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Main Page Site Index Getting Pregnant Pregnancy Parenting Pregnancy and Parenting Journals Fertility Nutrition Pregnant Moms Morning Sickness Women's Health Child Health	Jodie Graces's Birth Story By Laura      My fourth pregnancy started out just fine except for the morning sickness. However it turned out to be the most challenging for us all.       At 24 weeks, I was having a lot of back pain which reminded me of the feeling that I had when I had my last baby. I called my doctor so that I could be reassured. I remember going in hoping to hear that I was just getting old and needed to rest. Well that was not to be. I was dilated to 1 centimeter and about 20% effaced and I was having preterm contractions that were ten minutes apart. I was sent home to complete bedrest with a home monitor and oral terbutaline. I was in complete shock. I had no clue how I could do this with three children. My husband and I began to solicit help with the kids and the house and decided to just try to deal with it.       Two weeks later, I woke up in the middle of the night and found that my water had broke. As per my doctor's instructions we went to the hospital. They did various lab tests, put me on a monitor, called my doctor and started an IV. It was at the point, the reality of it all set in. I remember crying and saying over and over that this was my worst nightmare come true. My doctor had the perinatologist see me. He did an ultrasound to verify the amount of amniotic fluid and the baby. The baby was fine, thank goodness and I did not lose all of the amniotic fluid. Since it is constantly being replaced, the perinatologist actually felt that I might be able to stall delivery for at least a few days.       After two days in the hospital, I was sent home with the monitor, a subcutaneous pump which delivered terbutaline continuously in my thigh and complete bedrest, of course. I continued to leak for two more weeks but my labor was being successfully suppresed. Also there was no infection. Every week I was allowed up to see my doctor and to have a non stress test. These were days that I looked forward to! I remained in bed for a total of 13 weeks!      When I was 37 weeks, I was allowed up and I could stop the medication. My doctor told me at that point that I was a part of a very small minority. He told me that less than ten percent of women who experience PROM will make it to term without any complications.       The next week, after a "suspiscious" non stress test, I agreed to induction. I agreed probably because I was just eager for this pregnancy to end! My doctor ruptured my membranes and after 4 hours of hard labor and an epidural that only numbed my thighs, I delivered Jodie Grace. I remember her screaming so loud as soon as her head popped out. She never did stop screaming until I put her to breast ten minutes later. She weighed 7 lbs and 10 1/2 oz and was 19 1/2 inches. Her apgars were 10 and 10. In my professional career, I have never seen apgars of 10 and 10.       Jodie is one years old today and has been a blessing in our lives.   Search the Birth Stories Match All Terms Any Term and show results in Standard Form in Compact Form Hint! Enclose phrases in quotes. For example "home birth" [ Return Section 1 Birth Stories ]