"PPROM at 28 weeks"

At first I thought it was just urine. So I got up to empty my bladder but then felt the liquid slowly trickling down my legs. I quickly went to the bathroom, emptied my bladder but when I stood up I was still leaking. I called my midwife Viviane and told her that I think my waters might have broken. She advised me to go to MFAU (Maternal Fetal Assessment Unit) and let them know what’s happened.

I did exactly that and they confirmed that it was definitely my amniotic fluid leaking and I was diagnosed with PPROM (Preterm Premature Rapture Of Membranes).

Because this was my first pregnancy, I was feeling really worried and nervous, I had no prior knowledge of what PPROM was. Does this mean my baby won’t develop? Can she still breathe in there? Will she make it? So many thoughts were racing through my head, all I could think about was the condition of my baby, if she was going to make it. I was given a shot of steroids to help develop my babies lungs, I was also given antibiotics to help prevent infections.

While I was feeling all these emotions and thoughts. I was being poked and jabbed by needles while already very tired because I had worked an 8.5 hours shift the day before. I was overwhelmed and exhausted.

A doctor came and did an Ultrasound to see how baby was going, and to see how she was positioned. If things wasn’t already as bad as I thought it was, she told me that my baby was in a breeched position, which meant that if I were to deliver her vaginally she would be foot first and a chance that her head might get stuck, causing complications not only for the baby but for me as well. They needed to make a plan that ensured both mine and the babies safety.

Another doctor came and spoke to me about having the option of delivering via caesarean if the baby was still breeched. She gave me a form to sign, and explained to me that this was the safest option for both me and baby. She also went through what could happen during a C section.

I was scared. But at this point I wasn’t even thinking about my self, I wanted the highest chance of survival for my baby. So I signed the form. I was praised by the doctor for being so calm about the whole situation, however, she didn’t know that on the inside I was internally screaming. I had to be strong for my baby even thought I felt so defeated, this was not how I planned my first pregnancy to be. Far from it. But everyone was doing the best they could for my baby and I.

They called my midwife and I was then transferred to labour and suit ward where I was monitored closely. I was given Magnesium which wasn’t very pleasant but it was bearable. They monitored my baby’s heart beat and movements making sure that she wasn’t distressed inside.

After I had processed what’s happened, I tried to keep baby cooking a little bit longer and kept an open mind, a new day was a win for both of us. After a couple of days in the labour and suit ward I was then transferred to ward 5. I was told that I would be discharged after 10 days of monitoring.

Around 12:30 am on March 27 I woke up to empty my bladder. When I wiped, the tinge of pink that was on my pads a few days before was now red, I looked at the toilet bowl and saw fresh drop of red blood. I showed my mid wife my pad and she asked me if I was feeling anything thing on my stomach. I told her that I was feeling my braxton hicks more frequently but they weren’t painful. She told me to ring the buzzer if anything changes and left me to go back to sleep again.

Not long after, I woke up again with a painful stomach ache and my heart beating rapidly, I got up from my bed and the pain increased and I rung for my midwife. She quickly came and I told her my stomach was hurting. She quickly got an ECG machine and called for the doctors. They confirmed that I was definitely having contractions and quickly transferred me to the labour and suit ward again.

I called my partner and he quickly rushed to hospital. He came in with a worried look and held my hands, he was just as anxious as I was. The doctors checked my cervix and all I heard after that was “We need to go now.” After that everything was a blur, I couldn’t keep up with what was happening. All I knew was that it was time.

I was rushed to the theatre and was assured by one of the nurse that everyone was ready for me and that I was in good hands. Before I knew it I was on the bed and my partner was beside me holding my hands and comforting me my mid wife Viviane also arrived not long after. And at 3:05AM I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. My partner went with the doctors to the nursery and my midwife stayed beside me. She made me feel like I had my mum in the room.

I’m so thankful for the amazing medical team that was taking care of me. They made my experience less traumatising than what I expected it to be. And I’m so thankful for the amazing midwife’s that took care me of me during my stay at the hospital, they made my recovery so easy and worth while.