loss of amniotic fluid at 18 weeks

[haredew]

my water broke at 18 weeks, 2 days later i started bleeding . i have had several ultrasounds the first showed less than 2oz. of fluid. the second, done the following day, showed a slight increase in fluid levels, both showed a strong heartbeat. i am on antibiotics and complete bed rest, the bleeding is very light compared to what it was, and nothing new has happened in 7 days. is it possible for the fluid to increase enough so the baby and lungs will develop properly or am i setting myself up for heartbreak? am i just waiting for my body to miscarrie, or for infection to set in, or does the baby have a chance?

[mooshes92301]

I believe that the fluid constantly replinishes itself, but they also say that if your water breaks that the baby has to be delivered to prevent infection.  Maybe because you are only 18 weeks, the doctor putting you on bedrest might help the situation.  The only way to know is to outright ask the doctor what is going on.  Good luck.  I hope everything turns out ok because I'm sure this worring must be terrible for you.

[ni]

I just heard the other day...don't know if it was on a web site or on TV (birth day) or what but someones fluid was leaking at an early stage of pregnancy ...I believe it was 24 weeks and she made it to 34 weeks.  As long as your fluid replenishes itself and you are under strict care I think the outcome can be positive.  But you are under great risk for infection.  If I were you and it did not interfere with bedrest, I would research it on the net.  Good luck!

gina

[nurse12hr]

This is a much feared complication of pregnancy.  It is commonly known as "PPROM"-or preterm prolonged rupture of membranes.

Sometimes (uncommonly) if you are kept at complete bedrest the bag of water may "seal over" and the fluid may reaccumulate and the pregnancy progress.  I've seen this happen a couple of times.

Unfortunately, the more common scenario is either infection sets in (as evidenced by increased temp, abd tenderness, foul discharge, or changes in your white count), preterm labor ensues, or the pregnancy continues, with you continuing to leak all the while.
The problem with leaking amniotic fluid constantly, is that without normal levels of fluid accumulating, the fetal lungs are at risk for not developing.  Sometimes the baby's limbs get into abnormal positions and develop abnormally.

There is no way to tell what may happen with you.  Sounds like you are being treated exactly appropriately.  Complete bed rest and antibiotics.  NOTHING should go in your vagina.  Keep your perineal area clean.  Change pads frequently if you are using them.  

Good luck to you!  I remember years and years ago, we had a gal whose water broke at around 19 weeks.  She elected to terminate.  After 2 days of trying to induce labor (she was checked internally often, bled, every medical intervention you can think of), but she just wouldn't go into labor.  She decided this was a sign, and stopped everything and went home against medical advice.  She "sealed over" as I mentioned above, and delivered at 34 weeks.

So you never know.  I will be thinking and praying for you.

[ZacksMom03]

My water broke at 24 3/7 days.  I was rushed to a hospital in Jax, FL.  They kept me there hooked to every machine imaginable, and started IV antibotics, and steroid shots (to mature DS lungs).  I was very much in labor (contractions every 1-2 minutes).  I was able to "stay pregnant" for 4 days.  The 4th day, my stomach began to ache, and I felt if it was going to explode.  They rushed me down to the OR for an emergency C-Section.  My DS son was born at 25 weeks, spent a gruling roller coaster ride in the NICU for 89 days, and is now home.  He is 15 months old.  The infection that I got (from PROM) was horrible .  It has caused me a lot of problems since the birth of my DS.  However, when all else fails, keep the faith.  They (Doctors) told me that my DS was going to die, and that I needed to make arrangements....But I kept the faith, and now look....I have a beatiful son.

[kck]

I have also heard that your water can break and then seal over and everything will continue just fine.  In fact, that is what I was told at the hospital a week ago.  Are you still leaking?  If not, then chances are that you sealed over and the fluid will replenish.
Also, a friend of a friend had dangerously low levels of fluid throughout her pregnancy.  It didn't leak, it just never built up.  They watched her closely and told her to prepare to miscarry because it wasn't enough fluid to support the development of the baby.  She carried almost to term and gave birth to a healthy baby...no medical problems so far.
So don't give up!  Take each day as it comes and follow your doctor's orders.  Good luck!

