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They told us we are one in a million,
we believe with the right care more can follow
 
 
 
PPROM story by mum Helen Berriman
PPROM 23 weeks 2 days
Poppy was born naturally at 36 weeks 3 days following induction in the U.K. November 2016
 
My waters broke at 23 weeks whilst I was at work, I rang the hospital and they asked me to go into be checked. When I arrived I was examined and scanned, they confirmed that the baby seemed fine but that there was water leaking upon examination. 
 
The doctor explained the different scenarios of what could happen next and that I would have to stay in the hospital to be monitored over the next 48hrs as it was likely I would go into labour. 
We were told that if this did happen the baby would be born before the 'viability age' and it would be classed as a late miscarriage. This was the worst outcome and just devastating to hear! How could my little girl be classed as that, she was a baby, a girl, I could feel her kick... it was only a few days from 24wks, we were in shock and completely devastated at an outcome that hadn't yet happened... we had to remain positive! I went for a scan later that day to check the fluid levels and also the weight. 
 
We had been told she had to be at a certain weight to stand a chance of been saved if born and to our amazement, she was over this and the water level was classed as normal, we had hoped!! I spent the next 2 days in the hospital, seeing different doctors each day, each with their own way of explaining what in their opinion would end in tragedy. But we remained strong, holding on to the positives and praying that our little girl would stay put. She did!! 
 
I was discharged with 10 days of antibiotics and a list of dos and don't:- Rest as much as possible, no chores, walks, picking up other children or heavy items, no intercourse, no baths only showers, drink as much water as possible, eat healthy, don't put pressure on the bump (roll out of bed, don't sit up/ don't wear those maternity jeans that cover your bump, only ones which fit underneath).. the list went on, but we did it all! For 13 weeks life continued like this, only really leaving the house for steroids at 24wks, the twice weekly antenatal checks and once weekly growth/doppler scans. 
 
It was such a worrying time, not knowing what the next day would bring but thankful that with each day that passed we got closer to the next milestone- 24wks, 26wks, 28wks.. during in this time I was admitted to hospital twice, once for a high pulse rate at 26wks and then for tightenings at 33wks. 
 
We were told that 36 weeks was the latest they would allow me to go and my induction was booked. I arrived at the hospital on Saturday and due to being a high risk I had to be induced on the delivery suite but they were full for two days until on Sunday at 11.30pm I was moved to the delivery ward, our journey was nearly over. I was induced the following morning with gel and was then given the drip later that evening to help me dilate further. Poppy was born 1.26am. 
Despite having steroids at 24wks, her first breath filled her stomach as her lungs didn't inflate so she was taken to neonatal for oxygen and monitoring. She was given two days worth of antibiotics to prevent infection and we were then allowed home. 
 
Unfortunately, we had to return a few days later due to her having extreme jaundice but after three days in the hospital, the levels were low enough for her to come home. Poppy is four weeks old next week and is growing well, having just celebrated her due date!
 

 

Poppy first moments

Poppy now 

Poppy here had to be treated for jaundice.

PPROM story by mum Leanne Duffield Willow
PPROM 18 weeks 
Williow was born by emergency c section at 30 weeks in January 2014 

A year ago tonight I was going around my normal nighttime rituals as I had done every right the past 8 weeks!! Awaiting to see which member of the lovely ward 19's midwifery team were looking after me blissfully unaware that just a few hours later I would be making the phone call to Chris to say he needed to be down the hospital and fast!!
Hard to believe our little warrior Willow Faith is a year old tomorrow!!! It's been a
roller coaster of a year but Happy 1st Birthday baby girl we love you so so much!!!

I've been asked numerous times to write down 'Our Story' but never shared it except for a few close friends that have asked to read it but suppose there's no time like the present. WARNING MAY BORE THE SOCKS OF YOU but know a few people have wanted to read it so here it is!!!

'Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by and that has made all the difference' - Robert Fast.

The journey that premature babies and their families embark on is one of it's own with many bumps and bends with big leaps and some of the smallest miracles is that of pure will. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit will ultimately change your life forever, you will develop a profound perspective for the value of life after having watched your child fight for survival. Never lose hope.... Miracles happen every day.

January 13th 2015 should have been Willows 9 month milestone, instead we are celebrating her first year of life 3 months to soon. Willow was born at just 30 weeks of pregnancy. At 18 weeks my waters broke unexpectedly with no medical reason.

PPROM ( preterm premature rupture of membranes) is a rare condition that effect's less than 3% of pregnancies and it is the cause of approx one third of preterm deliveries. In most cases the labour process begins within one week of rupture. In the early hours of Nov 21st 2013 we got taken in to hospital following a big loss of fluid (23 weeks) and as we sat through that night in the hospital room crying thinking the end was near for our already much loved much wanted baby, her heartbeat was ever so strong (134 bpm) and I could still feel every move and kick. The Drs gave us a slim to zero chance of survival and still offered the possibility to consider a termination of pregnancy. Babies are not considered viable until 24 weeks of gestation.

My darling husband ( my rock) and I were faced with the life altering decision as the Drs advised us of the increased number of perinatal and neonatal complications that could arise including cord compression, neurological impairment, brain bleeds, chronic lung disease and so the list went on!! Against medical advice we choose to believe in our baby and my body. Together with sheer will and determination we fought for survival and viability.

After 8 weeks hospital bed rest and less than 1cm of measured amniotic fluid our little warrior made her debut! Born via emergency c section and in need of immediate breathing support with an agpar score of less than 2 the neonatal team rushed her over to the NICU. We spent the first 97 days of Willows life by her side hoping and praying each and every day - mostly for her continued strength and survival. Born with the possibility of severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia and in the weeks to follow a PDA, a Nectrotizing entcrocolotis scare, many blood transfusions, a cocktail of medications and various forms of breathing support. Statistics were against us but Willow was already beating the odds; she was alive and here! We decided in the name Willow Faith because that is what we had in her, complete Faith that our little 2lb miracle was a little warrior. She began meeting medical milestones in leaps and bounds.

Although sometimes it felt like 3 steps forward and 5 steps back her lungs were slowly improving and the breathing support equipment became less invasive. 97 days later we were able to bring our precious gift home in oxygen.... Tonight on the Eve of her 1st birthday she's having a sleep study with the possibility of discontinuing the use of oxygen at night IF her lungs are strong enough!!

PPROM is a rare condition with many uncertainties. Whether a victim of pprom or another devastating condition in every maternity ward, in every hospital, there are women lying in their bed fighting to keep their baby safely inside the womb. Our princess just didn't overcome pprom she's a survivor of placental abruption to which a dear friend of ours lost her beautiful angel baby so I'm more than aware how lucky we are to have her here today.
'The longer you have to wait for something the more you appreciate it when it finally arrives, the longer you have to fight for something the more priceless it will become when you achieve it, the more pain you have to endure on your journey the sweeter the arrival at your destination. All good things are worth waiting and fighting for' - Susan Gale

Willow has changed our life's and way of thinking and we are eternally grateful for the all the care we received from all the maternity staff and both teams at Singleton NICU and Bridgend SCBU because if it wasn't for them all our little warrior, Willow Faith would be here to celebrating her 1st birthday today 
 
 
 

 

Willow first moments

Willow now 

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