May 2016 Moms

Bedrest Support Thread

Hey ladies! I'm really struggling with the concept of bedrest. Going from 100mph to 0mph in one day is hard for me. Feeling a little down in the dumps, especially after talking to my doctor who says I'm on strict bedrest. I thought it might be a good idea if we all chatted and talked about what's on our minds, or what we're doing to keep from going nuts. 

Re: Bedrest Support Thread

  • I'm sorry to hear you are on bed rest! I can certainly emphasize. I've been on bed rest (majority in the hospital) since 20 weeks. I really struggled with going from being an active person to being a completely sedentary one. I also had to grieve the loss of the 'normal' pregnancy I was supposed to have and get used to the idea that most of my ideals were out the window. 

    What at are the specifics of your scenario? Is your bedrest temporary or for the duration of your pregnancy? Is it strict bedrest or are you permitted to go for short walks? 

    Sending good vibes to you. 
  • MsIanMsIan member
    @seasalt123 Hey! Thanks for the good vibes :smile: My cervix has shortened to 0.9 cm, is soft, and the baby's head is low. I went from 1.5cm to 0.9 in one week. I'm on strict bedrest, which I thought just meant sit a whole lot and stop working, until I spoke to my doctor again about it last night. She said I need to be laying down pretty much all the time and only get up to go to the bathroom on take a short walk the the couch/fridge. I'm having a hard time processing the fact that I can't do anything for at least the next 4 weeks, especially since I know this could be what's best for the baby.

    But then I've also read that bed rest isn't proven to really help. Sorry for the rambling lol. 

    Are you still on bedrest? How many weeks are you now?
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  • The short cervix folks often get the strict bedrest recommendation. My OB didn't seem a fan of strict bedrest except in instances of shortened cervixes but didn't elaborate as that's not what I have. Maybe I will pick her brain a bit when I see her next. How many weeks are you? The good news is that if you are in the May birth club you are above 28 weeks which means your baby is likely to do very well long term. 

    I am at 32 weeks as of yesterday. My OB told me yesterday she'd like us to aim for 36 if possible. Obviously if I go into labor beforehand or there is an emergency then we would deliver sooner. I have a chronic placental abruption (my placenta is tearing bit by bit from my uterine wall for some unknown reason). I switch from strict bedrest to modified depending on how acute the bleeding is. 

    When were you told about the bedrest and complications? I had a hard time adjusting when I first found out. Strangely enough, after the first week or two, it started to normalize in my brain. I now bed rest like a rock star even though deep down I hate it. I don't know if that's helpful but I would have thought this impossible to start and I can assure you after a while you adjust. 

    What are you doing to keep busy? 
  • *Lurker from June '16

    I was also put on bed rest at 20 weeks for a short cervix. It was down to 1.7cm with a bit of funnelling and they put in a cerclage and took me off work the same day. I have no risk factors so it was a complete shock. Especially to my employer! lol.

    I have also heard that bed rest has mixed reviews in terms of effectiveness, but my original (not high risk) OB flat out told me that it's not that walking or going to work will make you go into pre-term labour, but that they don't have anything else in their tool box so they say bed rest. My cervix isn't as short as some others' so I don't lie in bed all day, I just basically take it easy. I make a point not to go up and down the stairs a bunch or carry anything heavy. I choose a small activity to do each day, like I'll go out for lunch (somewhere I can put my feet up) and then spend the rest of the day on the couch. Or go get a book from the library and then spend the rest of the day on the couch. Basically I limit the amount of time I spend on my feet.

    Like PP said, the first week is the hardest because you have to take time to adjust and let go of the idea you had in your head of what your pregnancy was going to be like. I knew already that kids change things and you don't necessarily get a say in what happens anymore, but I hadn't realized that this could happen before they were born!

    I'm not a super active person but I wasn't sedentary by any means. I would work out once per week and take the dog on a walk every day, but that was about it. It was important to me to try and make sure I was active during pregnancy, and then BAM! Bed rest. So much for what I wanted!

    I'm now at 27 weeks and I can tell you that it does get better. I was 19+6 when they put in my cerclage and at that point there was no chance for viability at all. I spent the first week alone thinking about how my rainbow baby was going to die. Now that I've made it several more week I am far, far less concerned with pre-term labour. With every week that passes I feel more and more comfortable with how things are going and less like I will go too early.