[maggiet]

I suffered from this same thing, but I was 33 weeks along.  I was put to strict bedrest in the hospital, and had to constantly drink fluids.  The fluids replenish themselves every few hours is what the hospital told me.  I was put on antibiotics immediately, and had very frequent ultrasounds.  I was given steroid shots to help his lungs mature.  I delivered early, and aside from being small, he was perfectly fine.  When I was in the delivery room my midwife had to break my water again because it had sealed itself.  They said that it is rare that it happens, but it does.

[trinity991]

Hi, I was wondering what happened with your situation. I am 17 weeks with twins and started leaking amniotic fluid. The fluid is low for the babies and we were told we don't they have much of a  chance.

[Annie M]

I'm 19 weeks with twins and my water broke twice last week and sealed over has anyone done this and made it to 30 weeks

[Annie M]

I'm 19 weeks with twins and my water broke twice last week and sealed over has anyone done this and made it to 30 weeks

[Dooriya]

My water broke at 15 weeks.  I had a ruptured membrane :(.  The baby is still alive.  I went to a perintologist and he told me that the pregancy needed to be terminated due to the high risk of infection.  I am 17 weeks right now..and scared!  The perintologist said the baby won't survive no matter what.  That it may make it to full term but won't live outside the womb.  I am curious what happened with your pregancy and if anyone has any comments or advice to help me.

[jeanmarie79]

my water broke at 18 weeks and the doctor told me that i had no other choice then to induce labor and it was the worst thing i ever had to do because a week later my body still didnt want to deliver and my baby was still alive but he told me that this is what i had to do and i regret it.finally it happened after ridiculous amounts of medicine and it was in the toilet basically my baby passed away and it was my first child and im reading all these stories of survival and it hurts i wish i would have known that there was a chance i would have left the hospital in a heartbeat and hopefully still would have had my baby boy. i didnt know it was a common thing

[jeanmarie79]

my water broke at 18 weeks and the doctor told me that i had no other choice then to induce labor and it was the worst thing i ever had to do because a week later my body still didnt want to deliver and my baby was still alive but he told me that this is what i had to do and i regret it.finally it happened after ridiculous amounts of medicine and it was in the toilet basically my baby passed away and it was my first child and im reading all these stories of survival and it hurts i wish i would have known that there was a chance i would have left the hospital in a heartbeat and hopefully still would have had my baby boy.

[jeanmarie79]

my water broke at 18 weeks and the doctor told me that i had no other choice then to induce labor and it was the worst thing i ever had to do because a week later my body still didnt want to deliver and my baby was still alive but he told me that this is what i had to do and i regret it.finally it happened after ridiculous amounts of medicine and it was in the toilet basically my baby passed away and it was my first child im reading all these stories of survival and i wish i wouldve known that there was a chance i would have left the hospital in a heartbeat and hopefully still have had my baby boy.

[jeanmarie79]

my water broke at 18 weeks the doctor told me that i had no other choice but to induce laborit was the worst thing i ever had to do,a week later my body still didnt want to deliver and my baby was still alive.he told me that this is what i had to do and i regret it.finally it happened after ridiculous amounts of medicine and it was in the toilet basically my baby passed away and it was my first child im reading all these stories of survival and i wish i wouldve known that there was a chance i would have left the hospital in a heartbeat and hopefully still have had my baby boy.

[tacha 05]

What happen to your baby?  Did you have it or did you have a miscarriage?  I am only asking because I am going through the same thing and they want me to make a decision if to abord or try to have the babie.  The doctors tell me more likely the baby will have some complication.
tacha

[JGU]

Hi tacha, my wife's waters broke last week (10 days ago). There is no fluid remaining but the baby continues to grow and have a strong heartbeat. She was 20 weeks + 1 day when it happened. The doctors have told us to expect the worst (miscarriage/early labor). We are trying to decide what to do (terminate or continue) but the hardest part is not having any definite answersto what may happen (the health implications to our baby).

[peekawho]

That post was 3 years ago.  

