Thread: No amniotic fluid...angry rant involved, adivce needed as well as info?

OK earlier today I posted something on this but there is new information. mmk so my cousin is pregnant and she is about 21 weeks or so. Well she went a few weeks ago and she had an ultra sound and everything was fine, but because she was considered high risk she had to go back for another one. Well at the second ultrasound she found out that she didn't have any amniotic fluid. The then realized that while she had been sick a few weeks back with a stomach virus that she had apparently ruptured her amniotic sack , but at the time she thought that she had just peed on her self. Well her doctor called in this so called specialist and he examined the baby and the SOB told her that there was absolutly no hope for her baby. No matter what she did now or after she had the baby he would and was going to die. This is what makes me angry, my husband was born under thoes exact same conditions over 25 years ago!! They told his mother the same thing only back then they didn't have half as much of the advances in premature births as they do now!!! Oh and did I mention when I was pregnant with my son my amniotic sack rupurted at 20 weeks as well. They put me on bed rest pumped me full of antibotics for about 3days and guess what my amniotic sack resealed its self. They have amnioinfusions now and hundreds of ways to help her, but they told her if she waited any longer she might die. This has her terrified that she may die and she has two other kids. I understand that they have to inform her of her risks, and her options. Its not what they told her that makes me mad and what they said unethical its how they said it and what they didn't tell her that has me fumming at their obvious idiocy! So right now besides praying my heart out, I am trying to gather as much information as I can to help her be informed before she makes her decision as to how she wants to preceed from here. I have had my mother in law call her and tell her that she has been through it herself and that after everything it all turned out ok. She knows that our entire community is praying for her as well. I just think that in this case what is going to help her the most is facts, knowing her options, and realizing that there is always hope. So my question is has anyone had any experience in this, does anyone know anything more than I have stated already? Is there anything that I can do to help her get through this and restore some of her sanity. She is losing it, and she has flat out said that she really just doesn't know what to do. She is under extream stress and I know that is the worst thing for the baby. I need as much information and help with this as possible to help reassure her that no matter what this isn't her fault and that she has options without condeeming her baby to die. That was what she said when she was telling my mother what was going on. It was so hard listening to her talk about it, I ahve had a misscarriage before I would have done anything I could have to have stopped but there was nothing that I could do. I know that she is the same way. She has already flat out refused to have an abortion,, but thanks to that doctor she now thinks that regardless her baby will die. She can't accept that and its driving her crazy...she needs some reassurance that there is some hope, and that there is something that the doctors can do. So if you know anything about this, if it is about a doctor in timbucktoo who is a genius at this, anything will be helpful. Thank you

No she has insurance and even if she didn't they are extreamly wealthy people. Money is not an issue at all.

Generally speaking, the rule of thumb is that the risk of life-threatening infection to the mother from a ruptured amniotic sac is very very high just 24 hours after rupture. So if hers has been ruptured a week or longer, I'd say it doesn't look too good for her or the baby if she doesn't act. Be careful about dismissing the risk to her life about doing nothing. You don't want her to die, too.

I'd also venture to say that your situation was very unusual in that most amniotic sac ruptures don't heal themselves.

I think the best thing to do in this case is to get more opinions from more specialists, even if that means she calls in a specialist from another hospital. She needs a doctor who wants to find a way to save the mother and the baby at the same time. But she also needs to accept that if every doctor tells her this is not possible, then its not possible.

I know you want to help her. And its a heartbreaking story. But be careful about what you say to her, though, because I don't think you or any non-medical professional should give medical advice, unless you are an OB or perinatologist or whatever..... , but its a good idea for her to have a list of questions ready written out and to ask the doctors to explain everything to her satisfaction.

There are risks and benefits to any course of treatment, and if a bunch of doctors and specialists are telling her that she could die by not taking action then she needs to take this seriously.

I was involved in a very similar situation. I think the patient may have only been 20 weeks though. The doctor was also very blunt with her. He told her that they would let nature take its course to see if the sac resealed. If it didn't the baby would be delivered premature, and since it was not of "legal viable age", they would not even try to save it. I was also shocked, but thats the truth.

You might get some useful personal stories here, but I would consult a second doctor myself, and a third if necessary, and as quickly as possible. It sounds like she needs medical attention immediately, if there can be any hope at all. Try to keep her calm, focused on her faith, if that is what helps here. I hope it turns out well.

I have no information but i wish all the best for you and your sister and her unborn This is a horrible situation i am sorry i couldn't help with anything

I have no information but i wish all the best for you and your sister and her unborn This is a horrible situation i am sorry i couldn't help with anything

I was in a similar situation (not identical, but similar) although I was much much further along, my amniotic sac didn't rupture but I had an u/s and they told me that the amniotic fluid had "leaked out" and that my baby would be stillborn,

I got a second opinion from a specialist who was very angry at the first doctor and they actually conducted an investigation into the entire situation and my first doctor was "reprimanded"

my daughter was born healthy and perfect.

I would definitely get a specialist to give her a second opinion. I would give you the Specialist's name that I went to but it was in Canada and I am assuming you are in the US.

I was in a similar situation (not identical, but similar) although I was much much further along, my amniotic sac didn't rupture but I had an u/s and they told me that the amniotic fluid had "leaked out" and that my baby would be stillborn,

I got a second opinion from a specialist who was very angry at the first doctor and they actually conducted an investigation into the entire situation and my first doctor was "reprimanded"

my daughter was born healthy and perfect.

I would definitely get a specialist to give her a second opinion. I would give you the Specialist's name that I went to but it was in Canada and I am assuming you are in the US.

I think this is the most horrible situation imaginable. She should be hospitalized and the baby should be monitored with Mom on complete bedrest to keep the baby in as long as possible to fight its life . For a doctor to offer no hope or alternative is a bit cruel,although the prognosis may be bleak.Get a second opinion, find hope even if there is little chance of survival . Miracles can and do happen. Is there a possibility this may be to lack of insurance?

my sister in law is going through something similar. she has had 3 miscarriages over the past 6 years. my brother had testicular cancer so there was a 1% chance that she would get pregnant without science. They have a 7 year old daughter and have had a few failed in vitros. she is now pregnant without any science. since she is 35 and her nuchal translucency came back high for downs the told her she needed an amnio. She didn't want one but they gave her no choice. well....the amnio left a hole in her sac. the doctors told her to terminate the pregnancy cause there was no hope. she went home and did research on her own and found a few places in the country that do an amnio patch. they later found out that she was not a canidate cause she had 2cm of fluid and you need less than 1cm. anyway she put herself on bed rest and drank tons and tons of water. she has had 2 ultrasounds since and the hole seems to have healed itself. the doctors said they never saw that happen....meanwhile she read about many cases. the doctors usually want to cover themselves and give the worst possible situtation. they paint a grim picture but it don't always know what they are talking about. good thing my sister-in-law did not terminate it cause everything is now fine! i wish your sister luck! she needs to listen to her heart!