PPROM/mental health etc

[tattoosanddisney86]

Hi everyone,

I'm not really sure what I'm searching for here really. I gave birth to my LO in July. She was born at 32+2 after I had PPROM at 30 weeks. I was hospitalised until her arrival. She spent 4 weeks in Hospital (3 on NICU 1 on a step down ward) she's 5 months now and touchwood other than being small she's had no issues.

My problem is my mental health has taken a huge battering. I'm currently seeking help for that. But I'm struggling, I don't know anyone who has had a premature baby so I have no one to discuss all my feelings with.

My husband and I have been discussing more children in the future. I'm worried I will have another premature baby. I don't want it to hold me back but I'm 35 now and I know risks increase etc.

I don't really know what I'm looking for in this thread to be honest. I guess it's to be reassured I'm not on my own. Has anyone who experienced PPROM/premature baby gone on to have another one? I know it's not an exact science. I just feel so lost and alone.

Sorry for the pity party!

Congratulations on your little girl.

I'm sure there will be some online groups for parents of premies, I'm afraid I don't have an recommendations though.

A lady in our NCT group had her first baby early. He was born the day after our first session. I think about 32 weeks.

He's turning 5 next week and he's doing really well now and you'd never know.

She had her second baby 2 years later. She was very closely monitored with fortnightly scans from 30 weeks. She went over due and had the baby at 40 + 2!

I had pprom my waters went at 28 weeks they managed to keep my dc in until 36 weeks when infection markers rose.

Her younger brothers pregnancy was perfect and he was born at 38 weeks.

@Twizbe

Congratulations on your little girl.

I'm sure there will be some online groups for parents of premies, I'm afraid I don't have an recommendations though.

A lady in our NCT group had her first baby early. He was born the day after our first session. I think about 32 weeks.

He's turning 5 next week and he's doing really well now and you'd never know.

She had her second baby 2 years later. She was very closely monitored with fortnightly scans from 30 weeks. She went over due and had the baby at 40 + 2!

Thank you for this! I know there's no exact science it's just all the unknowns! I guess it's a risk we all take in the grand scheme of things.

@Skyechasemarshalontheway

I had pprom my waters went at 28 weeks they managed to keep my dc in until 36 weeks when infection markers rose.

Her younger brothers pregnancy was perfect and he was born at 38 weeks.

Ah this is reassuring thank you! Did you have extra scans etc or was it regular CTGs etc? I'm just trying to work out what to expect. Were you consultant led the second time around? Sorry for being nosy!

After PPROM at 30+6, natural labour started 31+6, she was born at 32 weeks, weighed 3lb 8 and spent 4 weeks in hospital.
I'm now pregnant with my 2nd, currently on 30+3, getting nervous, but my consultant has put me on a nightly pessary which is a progesterone boost to help keep my cervix strong and closed.
If you want to ask me anything I'm more than happy to help you through this. Also, congrats on your baby

Congrats and keeping everything crossed the pessaries do their job. I’ve been told I wouldn’t even be consultant led if I had a second baby which worries me after PPROM seems a bit crazy haha.

You can request the referral to the consultants if you want.

I'd be surprised if you weren't consultant led tbh. I think they'd only not do it if they knew for sure the PPROM was due to something specific to that pregnancy and not likely to reoccur.

Oh I didn’t know that - thank you. I don’t think they ever came to a conclusion. It was not infection and there was as no placental abnormality and I did everything you should/should not do so I presume it was nothing specific to that pregnancy. X

Hi OP, I've had terrible trouble with my mental he with since my son was born at 30 weeks (happily he's absolutely fine). For me there were multiple contributing factors that could have caused it, and part of my trouble has been knowing that!

Anyway, my health visitor referred me to the IAPT service for counselling, I think you could get a GP referral too. I've had to rearrange for various reasons, so not had chance to access them properly, but by all accounts they are good, and I believe national 'branches'.

I had a debrief with the lead midwife and my local trust and it was incredibly helpful, I felt listened to and I was able to ask a LOT of questions, so if you do decided to speak to someone, make sure you have prepared notes!

Do not underestimate the toll that a prem baby (first baby, in a pandemic, PND!) can have on you. It has taken me MONTHS to feel even half sane and my son is about to turn one.

Im really glad your daughter is doing well, now it's time to get yourself right

Oh- and find out if your SCBU/NICU do parent meet ups, mine does and we now have many good friends who had their babies at the same time 🥰 NOBODY will understand you better than them!

I’m sorry to hear you have struggled too but I’m glad you are starting to feel a little bit more sane (perfect description you have there)

I’ve had some CBT but I’m not in the right head space at all. I do have an appt next week with Perinatal at the Hospital so I’m hoping that which be beneficial.

My GP mentioned a debrief but seemed to think it would only be if I wanted/got pregnant again so I guess that’s something I could chase. I also hadn’t heard of NICU parent meet ups but that’s another Avenue.

It’s hard as I feel guilty for some many reasons, I mean my daughter is doing well in the grand scheme of things but I can’t help but blame myself for her early arrival.

Thank you for your kind reply ☺️

I was consultant led for a couple of reasons.
My eldest i had pre eclampsia.
My dd who had pprom was breech and a csection so i was always going to be consultant led.

I had extra growth scans, if i had any concerns they'd see me and tun ctcs if i was concerned. I was a bit of a emotional wreck at times worrying incase some thing happened again.

His pregnancy is more of blur now tbh hes 3 but i was well taken care off by hospital staff throughout it.

We never found out why i had pprom in my second pregnancy there was no infection etc to be found or reason on scans it just happened spontaneously.

How are you feeling now @tattoosanddisney86? Well, I hope!