Question about bed rest...

AmyJoy728 · November 2011

At my last MFM appt my cervix had dropped from a 4.5 to a 3.5. I know that it is still a good measurement and that I may never have to worry about bed rest, or at least not for a few weeks... But I had a question. My baby shower is being scheduled for at 29 wks and it's 2 hours away at my in-laws. IF I am on bed rest or modified bed rest, would a doc be okay with me laying down in the car while DH drives me, (we would stay for the whole wknd) and I do nothing but sit/lay on the couch, and then drive home while laying down again? I've tried asking my MFM a few weeks ago, but she wouldn't really talk about bed rest until it is necessary and my mom and MIL will be sending out invites soon... TIA

EveTyer24 · November 2011

I just got put on bed rest at 33 weeks after being discharged from the hospital and I wouldn't feel comfortable sitting in the car for that amount of time. (Up until then I had a very uneventful pregnancy.)

Also, does that mean you'd be 2 hrs away from your hospital?

Every situation is different so It's really hard to predict what will happen for you and how you'll feel, but I'd suggest maybe trying to have it sooner than later.

ardilla · November 2011

My situation was a little extreme, but in my case, it would have been a definite no. I went into PTL at 22w1d, wound up in the hospital for about 7 weeks, then was released to full bedrest at home. Once there, I was allowed to sit for meals and to take a shower each evening if I felt up to it. I was only allowed to do the stairs once a day, and usually only to leave and come back from doctor's appointments, no outings other than that. Even before my PTL happened, my OB had told me not to plan to be more than an hour's drive away after 20 weeks, should any issues present themselves. All that aside, I'm not sure how you could comfortably and safely lie down for 2 hours each way in the car. Hopefully none of this will be an issue and you will avoid bedrest!

caden · November 2011

Laying down flat in the car? Or reclining the passenger seat? I was on modified bedrest for many weeks and my docs let me be in a car daily for 20min (one way) to go to my grandma's and lay on her couch. I got sick to my stomach if I tried to lay flat in the back seat so I just reclined the passenger seat. Even that short trip gave me contrax though. I don't think I'd risk a 2-hour trip unless you were able to lay flat.

Mrs. Alice · November 2011

I was on home modified bed rest for the first two weeks and was just basically a couch potato. I was having to drive 2 hours each way for my weekly u/s at the MFM. I'd say, it would probably be okay if you are mod bed rest but not for strict bed rest. However, I would talk to your Dr. to be sure. Hopefully you can avoid bed rest completely!

crystaleyes39 · November 2011

I just think with multiples to travel and be that far away from where your hospital is just is risky in general with or w/out bedrest. I wouldn't risk it, and try to do your shower somewhere closer to you...but that's just me.

AmyJoy728 · November 2011

caden:
Laying down flat in the car? Or reclining the passenger seat? I was on modified bedrest for many weeks and my docs let me be in a car daily for 20min (one way) to go to my grandma's and lay on her couch. I got sick to my stomach if I tried to lay flat in the back seat so I just reclined the passenger seat. Even that short trip gave me contrax though. I don't think I'd risk a 2-hour trip unless you were able to lay flat.

In my car, Nissan Versa, the passenger seat can recline almost completely. My mom and MIL are planning it, and since we are on the east coast and winters can be unpredictible they wanted to find somewhere big enough to hold everyone, but if there is bad weather they wouldn't be paying for a room somewhere and/or for food.

I am going to ask at my next MFM appt, but since i'm at MIL's house I wanted to be able to have some peoples experiences to share since I seem to be the only one concerned about the location (between me, mom, MIL and DH)....

kthappy76 · November 2011

I've been on bed rest since 20 weeks, which for me = no shower. My OB wouldn't even let us attend our classes at the hospital. I would not plan on traveling @ 29 wks even if you are not on bed rest, but you should ask your Dr.

jdancer5 · November 2011

I totally understand you being concerned. When I was on modified bed rest I felt up to doing things like that, but one day about 27w5d, I was out running a few errands with DH (mostly I was sitting in the car) and I went into PTL, resulting in strict bed rest. The long and the short of it is that your cervix is still good length. The best thing you can do to stay off bed rest is to take it easy. BR sucks so bad (and I can only imagine hospital BR is even worse) that if I had it to do all over again, I would take it VERY easy. I wouldn't travel 2h for a shower whether or not I had been put on BR officially. I hope your family understands- once you get to a certain point, as a mom you just don't want to do anything that could possibly threaten those LOs.

curlywhirly · November 2011

AmyJoy728:
At my last MFM appt my cervix had dropped from a 4.5 to a 3.5. I know that it is still a good measurement and that I may never have to worry about bed rest, or at least not for a few weeks... But I had a question. My baby shower is being scheduled for at 29 wks and it's 2 hours away at my in-laws. IF I am on bed rest or modified bed rest, would a doc be okay with me laying down in the car while DH drives me, (we would stay for the whole wknd) and I do nothing but sit/lay on the couch, and then drive home while laying down again? I've tried asking my MFM a few weeks ago, but she wouldn't really talk about bed rest until it is necessary and my mom and MIL will be sending out invites soon... TIA

From someone who has had similar cervical measurements and just traveled 5+ hours by car for Thanksgiving at just about 28 weeks, my vote is to plan to go for your shower. This is, of course, assuming that your cervix stays well above the 2.5 mark. My doctor has been happy with my cervical measurements, but he gave me a copy of my medical records to have on our trip in case something were to go wrong. Sitting in the car wasn't the most comfortable thing, but I think it was worth it to see family, as we won't be making the trip for Christmas this year.

I'd say let the invitations go out, and stay optimistic that things will be fine. If you get within a couple/few weeks of the party and see that it wouldn't be wise to make the trip, then cancel it--people will completely understand (and maybe suggest to your mom/MIL not to do TOO much for the party until you get a bit closer).

adacopeach · November 2011

Not trying to be debbie downer......I am in outside sales and my doctor asked me about my travel schedule on my first visit. When I told her that I often drive for a couple of hours to some of my clients, she said that I will have to eliminate any travel over an hour away by 20-24 weeks, depending on how my PG is going. Now, I don't know if she said this because I would be driving by myself completely and/or/both because she'd be worried about anything happening that far away from the hospital. Have you asked your doctor about the shower?? It might be safer to ask your MIL to make it earlier?!?! Good luck with your decision Smile

AmyJoy728 · November 2011

I can't really make it any earlier with the holidays. It's already tentatively at Jan14. I will be asking at my next MFM appt this week, and if she won't give me a straight answer (last time she just kept saying that we'll have to see) than I'll be calling my OB.

Fancy3Face · November 2011

I'd say it absolutely depends on what your cervix looks like closer to your shower. If you're stable, it shouldn't be a problem.

GL!

sail123 · November 2011

crystaleyes39:
I just think with multiples to travel and be that far away from where your hospital is just is risky in general with or w/out bedrest. I wouldn't risk it, and try to do your shower somewhere closer to you...but that's just me.

I agree with this. I was put on BR at 25 weeks and would not have been allowed to do this. Not so much because of the drive, but because of the distance away from the hospital.

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