Need to be more positive (29 weeks pregnant and no amniotic fluid left)

I'm okay, not having a positive day today though... Hopefully because I'm tired and tomorrow will be better.

I'll be 30 weeks on Thursday. I went to the hospital for tests etc today. My blood tests still show no sign of infection which is great. No idea on my swab results the staff are constantly failing to get the computer system to show them the results, but hopefully they are ok. The baby's heart trace was ok considering his situation.

Had a growth scan and the baby has grown as he should, he's following the 50th percentile nicely and they estimate he weighs 3oz something. Sadly the fluid level around him is worse. There is now no fluid at all left. He still makes it but it just leaks out immediately. Apparently that means higher chances of physical problems (his feet are already turning inwards), that doesn't concern me too much as I know they can do a lot to correct most problems like that. What does really scare me is cord compression, because there is no fluid the cord is more likely to get compressed and the baby is more likely to be deprived of oxygen... I've heard lots of horror stories about stillbirth related to this.

The Consultant today reckoned the risk of problems if the baby is delivered now is higher than the risk of problems if I continue as I am. So that's what I'm doing (not that I have any choice!). If nothing changes I go to have blood tests and a trace again Friday. I then see my consultant (not the one I saw today) again Monday. Not sure why I think just because that is the only appointment she has free until August which is a bit late for me probably! The next growth scan is in two weeks.

So things are ok. Got to make an effort to be positive and hope for the best. Hopefully everything will be ok for the next few weeks.

28 weeks and still pregnant

I'm still pregnant, now 28 weeks and 5 days. Last week was ok. Monday the growth scan showed the baby is still growing and about 4 cm of amniotic fluid (my AFI). I had more steroids thursday and Friday as the consultant reckoned the risk of a second dose was less than the risk to the baby's lungs if we didn't have them. By Thursday my AFI had halved and was about 2.5cm. I got a slight UTI infection and was put on antibiotics, but now off them.

Thursday was good after all the tests were finished. A neonatologist told us we were too pessimistic and said although the baby doesn't have as much chance as a normal baby born at 28 weeks he has a little more than we thought. He also explained the process that will happen if he is born alive. We have to hope they whisk him away after resuscitating him. If they ask us to hold him that means they can't do anything for him.

Saturday night I started bleeding again and passed a dark clot and ended up calling the hospital sunday morning. They admitted me and I've only just got home. There wasn't one thing in particular they were concerned with but lots of little things. First they thought the bleeding could be a sign labour was about to start, but a sterile speculum exam proved otherwise. Then they were concerned my heart rate and temperature were too high, but they went down. After that the baby's heart rate decelerated when they monitored it. Later traces have been fine though. Finally last night as I was about to be let home my heart rate and temperature went up again! I have been fine today and have felt perfectly fit the whole time.

Not sure how long I'll be out of hospital now though, the doctor said he thinks I'll be back soon! Glad to be home. I was in the same ward I was in after having my first son. I don't like being around all the happy new mothers and their babies. Or even the few antinatal patients they have who are very concerned about the such small things to do with their pregnancies - I'd gladly swap with them. I had one in the bed next to me who told me she was 36 weeks pregnant and they thought she might be getting pre-eclampsia. She didn't want her baby yet because she was worried about his lungs... Wish that was me.

Worried about stillbirth

I'm out on the balcony wondering about the future. M is asleep downstairs and S is working downstairs.

I haven't felt much movement from the baby yet today. Had to do my trick of lying on the bed downstairs and concentrating trying to feel him move.

Just felt another gushy leak of fluid but it's been clear today and no pain.

Been wondering...

I see the consultant tomorrow and get a growth scan. What should I ask?

1. Bleeding. Why? When should I be concerned?
2. Pain. As above.
3. More Braxton hicks contractions should I worry?
4. Transverse lie still?
5. Will they induce if I get far enough along? How far? 34 weeks?
6. Foetal heart monitoring? How often?
7. Pressure on cord?

Bet they can't answer my questions.

Keep finding myself reading about stillbirth etc. No point what will happen will happen. Been worried about a prolapsed cord and cord compression etc, been looking on the Internet. No point there is nothing I can do about it.

I just wish I knew it was all going to be okay.

My view from our balcony.

Life after pPOM; glad to have got this far

I'm 27 weeks and 1 day pregnant today. Have I said I am glad today? My baby has a chance. I'm glad we have given him a chance.

Glad I'm past the 24 week mark, means even if he dies before birth he will be registered and we get to name him.

I'm just taking it a day at a time...

Will they intervene?

I am 27 weeks exactly tomorrow. I have been wondering when or if they will induce me or do a c-section. Nobody at the hospital has mentioned intervening. I think they try not to unless they have to. I see my consultant next Tuesday. I am going to ask then if they will do anything if I don't go into labour in the next few weeks. One of the doctors gave me a paper by RCOG when I was in hospital about treatment of women in my condition and there was some debate there about whether to induce women at 34 weeks or not. I will see what they say

Ramblings of a pPROM Mum

Yesterday my main concern was lack of movements from the baby. Felt some movement but not a lot. Not regular repetitive kicks etc. I worry I won't pick up lack of movement because of distress in time for anyone to help him. I feel no pain though. That is good. The day before yesterday I had achy period like pain from lunchtime until bedtime. Tried sleeping and paracetamol but the pain continued. I did feel the baby move more that day so maybe there is a correlation there?

M is in Nursery. Love him loads. He is amazing, so precious. This pregnancy makes me think I was very lucky to have him.

I am feeling okay today.

Hospital appointment this morning. They did a scan. Could only find 2 pockets of amniotic fluid, but at least there was some. Should be 4 pockets.... Took blood, did swab. All results from last time are okay. No strep b or Candida - yet. I have had both of these since my waters broke. I had my first trace, baby's heart was okay roughly 140 beats per minute. Felt him move a bit today.

Everything the same

Had a scan today and the baby is growing as he should, still hardly any fluid around him. I'm 25 weeks and 5 days pregnant today. The doctors have said there isn't anything else they can do apart from wait. So I continue with the twice weekly blood tests etc. My baby is still lying transverse which is bad news. It is unlikely he'll move so it will probably be a c section delivery. But there is no point in worrying about that until it happens.

S's mum who had been here helping for a week has now gone home again. We were hoping my Mum might be able to help but both my parents have awful colds coughs and sore throats so I want to keep them away until they are better. We're hoping they will be okay by the weekend.

My son wasn't too well Sunday. M kept complaining his tummy hurt, then got a temp and by the end of the day complained his head hurt. Luckily it only lasted a day and he's back to his normal self again now.