By Melissa, Missouri City, TX USAI had been feeling 'wetness' for about a week prior to my Dr appointment. So when I went in for my checkup I mentioned that I thought "If I didn't know any better I would think that I am leaking amniotic fluid" Since he had delivered DD#3 he knew me well enough to at least check out what was going on~ After doing a litmus test he looked very shocked & said~ "You are right!" He then did an ultrasound to check my fluid level. Since it was in an acceptable range he sent me home on strict bedrest. I spent the next 12 weeks going to the Dr once a week to have my fluid level checked~ Only once was it lower than 9~ It mostly stayed in the 12 range.
PROM at 22 weeks + 5 days. Delivery at 35 weeks + 3 days.
Story added: 2001-10-11
Since the hospital that I was supposed to deliver at did not have a nursery~ He sent me to Herman Hosptial which has a wonderful NICU just in case anything was wrong with the baby. I had a wonderful maternal/fetal specialist that set up my induction~ they had told me that since I had been leaking for 12 weeks that they would not let me go past 36 weeks because the risk of infection outweighted the risk of prematurity~ which was decided by which day she was on call.
So we went in on Tues November 21st, 2000 & she checked to make sure I was still leaking~ My fluid was at 6~because I had gotten ready for the hospital the day before & spent more time on my feet than I should have:~) She started me on a full 4 hour dose of antibiotic, because I always test group B postivie. Then around 1pm they started the Pitiocin. At 7pm she actually had to break my forebag~ because for me if it is not broken I do not progress~ I was at 3cm & Sierra Faith was born at 9:47pm~ My last 3 labors (once my forebag was broken) lasted about 2 hours each.
There was a Pedi team in the room when she was born~ Since she was breathing they let me hold her until my cord stopped pulsating & then they checked her over. We were so relived to hear "This baby is just fine give her back to her mama!" She weighed 4lbs 15 oz~ & was perfect but small. She was able to room-in & go home Thanksgiving day (less than 48hrs after being born!) We were so blessed to have such a remarkable outcome! I was concerned that we would have to spent weeks in NICU when in reality I could not have asked for a better outcome~ I really believe in my case that little intervention & a lot of prayers & good thoughts kept her healthy!