[mspence7]

My water broke at 21 weeks and I dialted 4-5 cm.  I stayed in the hospital for 7 days before my baby passed away.  We were trying to get to at least 24 weeks (I was told she would be viable after 24 weeks), I was on complete bed rest, iv fluids and antibiotics.  Her heart beat was very strong everyday all week but my fluids would not build back up.  One night I before going to sleep they checked her heart beat and it was strong as usual but the next morning, she had no heart beat.  My heart was and still is broken.  I had to be induced to deliver and her limbs were distorted from not having any fluid.  This was my first baby and they have no idea why any of this happened.  Although I was doing well all week, after I delivered they told me she would not have made it even if I went to term.  The damage that was done from her not having fluids, even though the antibiotics were supoosed to prevent me from getting an infection, I don't think they were helping her to stay healthy.  

I don't want to scare anyone who may be in this predicament but I want you to be aware of what can happen.  However, it doesn't necessarily have to go this way.  I pray for the best for everyone because it is a extemely difficult thing to deal with.  I don't want to offend anyone in this post but I think what happens with our babies and how well they do is up to a power much greater than the doctors.

[Maggie1883]

My sister in laws water broke and she is 16 weeks.  She is today in a hospital in florida.  The baby is still alive and she is on antibiotics.  A midwife told her that there is a hospital in Tampa and experimental hospital that takes her cases.  They inject fluid in the sack.  We are at a point where we just sit and wait.  I hope everything goes well for her.

[Tricia P]

I loss my fluid at 16weeks and im now 22weeks my baby is still alive with a strong heartbeat but i will never induce my labor i pray every night for my baby to make it and i want to let everyone know that God is a wonderful God and hears all of our crys and he will help us. and I also take folic acid pill to help development

[stefyscumpa]

I am now 19 weeks' gestation (3rd pregnancy -2 went perfect) and nowmy water broke and blood coming out too, as I had hemotoma all around the placenta in the 1st semester. Somehow got rid of hemotoma thru bleeding for nealy 2 months and now that I AM nearly 5 months pregnant my water breaks! Just one thing after another. I HAVE been told by doctor that is 50-50 since I WAS 8 WEEKS PREGNANT. NOW I am really scared cos this time with the water breaking, on antibiotics to prevent infection, and the baby not sure how she'll survive with not very much fluid at all really really worries me sick! IS anyone there that experienced same or similar? I REALLY don;tknow what to do...as docs say be prepared to be induced, or labour beginning itself..

[WorriedDad55]

What hospital in Florida does the treatment you suggested?  Is there a name for the treatment?

[Sabritas]

My friend also had her water break at 18 weeks.  I found an article from Karger medical journal vol.22, No.1, 2007 under the Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy section called Premature Rupture of Membranes at 20 weeks.  They then outlined the use of Fibrin Glue to seal up the ruptured area.  I asked my friend and she isn't sure there is anything they can do because that is what her doctor says, but I think he hasn't read this article.

Anyone here ever hear about this?  Good luck to all of you in a similar circumstance.

[lovely123]

I was 18 weeks and 3 days when I had my last ultrasound. It showed that out of the little ammniotic fluid I had from the last ultrasound which was about a week before, was totally gone. I had no amniotic fluid. Of course this devastated me bc I knew what had to happen. I had been in the hospital for about 3 weeks, on total bedrest with a complete previa, and I had been bleeding very heavily, I had to have 2 blood transfusions done, because of the amount of blood I lost and everytime I would get blood, I would just bleed it out bc my hemoglobin was so low, 7.1.  The doctors say that they assume my water broke when I was bleeding so heavily, they just couldn't tell there was fluid in the blood, and, I know this is nasty but I was passing huge clots, the size of oranges. When I had the last ultrasound, they found that my baby got sick, because, he had lost weight, he went from 9 ounces to 6.9 ounces, so there was no other choice.Even though he had a strong heartbeat everyday, even the day I had my surgery, doctors said there was no way he would survive. The lungs weren't developed and they couldn't develop without amniotic fluid, and his limbs would be formed abnormally.  I chose to have a C-section and be put to sleep rather than deliver the baby and be awake. Its devastating watching ultrasounds and getting pictures, and then finding out if its a boy or girl, and knowing theres a huge chance that he/she might not even survive, even though you did all you could. I just pray for anyone else who is in this kind of situation, with your babys life at risk, its horrible to go through and i wish you the best.