Lurker- Intro, on bed rest at 28 weeks

jjh471 · February 2014

Hi ladies,

Looks like I will be officially joining you all if you'll have me. I usually post in the May '14 group but unfortunately since hitting my 3rd trimester we have encountered some problems.

Almost two weeks ago I went up to L&D with contractions. I thought they were just BH, but they started to come on a little stronger so we went up just to be safe. They were 2-4 minutes apart at this point, however, my cervix was completely closed. I tested positive on the FFN test and was admitted. They were concerned I would go into labor that night, so I had the steroid shots and was put on procardia pills every 4 hours, which I ended up having to stop because my heart rate went through the roof. We went home after 3 days, no change in my cervix at all but still the contractions. They diagnosed me with an irritable uterus and I was told to start a week of bed rest and see how everything went. I had a follow up with my OB a few days later, still having contractions but my cervix remained unchanged.

Last Friday, I called my OB because I was experiencing a lot of pelvic pressure and wasn't sure what was going on. At this point, they checked my cervical length and saw that it was slightly short at around 2.3-2.48cm. They had a really hard time seeing it because my son's head is right at my cervix, which is causing the pressure. So I was told to continue with the bed rest.

I had an appointment yesterday with my OB again, at this point he had consulted with a high risk doctor as well. My cervix is still completely closed, so it doesn't look like the contractions are really changing things. They aren't sure if the contractions have caused the cervix to shorten because this is my first pregnancy and my cervical length was never measured before, since we figured there was no need to.

They have discussed putting me on the progesterone shots but since I am already 28 weeks and there are not a lot of studies done on women begin the shots after 24 weeks, they are looking into it a little more. My Ob and I talked yesterday he does not believe I will go the full 40 but he also does not think I will be delivering this week or next (fingers crossed).

I have a follow up appointment this Thursday to discuss further options. They will not put me back on procardia to deal with the contractions because of the rapid increase of my heart rate and they won't be able to monitor me if I am home. So for now it is a wait and see game. The bed rest is definitely helping with the pressure and contractions. I notice the pressure and contractions returning when I am on my feet doing things like taking a shower, or walking to the bathroom.

It has been a very very difficult two weeks. I teach Kindergarten, so being out from now until the end of the school year will certainly be a challenge financially as I have limited sick days to use and cannot use my short-term disability until I am officially out on maternity leave (meaning, it will not kick in until after I have the baby). I have applied to use the "sick bank" days that our union gives us, so I am hoping that will come through. We thought about canceling my show, which is at the end of March, but I decided to keep it as mentally it will give me a goal to get to. So I am trying to make it through the next 5 weeks to attend my shower, even if I am just sitting there with my feet up! That will put me at 33 weeks and I will feel a lot better about the baby potentially coming then, versus now at 28 weeks.

Thanks for reading ladies. If anyone has gone through something similar I would love to hear from your experience.

-Jillian

bcnoelle · February 2014

Wishing you a healthy and full term pregnancy! I am 27 weeks with weekly cervical checks after an emergency cerclage at 19 weeks. I can imagine bed rest is very difficult. Thankfully you've made it this far! I can understand wanting to keep your shower. I think mental health during bed rest is very important!

erikaja6 · February 2014

Just wanted to say I can relate to some of the things you are experiencing. When I was pregnant with my son, I started having contractions at 23 weeks. My husband took me to L&D and I found out I had a short cervix. I ended up having an emergency cerclage and was placed on strict bed rest. I was a high school teacher, but "luckily" it was the end of May so there were only a few more weeks left of school. I ended up being on bed rest for two and a half months until my water broke at 33 1/2 weeks and my son was born. He was five pounds, four ounces and had to spend ten days in the NICU. A bit of jaundice was his most serious problem and no one can now believe he was a preemie. I know it's scary and bed rest can be so hard, but hang in there. You can do it. Make sure you are drinking LOTS of water. Obviously, that will make you have to go to the bathroom all the time (which is hard when you are supposed to be on bed rest). However, remaining hydrated will help decrease the contractions. Also, there is a bed rest board on Baby Center which was very helpful/supportive. It was really nice to be able to "talk" to others who were going through a similar situation. Good luck!

haziedaze · February 2014

Welcome, sorry about all the stress! Our stories are kind of eerily similar.

