I was in tears earlier convinced I was having a miscarriage. Went to Labour and Delivery thankfully they found a heartbeat. They do not know why I am bleeding but because the blood is diluted with the amniotic fluid they are not concerned. I had the usual blood tests and a swab and was sent home.
Luckily my mother was here, so we were able to leave M with her while we went to the Hospital.
Monday, 10 May 2010
Friday, 7 May 2010
Fetal medicine consultant
Today we saw a Fetal Medicine Consultant. He did a detailed ultrasound scan and told us all the facts about what has happened to us. I have what is known as premature preterm rupture of the membranes (pPROM). Normally when this happens women go into labour within three days of rupture. However when they don't they can carry on the pregnancy for days or weeks before they go into labour.
He did a scan. He was looking at the level of amniotic fluid left around our son. He said they look for a deepest measurable pocket of 2cm or above and I didn't have that. I had about 1.5cm. He said that lung development goes through a critical stage between 18 and 24 weeks and fluid is needed during this time. If there is 2cm or more lungs should be ok. So our son's lungs are unlikely to function. He did say because we had fluid for part of the period the lungs might be ok. There is no way to tell until birth.
He gave us the option of termination. He agreed to see us in a few days to think about it. He explained it is likely I will go into labour sooner rather than later and so as well as lung issues our son would have prematurity issues. Cerabal palsy is highly likely if we deliver around the cusp of viability (24 weeks).
In the meantime I am to take my temperature regularly during the day. I will go to the day assessment clinic at the hospital twice a week. They will take blood samples and check my white blood cell levels and crb levels, if they go up it could be a sign I have an infection. Once a week I to have lower vaginal swabs again to check for infection. Twice a week they will also check the heartbeat and do the normal pregnancy checks of blood pressure and urine.
The consultant told me not to have baths, just wash with water, no trousers, cotton underwear, change sanitary pads regularly.
So have to rest, not moving around much. We are going back Tuesday to discuss what we want to do.
It is so awful I cannot imagine what to do or how to cope. We are so close to 24 weeks and a little hope, 13 days away... On the day after my waters broke I had 6cm fluid now just 1.5cm.
Below is a link to a leaflet on pPROM aimed at women who's waters have just broken:
RCOG pPROM Leaflet
He did a scan. He was looking at the level of amniotic fluid left around our son. He said they look for a deepest measurable pocket of 2cm or above and I didn't have that. I had about 1.5cm. He said that lung development goes through a critical stage between 18 and 24 weeks and fluid is needed during this time. If there is 2cm or more lungs should be ok. So our son's lungs are unlikely to function. He did say because we had fluid for part of the period the lungs might be ok. There is no way to tell until birth.
He gave us the option of termination. He agreed to see us in a few days to think about it. He explained it is likely I will go into labour sooner rather than later and so as well as lung issues our son would have prematurity issues. Cerabal palsy is highly likely if we deliver around the cusp of viability (24 weeks).
In the meantime I am to take my temperature regularly during the day. I will go to the day assessment clinic at the hospital twice a week. They will take blood samples and check my white blood cell levels and crb levels, if they go up it could be a sign I have an infection. Once a week I to have lower vaginal swabs again to check for infection. Twice a week they will also check the heartbeat and do the normal pregnancy checks of blood pressure and urine.
The consultant told me not to have baths, just wash with water, no trousers, cotton underwear, change sanitary pads regularly.
So have to rest, not moving around much. We are going back Tuesday to discuss what we want to do.
It is so awful I cannot imagine what to do or how to cope. We are so close to 24 weeks and a little hope, 13 days away... On the day after my waters broke I had 6cm fluid now just 1.5cm.
Below is a link to a leaflet on pPROM aimed at women who's waters have just broken:
RCOG pPROM Leaflet
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
21 weeks pregnant and waiting to lose my baby
I got out of hospital today. I spent 4 nights there waiting to lose my baby. But I am still pregnant, 21 weeks and 5 days today. Here is what happened in hospital.
Early Saturday I called my mother. We were supposed to be meeting my parents later that day. We were going away to the coast of Doset for the bank holiday weekend. My parents staying in their caravan and me, S and M staying in a self catering cottage. My grandmother was also going to be there.
