunty who cares so much and all these people here rooting for him/ her x