By Kristine, Columbus, OH U.S.
PROM at 18 weeks + 6 days. Delivery at 25 weeks + 3 days.
Story added: 2011-11-26

We found out we were pregnant with identical twins in June of 2011. We were excited but also very nervous about caring for two babies. We also have a three year old and lost our first son to stillbirth at 36 weeks in 2006. The twin pregnancy was complex from the beginning. I suffered from hyperemesis (severe nausea and vomiting). It was so severe that I lost around 15 pounds and was thinner during my twin pregnancy that I had been in about ten years. I was at the ER and in the hospital on three separate occasions dealing with the hyperemesis. Due to my history and due to being pregnant with twins, I was monitored by a high risk doctor as well as my regular OB. At fourteen weeks, my high risk doctor (MFM) began to notice signs of a disorder called Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome. This disorder involves problems with how the placenta is being shared by the twins and if untreated, usually results in preterm labor and the loss of both babies. At sixteen weeks, I was officially diagnosed with TTTS and it was recommended that we aggressively treat the disorder with laser surgery on the placenta. The laser surgery occurred the following day. The goal of the surgery is to sever the twins' connections in the placenta. The surgery was successful in that the connections were severed. I was hospitalized overnight and had an ultrasound the next day. Baby B (Elijah) no longer had a heartbeat. I was placed on bedrest for two weeks due to concerns that my membranes may rupture from complications of the laser procedure. After 2.5 weeks, I was released to return to work. I returned to work on a Thursday. The next day, as I was getting ready for work, my water broke. I was 18 weeks. We went to the ER and it was confirmed that it was baby A's sac that had ruptured. I was told that the chance that I would carry to viability was minimal and that I could be induced, or continue to carry and hope for the best. I chose not to be induced, as I wanted to do research on pPROM. I found so many stories of people carrying for weeks after rupturing, that I decided to try. Things went well from weeks 19-24. I was on home bedrest and had weekly ultrasounds. My fluid levels were between 2-4 cms weekly during that period of time. There were no signs of infection. I was admitted for hospital bedrest at 24w4d. Things remained calm for the first five days. One the sixth day, I noticed a change in discharge though my CBC levels didn't indicate any sign of infection at that time. My cervix was checked and my baby was monitored and everything seemed okay. I started having contractions around five that evening. I was placed on the monitor but the contractions were not being picked up. They became more painful and got closer together. The doctors and nurses still didn't seem to believe they were contractions. The baby began to show signs of distress and I was transferred to labor and delivery. Around 9:30, I told the nurse I had to vomit. She gave me a bag to vomit in. I sat up and started to get sick and the baby started to come out. I vomited again and he kept coming out. He was breach and I then had to push out his head. Leo lived for ninety minutes. The NICU staff worked on him but his lungs were too underdeveloped for him to survive. He was a beautiful little boy. The autopsy report confirmed that I had an infection which is what caused me to go into labor. It has been two months now. Thank you for reading my story.