I told my Mum I was in hospital and cried a lot. I couldn't get the words out. Some how she understood and said she and my Dad would come to look after M. I thought that I would be in labour any minute and wanted S with me. Later my parents, M and S were all at the hospital with me. It was an odd almost cheery experience. S was there with me again that evening and stayed until around 9. Saturday came and went and nothing happened.
They did scan me on the Saturday at my request. The doctor had said it was pointless but did it any way. I had around 6cm of fluid.
Nothing happened on Sunday either. The doctor said that I would be able to go home if nothing happened on the Monday. Essentially to wait to miscarry. S was at the hospital whilst he went through everything. But the following day I saw a new consultant. She wanted me to stay another day. I was upset. I wanted to go home.
Finally after a long wait I was allowed home around lunchtime today. I have to take my temperature a lot. Call if it goes above about 37 degrees. Call if my fluid loss smells, goes yellow or green. If I get intense pain or bleeding. If I feel flu like symptoms I should also call.
Because I have gone so many days without infection they now do not know precisely what will happen. The most likely scenario is I will either go into labour or be induced because of infection and my baby will be too young to survive. They won't be able to help him.
Early Saturday I called my mother. We were supposed to be meeting my parents later that day. We were going away to the coast of Doset for the bank holiday weekend. My parents staying in their caravan and me, S and M staying in a self catering cottage. My grandmother was also going to be there.
I told my Mum I was in hospital and cried a lot. I couldn't get the words out. Some how she understood and said she and my Dad would come to look after M. I thought that I would be in labour any minute and wanted S with me. Later my parents, M and S were all at the hospital with me. It was an odd almost cheery experience. S was there with me again that evening and stayed until around 9. Saturday came and went and nothing happened.
They did scan me on the Saturday at my request. The doctor had said it was pointless but did it any way. I had around 6cm of fluid.
Nothing happened on Sunday either. The doctor said that I would be able to go home if nothing happened on the Monday. Essentially to wait to miscarry. S was at the hospital whilst he went through everything. But the following day I saw a new consultant. She wanted me to stay another day. I was upset. I wanted to go home.
Finally after a long wait I was allowed home around lunchtime today. I have to take my temperature a lot. Call if it goes above about 37 degrees. Call if my fluid loss smells, goes yellow or green. If I get intense pain or bleeding. If I feel flu like symptoms I should also call.
Because I have gone so many days without infection they now do not know precisely what will happen. The most likely scenario is I will either go into labour or be induced because of infection and my baby will be too young to survive. They won't be able to help him.
Sunday, 2 May 2010
Finding out my waters had broken (pPROM)
This is what happened on Friday when I found out my waters had broken (known as pPROM).
I had Friday off work. M was in nursery all was fine. I went to a maternity shop and tried on loads of clothes and got some jeans and tops. I had a good day. S came with me to pick M up from nursery and then we met some friends in the pub. I left early with M. Just before I left I popped to the toilet and noticed my knickers were wet. I assumed it was discharge. So left and went to the supermarket with M.
We got home and had some food. I felt a little gush and again my knickers were wet. After a third gush i knew something was wrong. I called the Labour and delivery ward. But I was only 21 +1 weeks pregnant and they don't take women until they are 22 weeks so they said call my doctor.
It was about 9 in the evening by now. I called the out of hours GP number. I spoke to a nurse who was concerned and said she would call some people and get back to me. She called me back as did a doctor. They had terrible trouble getting anyone to see me. The hospital was eventually persuaded to see me in the gyno ward.
By now S was home. He was to put M to bed while I drove to the hospital alone not really believing I would get bad news.
At the hospital the nurse took my details. It took ages for a doctor to see me. I asked the nurse if she sees this happening a lot, she said no i was the first case like this she had come across. Hours later... They had me lie on my back for ages then examined me doing a sterile speculum exam. The junior doctor told me I had lost my waters and was about to go into labour (later I found out this is known as pprom), then he just left me. The nurse gave me something to wear and antibiotics. I called S saying I would call again if I went into labour.
I tried to sleep but couldn't. I cried and cried. I could feel my baby moving and he was going to die soon. It was also my first night away from M. I had told him I would see him when he woke up and now I wouldn't be there.
After a few hours a more senior doctor came to see me. She was lovely. She took my blood. She said there was still hope and that months ago she had seen a women who's waters broke at 22 weeks and whilst I was being diagnosed with pprom earlier that evening she had helped deliver the women's baby by c-section and the baby was ok.
