Bed rest anyone?

supersarah77

Hi,

I'm 32 weeks pregnant with #2 and just went on bed rest for back pain due to scoliosis. I'm most likely on bed rest for the remainder of my pregnancy.

Anyone else on bed rest? Any pointers? How has it been going for you so far?

thinkpink101

I spent 14 weeks on strict bed rest with my twins. I had to lie down, on my left hand side 24/7. I couldn't even sit up to eat. It was BRUTAL!  This was years ago though, and I have been worried about bed rest as I am considered high risk yet again. My high risk OB told me that they don't do bed rest anymore for issues such as mine, so I was happy to hear that!

What helped me get through was that I continued to work, so during the day I was very busy. I had a fax machine next to me, my computer in bed and of course my phone. Keeping busy any way you can is crucial. Bed rest sort of sounds appealing but that feeling quickly goes away. I felt very helpless, we had a toddler at home that I couldn't help with, so everything fell to my dh. I started taking care of paying all bills online, doing our grocery shopping online etc. to feel somewhat useful. I set up a bed in our living room so I wasn't tucked away upstairs. I read a lot, watched tv (but got soooo bored with it) and made connections with other bed rest moms online. Good luck!

lawmom747

New to this board (and bed rest) - and was interested to see if anyone else was out there as well.  Maybe we can form an online support system for each other. 

21w1d with b/g twins and 2 days into modified bed rest due to placenta previa causing bleed #1 and low lying placenta causing bleed #2 which required hospital admission this weekend.  My little girl is breech and as DH describes it, she is tap dancing on my cervix.  My OB expects I will be out of work and on bed rest through the rest of the pregnancy. 

So far my job is allowing me to work from home, but I'm a little nervous to see how long that lasts and I have to go on short term disability.  I had to put DD into full time daycare where she used to have to go only 3 days a week which is a little sad to me because I really cherished our days together. 

I welcome any advice / input / support during this journey.  With the multiple pregnancy, having started with OHSS and the first bleed, I expected to be on bed rest at some point - but not this early. 

andreamckain24

3 weeks in the hospital today and have to stay till I deliver. It is tough but it's worth it. I'm in the ante pardom wing with a dynamic cervix, dilated, fully effaced, and irritable uterus. Good news is bedrest got me to 28 weeks so even though it sucks it keeps baby cooking.

supersarah77

@lawmom747 I have the same situation putting DD in daycare more days when she was only part time before. So much guilt. Plus I have to cancel her music classes because I can no longer take her. She loves them. And I miss my days with her! I have to keep reminding myself this is only temporary.... It's not easy.

@thinkpink101 you had to stay laying down from 14 weeks on?? That is brutal! I can only imagine the aches and pains from that alone! It's true that bed rest is not prescribed as often, which is good... But in my case it's also ambiguous because it's all based on my pain level. Making the call day-by-day is tough on DH and I. He has his hopes up every day that I'll feel well enough to help out and pushes back when I don't... We've had many fights which is incredibly stressful on top of the misery I already feel.

@andreamckain24 hospital bed rest must be challenging not even being in your own comfy environment. Glad baby is doing well. How do you pass the time?

anfrank1984

I'm on bed rest at home at 21w3d for s shortened cervix. It has been consistent for the past few weeks, so I may get to go back to work. It can be extremely frustrating at times, and welcome at others. I feel for you women who are on hospital bed rest. I have a friend that will be in the hospital for the other it 2 weeks. Just stay as busy as you can. Read a book, crochet, learn a new hobby. Time hopefully will fly by.

