Charlie born at 34 weeks

As Charlie is turning two a week today, his journey into this world is even more on my mind than usual. I may seem to go on and on about #ppromawareness but after going through it with Charlie and suffering PTSD and PND.

I believe it's so vital that more funding and knowledge is raised on PPROM (basically when your waters break early) My gorgeous 'nearly 2' boy is such a fighter and here is why. During the middle of 2014 I was in the early stages of my pregnancy. I started to get recurrent water infections, leading to frequent hospital stays and a catheter needing to be fitted.

It was during one stay when I was 18 weeks pregnant that my PPROM happened. I remember the day like it was yesterday. The worst day of my life. 21.9.15. Mum was coming to visit that evening. About half n hour before she was due I got up to have a walk. I felt a pop and saw blood. Luckily mum arrived during the midwife and doctors examination. The midwife explained what she could see and that she thought it looked as if my waters had started to go. So immediately I was taken to the delivery suite. 18 weeks is not when you want to be going to the delivery suite!! Next hour or so is a blur but what sticks out is another doctor doing a couple of tests and confirming that it was in fact my waters.

There was nothing they could do. I was put on a morphine drip, made comfortable and given options on how I'd like the baby to be handled once delivered. No resuscitation would be offered at such an early stage. I had to discuss things no mother should ever have to discuss. I remember not wanting to fall asleep even though the drugs were making me sleepy, as I didn't want to wake up and not feel my baby move. Not wanting to miss a second with my baby.

THIS IS WHERE MY CHARLIE BECAME A SUPERHERO! As the midwife (who was great) sat holding my hand I could feel Charlie kicking and moving. He was alive. Despite losing some waters he was maintaining a healthy heartbeat. All night I was monitored. Kept being told 'any moment labour would begin'. I had pains and anxiety through the roof. Two doctors from the Neonatel unit came to discuss why they wouldn't help Charlie once born, I just had to agree to this. BUT... Charlie hung on. By morning I still hadn't gone into labour, Charlie's heart was still beating and he was still moving!

Eventually when my pains had settled I was moved back to the maternity ward to be monitored. The amazing Dr Caric took over my care and put me on a routine of twice weekly scans, blood tests and heartbeat monitoring. Some women, I was told leak waters very slowly or even reseal and pregnancies can be maintained, although it was always going to be touch and go. I WAS FINALLY GIVEN HOPE.

Through the next few week's I spent most of my time in the hospital. I would go for my almost daily checks and be kept in because either Charlie's heartbeat wasn't what they wanted to see, I had another water infection, fluid had dropped, my pains were bad or they thought labour was imminent.

Me and Charlie actually ended up on the labour suite 4 times! Each time he kept fighting! Dr Caric decided to induce my labour once I'd got between 34-36 weeks pregnant as the risk of infections and complications grew and Charlie's chances of survival on the outside were higher.

WE MADE IT! On the 9th February, my labour was induced. Compared to my other two labours it was relatively quick. Induced at 12 pm born at 6.15pm.

My fighter survived nearly 4 months of morphine and various other drugs drips, contractions, water infections and so on!! A little bundle of under 6lb sweetness! He couldn't maintain a healthy temperature so was placed in a warm box and put on a drip in case he had caught an infection. Still, from the dangers I had been warned about this was a breeze!

He was surprising everyone. Breastfeeding great and maintained his temp on day 2! My boy was strong! And since that time he has gone from strength to strength. I was told he may not reach milestones on time as they couldn't predict of any problems had arisen from the medication I was given or from the waters leaking. AGAIN Charlie amazed!

He sat, crawled, walked and talked on time. My little blue eyes bright boy! And now he is about to turn 2!!!

I feel so lucky and proud of him (and all my kids) every day. If I had known about Little Heartbeats at the time of PPROM I know I would have found their support invaluable. That's why I want to raise awareness now. For anyone who is going through it and feels there is no hope. It is such a scary and often lonely place. A lot of babies are lost to PPROM but many survive. It's these stories of hope that Mums can try to cling on to. Little Heartbeats offer many different types of support. One of my faves is a teddy bear with the sound of your baby's heartbeat inside. To listen and give hope. Information booklets too that explain all the 'doctor speak' that you can be bombarded with. They are amazing and women need to know they exist. #WhereThereAreHeartbeatsThereisHope