I had Friday off work. M was in nursery all was fine. I went to a maternity shop and tried on loads of clothes and got some jeans and tops. I had a good day. S came with me to pick M up from nursery and then we met some friends in the pub. I left early with M. Just before I left I popped to the toilet and noticed my knickers were wet. I assumed it was discharge. So left and went to the supermarket with M.
We got home and had some food. I felt a little gush and again my knickers were wet. After a third gush i knew something was wrong. I called the Labour and delivery ward. But I was only 21 +1 weeks pregnant and they don't take women until they are 22 weeks so they said call my doctor.
It was about 9 in the evening by now. I called the out of hours GP number. I spoke to a nurse who was concerned and said she would call some people and get back to me. She called me back as did a doctor. They had terrible trouble getting anyone to see me. The hospital was eventually persuaded to see me in the gyno ward.
By now S was home. He was to put M to bed while I drove to the hospital alone not really believing I would get bad news.
At the hospital the nurse took my details. It took ages for a doctor to see me. I asked the nurse if she sees this happening a lot, she said no i was the first case like this she had come across. Hours later... They had me lie on my back for ages then examined me doing a sterile speculum exam. The junior doctor told me I had lost my waters and was about to go into labour (later I found out this is known as pprom), then he just left me. The nurse gave me something to wear and antibiotics. I called S saying I would call again if I went into labour.
I tried to sleep but couldn't. I cried and cried. I could feel my baby moving and he was going to die soon. It was also my first night away from M. I had told him I would see him when he woke up and now I wouldn't be there.
After a few hours a more senior doctor came to see me. She was lovely. She took my blood. She said there was still hope and that months ago she had seen a women who's waters broke at 22 weeks and whilst I was being diagnosed with pprom earlier that evening she had helped deliver the women's baby by c-section and the baby was ok.
Friday, 30 April 2010
pPROM: 21 weeks pregnant and my waters have broken
I was admitted to hospital today. My waters broke. I will probably go into labour or get an infection and have to be induced. At 21 weeks they will be unable to help the baby. I am still in hospital but might be allowed home to wait with monitoring and rest.
Monday, 19 April 2010
Anomaly scan
Consultant appointment today. But first the anomaly scan. I was worried but all was well. Really good. At one point I had to go walk around as they couldn't see everything but when they scanned me again he had moved.
Yes I did write he...
I saw the consultant after she was happy all was well. I asked about the area of haemorrhage and she said it was unlikely I will bleed again.
Yay!
I can officially start telling people the good news.
Yes I did write he...
I saw the consultant after she was happy all was well. I asked about the area of haemorrhage and she said it was unlikely I will bleed again.
Yay!
I can officially start telling people the good news.
Monday, 12 April 2010
First consultant appointment
Today was my first Consultant appointment. With my previous pregnancy my son had to be induced at 37 weeks and 6 days because scans showed he had stopped growing at about 35 weeks, he wasn't moving much, I was lucky to feel one movement a day and he had low fluid around him.
I have a bicornuate uterus. This means it is heart shaped, normally they are pear shaped, possibly my son stopped growing because of the bicornuate uterus. Or it might have been a coincidence and it was placental insufficiency.
Anyway this was why I was referred to a consultant. I didn't actually get to see the consultant today but instead saw a Senior Registrar. He wasn't worried, reckoned there are unlikely to be further problems and suggested they do growth scans at 28 weeks and every four weeks after that. He also quickly scanned me and all looked well. I mentioned that I had a lot of discharge and he let me do a swab which will be sent off for testing.
I go back for an anomaly scan in a week.
I have a bicornuate uterus. This means it is heart shaped, normally they are pear shaped, possibly my son stopped growing because of the bicornuate uterus. Or it might have been a coincidence and it was placental insufficiency.
Anyway this was why I was referred to a consultant. I didn't actually get to see the consultant today but instead saw a Senior Registrar. He wasn't worried, reckoned there are unlikely to be further problems and suggested they do growth scans at 28 weeks and every four weeks after that. He also quickly scanned me and all looked well. I mentioned that I had a lot of discharge and he let me do a swab which will be sent off for testing.
I go back for an anomaly scan in a week.
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