By Jen, Saint Louis, MO USAWe found out we were pregnant with our first on November 15, 2007. We were so excited! The pregnancy went along very smoothly - no morning sickness, and I felt great.
PROM at 19 weeks + 2 days. Delivery at 39 weeks + 2 days.
Story added: 2008-10-28
At 19 weeks 2 days I started feeling what I now know were Braxton Hicks contractions. They weren't often or strong, but did concern me a little bit. I didn't call the doctor, just wrote it off. The next evening, I decided to take a bath. When I got out I some watery discharge came out. I thought it was weird, but it wasn't much, just a strange consistency. Shortly after getting dressed more of the same happened, and it went straight through my underwear - still a small amount, but definitely more watery than anything I'd experienced.
I called the doctor. He said to go to the hospital just to be on the safe side. We did, expecting to maybe get an ultrasound then go home. They did a test, and determined that it was fluid. An ultrasound showed a normal amount of fluid, and the baby was fine. I started having contractions, so they hooked me up to an IV. I suppose they were strong because the resident came in and basically told us we were going to have the baby that night, and there was no chance for survival. All of my tests came back negative - no infections, nothing.
Of course we were extremely upset. The next morning the contractions had tapered off, and there wasn't any more leaking. Another ultrasound showed normal amounts of fluid. Still we were prepared for the worst - 5% chance of survival to 24 weeks, etc. We even had another resident come in and advise us to terminate.
Thank goodness we didn't! After 5 days in the hospital and 3 months of moderate bedrest, I was allowed to resume normal activity and delivered a perfectly healthy little girl - 7 lbs 5 oz at 39 weeks and 2 days.
I did have frequent Braxton Hicks contractions throughout the pregnancy, but other than that, it was completely normal. My fluid levels were never low.
I have since read up on the tests given to determine if it's amniotic fluid, and that there can be false positives. I don't know if mine was false, or if I had a high leak that healed over. We won't ever know.
I know doctors have to be extra cautious, but to advise us to terminate when our fluid levels are normal was ridiculous. What if we had listened? That's why I wanted to share my story - always go with your gut, and definitely always get a second opinion. To think we might have ended our daughter's life is horrifying.