- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Multiples
24 weeks - Bedrest.. needing some encouragement!
Good morning ladies! I haven't posted over here in awhile (work and life kept me so busy, that won't be the case anymore!) I just wanted to re-introduce myself and find some support and encouragement in this situation. So here's the story...
I have been having BH contractions sporatically since 18 weeks, and they have been keeping an eye on my cervical length since then. It has gone from a beautiful 4.3, down to 3.6, to 3.4..... you can see the trend. Well last Friday I had a routine growth scan/cervical length appointment and they discovered it to be down to 2.8. My doc wasn't all that worked up and was just going to start me on Procardia and send me home on bedrest for awhile. Then she decided to go ahead and put me on the toco monitor to see if I was contracting. Which unfortunately I was, every 5 minutes or so without even knowing it!! 
I looked at my husband and knew immediately that I was going to be admitted to the hospital. She did admit me and started me on the Procardia and got steroids on board (ouch!)... I also ended up getting 2 doses of terbutaline that first night. The contractions did finally calm down. I was so stressed and overwhelmed I could barely think! I ended up staying until Sunday (yesterday) when I got discharged to home on bedrest with food/bathroom/shower privledges. I am glad to be in the comforts of my own home but it does make me nervous to be out from their watchful eyes at the hospital! My doctor will see me weekly now and if my cervix gets shorter again this week I will be parked in the hospital for the duration. She did check me before I was discharged and I was not dilated at all. Thank goodness!!! The other very positive thing of all this is the baby girls are looking fabulous. They are above the expected growth curve for their gestation and they are very active and healthy 
Has anyone else been through (or currently going through) a similar situation? I am 24 weeks and 2 days pregnant today, so I am HOPEFULLY looking at around 12-13 weeks of bedrest!
What were your outcomes if you were on bedrest from such an early gestation?
Any words of encouragement are greatly apprecitaed! I am very nervous and overwhelmed. I will be hanging around the board a lot more now and look forward to getting to know everyone!
Married 8.4.07
BFP #1 4.15.11 Twin girls born 11/17/11
BFP #2 10/16/13 m/c at 9w
BFP #3 4/7/14 EDD 12/13/14
This discussion has been closed.
Re: 24 weeks - Bedrest.. needing some encouragement!
So sorry to hear you're going through this. There are quite a few of us on the board who have similar stories and ended up with healthy little ones.
I had an anatomy scan at 22w, and my cervix was a little less than 3. They put me on modified, but fairly strict bedrest. I had another scan at 24w and it was down a bit more, so they put me on very strict bedrest at home. At 26w, my cervix had stayed the same, but when they checked me at 28w, it was around 2 and 1.9, so I was admitted to the hospital for bedrest. I was only allowed out of bed for the bathroom and to shower once per day. They originally were going to have me stay until I delivered, but they later said they'd see how I was doing at 32w.
After 4 VERY long weeks in the hospital, they checked me at 32w, and my cervix was still at 2 so they sent me home on strict bedrest. I did another 3 weeks of bedrest there, and in some ways, it was harder than the hospital bedrest. Finally, at 35w, they let me off bedrest b/c at that point, they weren't going to stop labor and they wanted to give me some time to get my legs back. I lasted 1.5 weeks, and had the babies at 36w4d due to rising blood pressure bordering on Pre-E. The babies were 5lbs 4z and 5lbs 14oz, and didn't need any NICU time and came home with me.
Good luck! Bedrest sucks but it works and is so worth it!
ETA: During all of this, I only had contractions one time, and it was when they had me waiting in L&D after my 24w appointment b/c they wanted another dr to look at my cervix. They kept me there for several hours and wouldn't let me drink. I got dehydrated and started contracting, even though I begged for water. They gave me a shot of terb and the steroid shots and kept me overnight. Other than that, I didn't have any contractions during that time that I felt or any whenever they monitored me while on hospital bedrest. If it wasn't for my BP, I'm pretty sure I would have made it to 38w.
I wrote this post a little over a year ago. Almost identical cervical measurements.
I was put on bedrest at 23 weeks. I made it to 36 weeks (and only delivered due to severe pre-e).
Just do exactly what your docs tell you. You'll learn what activities make you contract and what doesn't. I wasn't on strict bedrest but modified bedrest. I was able to take a shower (I sat down so I could have nice long ones) and sometimes I'd shower multiple times a day because I had hyperemesis and was constantly puking. I sat down while I did my makeup/dried my hair almost every single day for those 13 weeks.
I got a laptop. I played sudoku. I drove thru a drive thru once a week to just get out of the house.
At about 28 weeks my docs released me to go out to eat once a week if my contractions weren't bad. I'd walk right in, sit down and drive right back home.
Getting out for doctor's appointments was awesome! Ha.
You can do it. It's a mental challenge.
