Pregnancy, Amnio, PPROM, and Labor and Delivery

On March 28th at 2 AM we received our BFP during cycle 15 at 11DPO. We were over the moon but of course nervous and skeptical. My HCG levels came back low but gained steadily, with a slightly low progesterone level. We upped our progesterone supplement and made it through the crucial first trimester. We heard and saw the heartbeat at 6w4d and had a positive repeat apppointment and 8w4d with another beautiful heartbeat. At 12w6d we decided to have a nuchal translucency scan done. This scan measures the nuchal fold in the babies neck. A number above 3.0 indicates a possible marker for various trisomy disorders and some neural tube defects and heart problems. Ours came back at 3.2. Although we were fairly frantically worried, we remained calm and ended up opting for an amniocentesis at 15w3d to prepare for a more complicated birth if necessary. It went well and was manageable as far as pain goes. Two days later, I discovered that I was leaking amniotic fluid and was admitted to our closest larger hospital for 2 days while I was being evaluated. My fluid level was extremely low so we managed with iv fluids and antibiotics in case of infection. My condition stabilized and no further fluid was detected so I was allowed to go home on strict bedrest under the assumption that this leak was from the amnio and had sealed. I was seen twice a week for ultrasounds through week 24 after this and continued to have extremely low fluid levels and required IV fluids several more times to try to bring it up to a better level. Hitting the 24 week mark felt like a huge relief and success. At this point I was transfered back to my regular OBGYN's care for the remainder of my pregnancy. They monitored my low fluid levels closely. At 32 weeks I failed my second NST and BPP because of low fluid levels and poor movement. I was again monitored and released. At 34 weeks, 3 days I woke up to get a snack and felt a large gush of fluid. My membranes and prematurely ruptured completely. We went to our hospital that we planned on delivering at and the on call ob for my doctors office evaluated us and confirmed PPROM. Then it became a question of steroids or no steroids for lung development. The risk for infection is increased when steroids were given and they really wanted to get us to 35 weeks even at least. I was monitored on hospital bedrest for several days and was checked repeatedly for further leakage, infection, fetal distress, and contractions. We also had another amnio to check for fetal lung maturity and they were going to induce if it was positive. It came back as immature. Everything was very stable and after IV antibiotics were administered, I was once again allowed to go home from 35 to 36 weeks when my induction was scheduled. On 11/18 we went in for our induction. I was administered cervidil and immediately had contractions 2 1/2 minutes apart lasting for about a minute each. I labored throughout the night and in the morning on 11/19, they administered pitocin. I labored until about 4 or 5 pm and requested an epidural which was poorly placed. I then pretty much went to sleep. At 6 am the next morning, my epidural was completely worn off to the point where I got up and moved freely while waiting for an anesthesiologist tp get out of a surgery. I labored on pitocin until about noon or 1 when they could replace and adjust the epidural again. By about 1pm I started feeling the epidural wear off again and was again completely unnumb and in the throes of transition instantly. I got up and moved about again to try to manage but I was having trouble coping at this point. I felt immense pressure and started shivering and feeling nauseous. At about 3 pm, I was checked and was at 9.5 cm, 100% effaced. We labored down until 4pm and then started pushing. We pushed for HOURS and at 7:52 pm, our baby girl was born, 6lbs 1oz, 17.91 inches long. She had her cord wrapped twice around her neck and came out rather stunned. She never cried and needed assistance breathing. Her apgars were 6, 7, and 8 at birth, 5, and 10 minutes. She perked up rather quickly but was taken to the special care unit for evaluation as she was having episodes of periodic breathing that she wasn't recovering well from and was having issues with her temperature and low blood sugar. I had no tearing or episotomy and my epidural had again completely worn off about 20 minutes before she was born so I got dressed about 15 minutes after birth and walked down the hall to visit her and see how she was. We did stay 1 extra day at the hospital but she came home on time with me and is absolutely perfect. Throughout all the drama and the months of  bedrest I never let myself imagine such a perfect outcome.