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

Original poster

23 weeks and waters have broken...

123 replies

YorkieGirl18 · 21/03/2019 03:32

Hi, so if you have seen any of my previous posts I've not had the easiest of pregnancies to say the least!

My waters broke on Saturday but the hospital I was at wasn't convinced and sent me home twice without doing a scan until my consultant saw my notes and called me back in immediatelyscanned me and admitted me straight away.

Anyway, very long story short, I've been shipped off to a specialist unit at the other side of the country to wait and see... the labour hasn't started thank goodness and I am 100% in the best place possible but I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to think and feel.

Has anyone been in this position before and can offer any advice or insight?

Thanks!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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Esindi · 21/03/2019 03:43

I don’t have any advice, sorry. Although, I wish you and your little one all the best.

Original poster
YorkieGirl18 · 21/03/2019 03:50

Thank you! Xx I'm just laid here wide awake after my last set of obs trying to keep calm and not really sure what to do with myself!

OP posts:
Windygate · 21/03/2019 03:58

Don't have any useful advice but just offering support as I know how lonely being awake and worried at 4am can feel Thanks

snitzelvoncrumb · 21/03/2019 04:01

Sending lots of love. My waters broke and sealed again if that's any help.

bumblingalonghappily · 21/03/2019 04:05

I don't have any advice I'm afraid, just sending you lots of positive thoughts, good luck and Thanks

snoopy18 · 21/03/2019 04:54

Good luck keep us posted hope everything goes smoothly 🙏🏾

Rtmhwales · 21/03/2019 05:01

My friend's broke early (I think 27 weeks) and she was kept in hospital on bed rest for several weeks until they felt she was ready to deliver. Apparently your waters can regenerate themselves some of the time. Mine went at 31 weeks but labor started immediately.

Hoping it goes well for you. Just try to stay positive and calm.

Middlrm · 21/03/2019 05:07

My thoughts are with you and your little one , you are 100% right you are in the best place. Keep us updated we are all thinking of you.

Hope family can make it up to you soon x x

sam221 · 21/03/2019 05:26

Sending you tons of love and support. A close family member went into labour at 26/27 weeks, the doctors were immensely informative and supportive. That was nearly 20 years-the said 'baby' stayed in hospital for nearly 3 months and is now grumpy moody uni student! There were tough times but take support from your friends and family. Speak to people, be open and take help where given.
Ask questions, stay positive and do try to rest. I know this must be a scary time for you, take each day at a time and really concentrate on trying be calm(for want of a better word). Babies pickup on stress, so maybe watch a bit of mindless netflix on your phone or anything that can help to relax you a little.
Fingers crossed for you and lots of love.

WinterHeatWave · 21/03/2019 05:36

23+what?

24 weeks is a magic marker, where things will change dramatically in terms of treatment.

My neighhours 24weeker has her first birthday tomorrow!

CanuckBC · 21/03/2019 05:43

Tho king of you. Can someone bring you some adult colouring? An iPad to mindlessly watch Netflix and play mindless games? Anything to get time to pass by.

I was in the hospital for completely different reasons, colouring was a faboulous thing to do as it was mindless but also took some thought as to colour combinations, look etc. It was fantastic and I loved what I was creating. They have some amazing books online with British swear words that I thought were fantastic! Especially as I am Canadian and love them😁

Also games that take little thought ie Candy Crush, Minecraft etc. Needlepoint if you do it as you have to count then stitch.

I wish you the best❤️ I know of others water was able to regenerate and keep long enough so there baby was safe to deliver.

I can’t believe the hospital didn’t at least check you! That is horrible😡🤯

Whoops75 · 21/03/2019 05:45

Pm sent x

marching · 21/03/2019 06:19

I know of a few babies born at 24 weeks who are doing incredibly well now. All the best op !

Original poster
YorkieGirl18 · 21/03/2019 06:24

Thank you all! I managed to get another hour in before my latest obs so thats good! Adult colouring is a great idea! I have a paint by numbers at home that my husband got me as a joke for Christmas so I'll ask if he can bring that over on Friday. We are about 2 hours from home but my mum has tagged my husband out so he could go home, get some sleep and sort our business out. She is staying with her friend down the road but it is hard for her too.

The thing is I feel like a bit of a failure and like I am letting everyone down, especially my baby girl. She is doing great but it is my body that has been failing around her and I feel so guilty!

I'm 23 and 4 now so my main aim is to get her to 24 and I just keep telling her to hang on and I'll do my best for her. It's so hard because even the doctors have said there isn't anything i can do to help. I'm trying to stay strong and positive and upbeat and I hum to her so she can feel the virbrations too but I just find myself crying and apologising.

Sorry for the ramble, I'm a bit tired and emotional... it feels good to talk a bit though. I don't like to say it out loud to mum or DH as I don't want them to be worried about me as well as the baby!