Oh and I used a heating pad for my back/neck because all of that sitting really makes you sore. I constantly did stretching exercises for my arms/legs.
Your responses are making me feel so much better! There aren't even words to describe how scared and overwhelmed I have been, which I know you all can relate to. Hearing your success stories and seeing the pics of your beautiful healthy kids is helping me to see the light at the end, even if it is very tiny right now!
I also forgot to mention that I am a NICU nurse, so I have seen countless scary situations that I unfortunately can't forget about now that it's hitting too close to home
I have plans for books, movies, and lots of time on the laptop! I will follow every guideline my doctor gives me. These babies are the most important thing to me!!
Hi, Amy!
you can do this, just take it one day at a time!
I was on light bedrest at home at 24 weeks for cervical shortening and then admitted to hospital by my MFM at 26 weeks when the funneling and contrax started, and I've been here ever since.
One of the most difficult things about being here is that I am 2+ hours from my husband and kids, so I only get to see them once or maybe twice a week. My regular hospital cannot take me as they are only a level III Nicu and this one is a Level IV.
We've been able to Skype some off and on, which helps my homesickness a little. Thankfully, my mom was able to come in from out of state and take care of my kids, as I am a SAHM and we have no other family or friends in this area that can keep them full time since we've only lived in this area for a little over a year.
The other difficult part is that I have nothing ready at home and have been relying on my husband or mom to bring me clothing and necessities from home and they don't understand my methods of organization, lol. At least I have my laptop so I have a connection to the outside world. (I'm allowed for the time being to wear my own clothes/pj's instead of a hospital gown.) They have also allowed me to use bedding and support pillows from home which helps me feel a little more comfy. I have quite a nest going!
I've had to let go of all of my control & organization issues and just do my best to focus on staying in the bed and keeping the girls growing.
I know it's hard not to worry, I was freaking out when it all started, especially because the girls were still so early.
One other suggestion, maybe totally obvious, is to go ahead and pack a hospital bag and at leave it in your car at your next appt, just in case. I had a little intuition and grabbed a few toiletries and clean change of underwear, just to make my nerves calm down. Lo and behold, I actually needed it and my husband told me he would never doubt my intuition again.
Best wishes and try not to worry!
I calculated NICHD risk data almost every single day.......
Wow your story is amazing! I can't imagine how hard it must be to be away from your family. These are our first babies! And thank goodness your mom was able to come help with the kids! Keep up the excellent work. You are inspirational!!
I am going to definitely take your advice and pack a hospital bag. It is the 'obvious' things like that that totally slip my mind in a stressful situation. Luckily we don't live too far from the hospital, but it will still be worth it to have!
I think one of the hardest things is to let go of my 'control' of the situation. Even though I was never in control from the beginning! The girls and I are now taking this one day at a time, and being extra thankful for each of those days.
Thanks and good luck to you!
AMEN sista! Sometimes I wish I could be blissfully unaware!
I was put on modified bedrest at 22 weeks and admitted to the hospital at 24 weeks for the duration of my pregnancy. I won't lie, it was terrifying being at risk to deliver babies at the cusp of viability. At first, we weren't given much hope that we would make it past 24 weeks. My issues were related to TTTS and decreased blood flow through baby A's umbilical cord. The first week was definitely the worst but I made it to 28 weeks. As much as I wanted to be home, it was comforting knowing I was being watched and cared for closely in the hospital. I'm still kind of sorting through my feelings of the whole experience since it was so recent. I would have been happy to have done it for another month or two if it meant my babies would have stayed in longer.
Take it week by week, or even day by day if you have to. Every day they are inside counts. I kept a "pregnancy ticker" on the white board in my room and would feel so good every day I could update it. Try to have a daily routine and set a goal for that day. I spent a lot of time on the internet, watched series on netflix, did a cross stitch, planned the nursery and did my registry, read books and magazines, etc. There is a daily bed rest check in on the high risk pregnancy board that was really supportive too.
Peanut Butter and Jelly!
<a href="http://s568.photobucket.com/albums/ss122/AliceNP/?action=view
5 REs + 3 surgical hysteroscopies for septum/lap + 3 failed IUIs
IVF w/ICSI/AH & acu = BFP!, unexplained spontaneous m/c @ 8w2d (our little girl),
FET w/acu = BFP!, B/G twins!, lost MP @19w, dx w/funneling cervix @20w,
twins nearly lost to IC @21w, saved by rescue cerclage, 17P & 16w of bedrest
Our twins born @36w4d via CS when A came foot first
Thankful for every day
I had pretty much the exact thing happen. BH contractions from 18 weeks and cervix shortening at 25 weeks. At 25 weeks I dilated 1cm and was admitted to the hospital. I stayed there for 1 month, at which point I was released to bed rest at home.
