PROM

The Surprise Leak: What PROM Taught Me About Labor (My 34-Week Story)

I had never even heard of PROM (Premature Rupture of Membranes) until it happened to me at 34 1/2​ weeks. I felt fine that day, well, fine for someone who is that far along! I was swollen and uncomfortable. My mom was staying nearby, so I made the quick trip to stay the night with her. I knew the next morning I would come home and not leave my husband’s side again, since we were getting down to the end.

My ankles started really throbbing around $9$ or $10\text{ pm}$. So much so that I had to sit down, and finally went to lie down. I couldn’t sleep and was Googling if I should go to the ER when I felt the “snap.” I reached down and everything was soaked. I woke my mom up and said, “I think my water broke, it feels too early!” Thank God I was with her. She remained calm (although later she told me she definitely was not) and told me to call my husband and the hospital while she gathered everything else. She drove me to the hospital to meet him. I was so glad I had already packed our bags!

Once we were checked in and the nurse confirmed I was in “labor,” my only thought was, “Okay, when do I push?!” I found out then that since I was not full term yet (full term is $37$ weeks, not $36$ as I thought!), it would be perfectly fine to stay tucked in for now! This was on Saturday morning and they were hoping to get me closer to $36$ or $37$ weeks. As you can imagine, we were full of questions and emotions. But we were also safe and comfy with my dream team: my mom and my husband!

By Sunday afternoon they moved us to a post-partum room to wait out the next few days. As soon as I showered and was ready to snuggle in, the doctor returned to the room to let me know the fetal medicine doctor’s recommendation was to induce. The dreadful geriatric age (I was $40$) outweighs some other factors when it comes to risk!

All this to say: PROM is a significant event, but it is manageable. In the moment, it is VERY scary, but it just means it’s time to rest, listen to your body, and trust your doctors. I hope sharing my story helps bring clarity and peace to anyone facing this unexpected event!