Hospital vs Home bed rest *Update in OP*

bluebird0521

**Update**

This morning I finally broke down crying because I haven't slept since Monday night. I had just gotten comfortable when they came in and said that their monitor didn't like that I was laying on my side and I had to lay on my back. I was in so much pain on my back and couldn't sleep I just freaked out and asked for my doctor. They agreed to remove the monitors and told me that they would be moving me to the high risk ward where I would not have a blood pressure cuff, IV (only heplock) or constant monitors on the belly. They did say that I need to be hooked up for 1 hour 3x per day but I can live with that. My MFM came in and said that he will not be sending me home anytime soon, and that I am here until at least 32 weeks.

Thank you for the advice ladies, it really helped. I just finally decided to be honest, and really I couldn't hold it back anymore either I was just so miserable. I am now switched to the high risk ward and it so much better than L&D. It is going to be a rough road, but my MFM did agree to weekly cervical checks and if I happen to gain cervix he will send me home. Fingers crossed that happens!

I went to a routine MFM appt today and my cervix had shortened so I am in the hospital on bed rest until further notice. They told me the earliest I can go home is 32 weeks but 34 weeks is more common.

Here is my problem...I was NOT contracting at home, and here they noticed a little IU so they gave me fluids and it went away. As the night has gone on, I have been so uncomfortable, so stressed out and now I am contracting (of course). Only 5 per hour but obviously at this point it is better to have none. The fact that I am contracting is why they are keeping me here, they said I could have gone home but then I started to contract. I feel like I am contracting because of how uncomfortable and stressed I am here.

Now I am wondering if I would be better off at home. They aren't doing anything here other than the steroids they already gave me and fluids. I can't sleep because they pop in every hour to check me and often it is every 30 minutes or so because baby keeps moving off the monitor. It is SO frustrating! I can't lay the way I want to so my body is aching and I can't get comfortable, when I finally fall asleep I am being woken up. I don't mind being here so much, but I physically don't feel good here and I always feel perfectly fine at home. What the heck? 

If you were in my shoes, would you try to talk to the Dr to see about going home if there was a certain length of time you went with no change? I am thinking I might ask them that if in a week I have no change and no contractions if I can go home. 

amwenz

Sorry bluebird:( I would see if you can des tress and get contractions to stop. If this works for a few days I would consider asking. Ultimately, you want baby to be safe and stay in as long as possible. Ask if they are going to anything else if contractions continue...medications you couldn't do at home? Good luck and keep that baby safe! I hope you get comfortable. Did they do an ultrasound to see your cervix shortened? What was it at?

Ylvelill

Being continuously monitored is rough. They tried that when I first came into the hospital for bed rest. After about 16 hours I had to tell them to stop because of what you are describing. I was aching all over and so stressed out.

Since then we just do monitoring twice pr day so I have plenty of time to rest in between.

I hope you can your doctor can find a solution. Keeping the babies safe and you as stress free is important.

MamaPharmD

I would definitely ask them if there is anything they can do to make you more comfortable. Tell them your concern that being uncomfortable in the hospital is stressing you out. See if that helps anything and then go from there. Since you you're only 28+5 weeks, I would err on the side of caution and stay in the hospital for awhile. If things start to improve, talk to them about the possibility of going on home bed rest instead.

TRS48

I know exactly how you feel. Got stuck there for a short cervix & they did the whole 9 yards and I honestly felt like it was overkill. I also had zero contractions the entire time (except the day I arrived bc I had not drinken any water as instructed and they wouldn't give me anything but f-ing ice chips for 24 hours and they scared the crap out of me telling me all the worst case scenarios-- so I know the stress is what caused it) They even had me on a catheter for the first 24 hours and a bed pan for the next 2 days. Came in every hour day & night to do something and doctors would come in at like 7 am right after I'd finally fallen asleep. I finally complained to a nurse I loved and she talked to the doctors and they took me off a bunch of unnecessary meds and removed my IV and lowered my TOCO belt to 30 mins a day x 2 instead of an hour a day x 2. Finally I spent two days sobbing loudly nonstop bc I was so depressed there and felt exactly like you... Just had a short cervix and no other symptoms... That I'm pretty sure my nurse told the doctor how much agony I was in that he came in and discharged me after remeasuring my cervix and getting a similar length to what I went in with. The doctor specifically said, "I think it's better for you here (& pointed to his heart) that you go home and be on bedrest, and I know you have a good support system there". I cried and thanked him profusely. So if I were you, I would be honest about how you feel with your nurses and your doctors and see if they might be willing to do the same. Obviously it's best for you to be there in case of an emergency but if your mental state is causing you more trauma by being there, I agree (& I'm not a doctor by any means... I just know first hand) that you would be better at home. I am 1000% happier at home on bedrest (& physically doing better as well) and it sounds like you would be too. Big hugs. Keep us updated and PM me anytime. Xoxoxoxo.

Wally3

Yes talk to your doctor.  They can give you their opinion and help you make a decision of what is best for the baby and you.  Also, if you can think of things to make you more comfortable ask.  When I was in the hospital I got tons of things I asked for but they were never offered to me. 

Portable monitors-  I talk to the nurse about the monitors bothering me and they had portable monitors that they had for women walking around but they don't work well for walking around because they fall off - but they allowed me to be much more comfortable in bed.  They had to be charged every few hours but they made me much more comfortable.

Turn off the blood pressure cuff - in the hospital they put it on and it tightens every 20 minutes and kept waking me up.  I had no blood pressure problems so they took it off at night.

Popsicles  - I was on clear fluid - apparently popsicles are ok.  I wasn't offered them but they were so good.

Ask if they can check you less often at night.  You never know unless you ask.

Good luck - hope that baby keeps cooking.

TRS48

Glad you got more comfortable and spoke w your doctor! I'll keep you in my prayers for a safe & short stay and a healthy baby arrival.

bluebird0521

Thank you!!