It absolutely sucks but you can do it. Just try to focus on short term milestones and know that every single day the babies stay is a good day.
Hang in there you can do this! I'm not going to lie bedrest is hard! It can be very isolating and full of worry but its all for a good reason right?
I started having some contractions at 22weeks, the doc ordered an u/s where they discovered my cervix at 2.8. I was sent home and told to take it easy. 2 weeks later at almost 25 weeks my cervix was 2.4, I was pulled from work and sent home on bedrest. At almost 26 weeks my cervix was .7 and funneling, I was admitted to be watched for several days. When I was discharged I was at a 1.8 and was on strict bedrest at home, only allowed out to my once a week dr. appointment.
I laid on the couch until 37 weeks and then got the go ahead to get up but to limit my activity during the day.
I made it to my scheduled c-section at 38w2d and I never had any more PTL episodes with contractions after that first time. It was a long 3 months on bedrest but in my opinion it was the only thing that kept those babies cooking as long as they did.
Good luck to you!
I never had the benefit/"luxury" of at-home bedrest. I went in for a routine u/s at 27 weeks and didn't leave the hospital until my boys were delivered at 34 weeks via emergency c-section. I had developed pre-eclampsia and was on hospital bedrest for 7 excrutiating weeks. I won't lie, it was awful. I'm certainly not saying that being at home means things will be a cake-walk for you, any bedrest situation sucks balls.
What got me through that time wasn't thinking about my boys, as I knew they'd make it worth it. It didn't make it any easier knowing that I was doing what was best for them because that's just what you do as a mom, you don't even think about it. If it's good for your kids, you just do it. But what really did help ease the pain of being locked up in prison was having visitors. It forced me to stop the pity-party and focus on something else for a change. Being alone with my thoughts was the WORST!
That being said, I was alone a lot. Keep busy. Have your DH, friends and family drop you off things to do. I made a seahorse rug for the boys' nursery. Since I missed out on the ability to "nest," it felt nice to do something that contributed to their room. I did a lot of puzzles, read a lot of books (parenting and otherwise), and played a lot of games online and on my phone.
You're a good mommy and you know that your kids will make this sacrifice worth it. I hope for your sake that you're on bedrest a long time because that will mean that you're cooking your babies as long as possible and reducing any time in the NICU they might need. As awful as my experience was, I desperately wish I'd stayed healthy enough to stay there another 3 weeks. I still feel immense guilt that my body just couldn't spare the boys from NICU. Take a deep breath and take it day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute.
Also, get a BIG calendar and put it on the wall across from where you're usually hanging out on bedrest. Circle your goal delivery date and cross off each day with a big red X. I was always proud when I could check off a day on my calendar and see how many days I'd stayed put. It was huge, seeing what I was accomplishing, because you don't feel useful on bedrest. But I was doing important work, growing my boys, and seeing how many days I'd been in the hospital made me visually able to see the work I'd done for them.
Sorry if this was long and disjointed and didn't make much sense. But I hope something in here helped!
So sorry you're going through this! I was put on bedrest at 20 weeks when my cervix was at 2.5, and stayed on bedrest for 16 weeks. I was mostly at home, but spent a few days here and there in the hosptial. It was very difficult, mentally, but I made it through, and so will you - the outcome is totally worth the boredom! I survived because of my Kindle and Netflix. And Amazon. I spent far, far too much time and money on Amazon getting stuff for the babies. My babies were born at 36w4d, after 16 weeks of bedrest, and they came home from the hospital with us.
Now, 6 months later, the time on bedrest that felt like an eternity seems like a little blip. You can do this. Yes, it will suck, and it will be hard, but you can do it, and it will be so worth it in the end! Good luck!
Ditto to PP above re: Netflix.
Participate in the daily bedrest check in on High Risk. I would post the daily check in quite often. It made me feel like I wasn't so alone!
I went in for my MFM appointment at 22wks5days, where they found that my cervix was at a 0.8 with funneling and was contracting every 4-5 minutes. I was admitted to the hospital where I was hooked up to Magnesium Sulfate and was on strict bedrest...meaning, no laying on my back and I couldn't sit up (even to eat). I had to lay on my sides so that it wouldn't have any pressure on my cervix.
I spent 69 days in the hospital on my sides until 32 weeks 1 day when I delivered my girls. I was on the Mag IV the entire time, too. It was the toughest thing I have ever done and I was so lonely and bored, but I would do it over again in a heartbeat.
If you need any advice or just need to vent, feel free to PM me. Hang in there!
Im expecting twins also and because of family history I expect I will be on bedrest early in the 20th weeks. Having people come over and bring in some take out is a nice way to feel like you are getting out. It helps with the stir crazy feeling too.
The fact that you are doing what is advised says a lot about how this is going to work. Good Luck!