With DS contractions started at 19 weeks and then picked up with some spotting at 27 weeks, I was hospitalized and was 1cm but cervix was long. I had no change while there and FFN was negative. I did a week of bedrest then went back to the OB and my exam was unchanged so they said I could return to work if I wanted b/c there was no data that bedrest does anything, so I did. I worked 5 days, came home from work Friday evening and the contractions suddenly intensified and I started bleeding. I went into L&D and was 3cm dilated they tried some magnesium but it didn't help, DS was born 16 hours later. On pathology I had a partial placental abruption.

Who knows what caused what. If I had stayed on bedrest the exact same thing could have happened or I could have return to work and had contractions all the way until a term delivery. It's also possible that it was the abruption that caused my PTL. I'll never know, but I can tell you I still feel crazy guilty and wonder what if.

This time similar thing happened, ctx started at 16 weeks, I started 17P at 17 weeks. I was hospitalized for 3 days with contractions every 2-3 mins at 25 weeks. Nifedipine does ok for me and does keep the ctx more light and spaced out. My cervix has been long and closed and my FFN negative. They again brought up that there is no data about bedrest or meds helping delay delivery, but this time I insisted they throw everything at me. I'm still pregnant and now almost 2 weeks past where I delivered DS.

I've looked at the scientific data and it's not convincing at all, but in the end I think all that tells us is that they just don't know, every woman is a little different. I also think that it means we are an even more important voice in the decision making and that paying attention to our bodies and relaying our experiences is key. So, in my humble opinion if you feel better on bedrest- do it! You will NEVER regret having a term baby. Happy to chat more anytime!!! Hang in there!!

Mrs_D_in_KY · March 2014

Thank goodness your cervix is closed! And that bedrest seems to be working. I had what I thought were BH with DS #1 when I was 28 weeks. My doctor sends me to labor and delivery to get checked out and come to find out that I am having real contractions and am 2 cm dilated.

I was put on bedrest and oral terbutaline for 8 weeks. My Ob said my first hurdle was 32 weeks and then to be safe he wanted to get me to 36 weeks thinking I would have a full term baby. Well DS had other plans, my water broke at 36w 4d and DS was born that afternoon.

This pregnancy I have had multiple cervical length checks and am getting weekly progesterone shots. I am being seen by the high risk doctors in my OB group and feel good there is a plan this pregnancy.

I know bedrest sucks, but you will definitely not regret growing your baby as big as he/she can.

alohamel · March 2014

@jjh471

Hi Jillian!

I have a very similar experience! I started having contractions when I was 27 weeks so I headed to L&D. When I got there my cervix was a 3.7 which was great, but then my contractions started to pick up at 3 minutes apart so they thought I was going to deliver. They took me in a birthing room and I got the steroid shots (ouch!). They measured my cervix again to see if it was changed. In 4 hours my cervix changed from a 3.7 to a 1.8! I was so upset. They sent in the NICU team to talk to me and I was scared out of my mind.

They were able to calm down my contractions with Procardia but my heart was out of control on it as well! And, my blood pressure got so low I nearly passed out. It was awful. I then got some other medication and I don't remember the name but I believe it started with a "T". This medication stopped my contractions. I stayed in the hospital for 4 days and then went on full bed rest at home. I was only allowed to get up to go to the bathroom and had to get a stool for the shower so I could sit during it.

I too felt TONS of pressure because my baby's head it touching the cervix as well. Since I began bed rest my cervix shortened a little bit, but has been pretty stable. I am now over 35 weeks and I can't believe it!

I, too, and a Kindergarten teacher and stopped work after this episode. I only had 7 days in my bank but stayed home anyway because I knew I just had to.

Word of advice: Move your legs and stretch while you are in bed. I unfortunately developed a blood clot from not moving so much but that is rare. I know that if I kept this baby in this long, that you can too. You are a good mama already! Feel free to PM me if you ever have any questions or just want to chat. I know how scary it can be. I remember just breaking down crying all the time just thinking about everything. Good Luck!

iqwedding3 · March 2014

Wow, just went through something similar on Monday, thankfully my FFN was negative and the contractions eventually stopped, so they sent me home. Good luck to you!

MrsLaLaBug · March 2014

wishing you the very best!

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