Thank you again for all your support and I will try and update if anything happens! X

OP posts:
Blueroses99 · 21/03/2019 06:25

My beautiful DD is a 24 weeker, now almost 2. Make sure they give you steroids to develop baby’s lungs and magnesium stearate, both of which seem to help preemies. I know it’s a scary time. Happy to answer any specific questions, please PM if you prefer.

miki123 · 21/03/2019 06:33

You are ANYTHING but a failure, please please don’t think that. I don’t have any personal knowledge on the subject however I just wanted to say that I’m thinking of you and your baby girl hugely. Hang in there. Big big hugs and lots of love xxx

MiniMaxi · 21/03/2019 06:41

I don't really have advice but wish you all the best - you're in the best place, even if it is stressful being so far from home. Xx

Original poster
YorkieGirl18 · 21/03/2019 06:47

@blueroses I'm so pleased you had a good outcome! It defiantly gives me hope!

I have had steroids and I asked about the magnesium but they said that would be given only if I went into labour. Was that your experience? My dad threatened to bring in beer foam as it was full of magnesium and iron (he is a brewer) not sure they would look favourably on it though! 😁

My mum is coming back soon so I need to put my big girl pants back on (if I can fit them over my huge pad and tena ladies I also have on) and prepare for the day ahead.

Has anyone had a PROM at 23 and things have settled enough to go home for a bit? I've seen some cases of a later one where they have but struggling to find one for my gestation. X

OP posts:
Hollywhiskey · 21/03/2019 07:37

Hi OP,
I've no personal experience but I can think of two 23 weekers who survived - I was on the what to expect forum for December 2017 babies and a little girl called Ella was born at 23 weeks, she was home from NICU before mine was born. Her mum blogged about it and you can probably find her posts if you have a look.
A baby in one of the groups I go to was also born at 23 weeks, he seems to be meeting all his milestones now. His mum mainly remembers the overnight ambulance dash to a different hospital with a level three nicu and her and her two accompanying paramedics tripping through service stations to go to the loo feeling very out of place.

Darkstar4855 · 21/03/2019 07:44

My friend’s baby was born at 23+5, she’s home now and doing well. Fingers crossed your little ones stays put OP Flowers

anniehm · 21/03/2019 07:45

My friends twins were born at 23&6 - one has very mild cerebral palsy (no cognitive issues just clumsy really) the other has no issues at all and both are in their first year of university! Technology and drugs have improved too since they were born. Hang in as long as you can but they do work miracles in the nicu

sam221 · 21/03/2019 07:51

You are not letting your baby down at all, think of it more like an extra special new bonding time. Don't be afraid to show your real emotions to your family because they are there to hold your hand through this moment.
Our family preemie, knows her 'origin' story and still loves a few of the songs her mother used to listen to at the hospital.
You could read some of favourite books and listen to a favourite song to relax a little. Stay strong and sending you positive vibes.

Fuppy · 21/03/2019 09:23

My experience.
My waters went at 24+5. Yes waters do keep being produced not quickly. I was admitted to hospital. I met women there in the same position.

From this point baby is scanned for growth as less room and more pressure on baby if no waters. If growth stops then they deliver.
Huge risk of infection, washing in shower only, no baths, careful with toilet seats etc (especially as in hospital)

I got an infection despite my best efforts, they tried to fight it with antibiotics but it wasn't working. I had to have an EMCS as both our lives were at risk (whilst waiting for the theatre space that's when I was given the magnesium)

I delivered my son at 25+5 he was taken to a separate theatre to help him start breathing as at prematurity it's difficult for babies to breathe unaided because the lungs aren't developed enough, and I'd had both the steroid injections. He lived for a day and a half, due to his health problems.

I was told that the guidelines are that they will not attempt to resuscitate or intervene if a baby is born before 25 weeks. I also recently lost a niece born at 23 weeks (different part of the UK to me) born alive no help for the full hour that she was alive, parents left to watch her die. Postmortem came back completely normal, nothing wrong.

On the flip side, the other women I met didn't contract an infection, after some monitoring were sent back home and delivered much later (around 32 weeks if I remember rightly) and their babies are healthy toddlers now.

Fingers are crossed for you OP Thanks

Thesearmsofmine · 21/03/2019 09:30

Fingers crossed for you OP. You aren’t letting anyone down.

Lexyness · 21/03/2019 09:44

Best wishes for you OP

I don’t know where you are but the guidelines really depend which hospital you are at! I have personally worked at 2 hospitals which have successfully intervened with babies born at 23 weeks. Generally 24 weeks is the magic number but if you have already been given the steroid injections my guess is that you may possibly be at a hospital that will attempt intervention earlier! (Usually steroids are given after 24weeks)
My best advice is to try to relax and remain calm and in bed rest, and also do as the specialist staff say! You really are in the best place and being monitored etc will give them the best idea of the plan of action ahead! Generally the guidelines say to liaise with the parents, so they are the best people to speak to! It will also depend on how much of your waters have gone etc, potentially you still have some if you haven’t spontaneously gone into labour already!
Like I said before, best of luck, will be thinking of you xxx

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