andreamckain24

@supersarah77 I have a laptop thank god for Netflix. It is hard very hard my family has been having some trials lately and my hospital bed rest has only added to that. I have great nurses they even gave me a bigger room and a view when I had a breakdown Monday after being told I was going home but then found out I'm 100% effaced and the pain I'm having is my pelvis separating for birth. So they are keeping me til I deliver. I'm happy though for a good hospital just sick of hospital food :-(

seesea

Hey there! I've been on modified bed rest since I was at 23 weeks. I have a shortened cervix and Cerclage in place. It's been almost 6 weeks this far. There's ups and downs to it. It's a little difficult at times with my toddler. Sometimes I feel useless since my mom's helping out and my DH has to pick up the extra slack when he's got so much going on. It's also a little tough on finances since I'm not working. However, I know things will turn out fine. All that matters is that I keep baby inside!
To cope, I read A LOT, watch reruns of my favorite shows and hang out with my LO. Sometimes I try to do light chores but I know my limits. I'm thinking of doing one of those diy crafty things I see on Pinterest. I've also signed up for an online class which I'm excited about.
I may go back to work at 32 weeks depending on what my MFM says. I honestly have mixed feelings about that. While I love my job it can be stressful at times and I don't need to be stressed right now.

Wishing everyone here the best of luck! Let's try to keep each other updated. I'm always interested to see how others are doing on bed rest.

ETA: Typing this on my phone. My big thumb hit post when I didn't mean to.

beccaannn94

Ive also been placed on bedrest in the hospital. I have a shortened cervix and when i went for my ultrasound they noticed my cervix shortened all the way to the stitch. So that right now is only thing holding my cervix shut! Being in a hospital is no fun especially where i live an hour away and i only get to see my boyfriend on weekends due to work its hard but all worth it for this lil baby inside. Us mothers gotta be strong

thinkpink101

It was because of a shortened cervix that I was on bed rest with my twins, and I'm worried about the same thing with this baby. My Fetal-Maternal specialist said they no longer believe in bed rest for a shortened cervix because it has been proven that bed rest doesn't make any difference. It funneled and shortened to the point where there was really nothing left (I still held out another 6 weeks after that). It made sense to me that the less pressure on the cervix the better, but my new specialist says no. What do your drs say?

seesea

@thinkpink101 my dr said the same thing about bed rest but he didn't want me over exert myself. He felt that I needed to take it easy so he called it "modified" bed rest. So I could do light activities here and there but I have to use this time to relax.

lawmom747

If you all are interested - I think I may start a weekly (bi-weekly?) check-in on the high risk page - but alert some of the other birth month boards, etc so that anyone out there on bed rest can join in if they would like.  What do you think? 

seesea

@lawmom747 I think it's a great idea!

superlowamh

@thinkpink101 my doctor also said that they don't believe in bed rest. But kept repeating to take it easy, not to drive longer distances than 20-30 minutes, and definitely not every day, not to stand for longer than 15 minutes at a time, not to lift my toddler daughter and even - not to go on my short walks! If that's not bed rest then what is?

I did go on three really short and leisurely walks one week, and my cervix shortened once again very quickly. So no more walks...

eeka1984

As of this past Thursday I am on complete bed rest for at least 2 weeks. I apparently have many complications leading up to my bed rest. It all started at my 20 week u/s when my ob diagnosed me with partial placenta previa. However this past Thursday I notice spotting and all week I have been having cramping. I was ordered to come in right away. My ob did an u/s and notice a list of issues. I have a thinning cervix, already, my partial previa shifted to complete previa, my amniotic fluid was also low and my feet had poor circulation causing them to turn purple. My question is, is 2 weeks gonna be enough. I dread complete bed rest until I deliver. My back is killing me already because I have to lay on my left side with my pelvis elevated. So not comfy. Baby is healthy and growing ahead of schedule. Mommy not so much.

lawmom747

Hey everyone - I posted the check-in. 

https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12553116/bed-rest-check-in-3-28-15#latest

I am going to post a note to other boards to reach out to others who may be on bed rest as well.  Hope to see you all check in!

knwilliams01

I'm currently on hospital bedrest on the antepartum floor. I got admitted on Monday dut to low amniotic fluid, IUGR, and pre-eclampsia. The hard part for me is that we are taking everything day by day. Not allowed to eat or drink after midnight every night until my morning biophysical profile ultrasound. If baby still looks good, we get food and at least 1 more day of baking.