    To keep busy I suggest starting a new netflix show that has several seasons (I picked the Good Wife :) ), getting some good books, and crafting if you're into that (I crochet). I hope that's helpful and that you're able to adjust as quickly as possible to your new normal!
  • MsIanMsIan member
    @seasalt123 I was told on Tuesday that it was strict bedrest and what I could and couldn't do. I've been watching lots of TV and I joined a book club. Currently I'm in the middle of two books. I've colored and chatted with friends online. Yesterday I played a video game. So I suppose I'm busy enough. I'm just used to days where it's 8 AM and then all of the sudden it's lunch time and then it's 3 or 4 PM. It's helpful to know that I'll get better at this!

    @candicek15 It's amazing you've made it over 7 weeks! And yes, I agree the farther along we get the more peace of mind we'll have. What books are you reading?
  • @candicek15 aside from the short cervix, I can so related to everything you've posted. I too remember that awful feeling at 20 weeks when my baby wasn't viable (which, is it just me, or did you also feel that doctors felt the need to point this out far too many times?). I was so jealous and resentful of anyone even 5 or 6 weeks ahead of me even though that's absurd. 

    Feel free to to stay in this thread (I had started up an old one a couple of weeks ago but then got readmitted to the hospital and lost track of it) as it's hard being the only person in your BMC on bed rest. At 20 weeks, I didn't know of anyone else here who was and it can be a bit isolating. 

    I haven't done the Good Wife yet and don't have wifi access in the hospital. If they do discharge me for a few days again then I will be back in action with Netflix. I had just started Gilmore Girls before I was readmitted again. It was light and easy to watch. I find my attention span isn't the best. In the hospital I have a portable DVD player and watch discount DVDs that people generously bring me. I find I can't concentrate on books. Colouring books are also helpful. 

    I asked my OB about short cervixes and bed rest this morning (she also isn't a huge fan of total bed rest) and she seemed to say something similar to what your doctor said. A short cervix is the one time she does advocate a slightly stricter bed rest but part of it is also that there is nothing else for them to recommend. 

  • MsIanMsIan member
    @seasalt123 I agree it can be super isolating. I'm glad we all found each other!

    I'm currently over here trying to figure out how to have Cheesecake Factory delivered to my house. Lol
  • Ha ha ha! I constantly think of food I want to make or eat that I can't get. I've seen people in my ward get entire pizzas delivered to their rooms. 
  • MsIanMsIan member
    Hey ladies! Just checking in. How's everything?
  • Hi ladies! I'm bouncing all over because I have no clue what I'm doing. Currently on hospital bedrest, twin girls 32w5d. I've been here since Wednesday and they gave me magnesium to stop labor, gave me steroids for the babies lungs, and now we wait. The contractions come and go, I've made minimal progress dilation wise but apparently I'm almost 100% effaced. We were told it could be hours or it could be weeks! I'm going insane. Lots of TV and I've had visitors but I just feel emotionally kind of drained and worried. 



  • I'm stable-ish but I've been having really bad cramping the last few days and it kicked up a notch last night. Spent 3 hours on the NST this morning and now I'm exhausted.

    Regular ultrasound on Tuesday to check cervix and fluid as well as the general health of the placenta and then a growth ultrasound scheduled Wednesday at my old hospital. This new hospital I am at doesn't have wifi and it's killlllllling me. 

    A friend stopped by to give me the La Leche book on breastfeeding this week as she knows I am not at all prepared for baby arriving. Really informative book but it's also a bit disheartening to read as they really emphasize an ideal birth scenario as crucial to set you up for breastfeeding success. I know the book is trying to emphasize these things for mothers who have a choice in their delivery circumstances but it's a bit disheartening to read when you have no control over so much of your pregnancy and birth.

    Sorry to rant, that 3 hour NST made me cranky!
  • MsIanMsIan member
    @Sunshinebins Hi :smile: I hope your babies stay cooking a little longer! It's sad that although modern medicine has come so far, we still can't really get a prediction on when we'll deliver. It's good that you have TV there?? Been watching anything good? Tell one of your visitors to bring you a good book and some magazines.

    @seasalt123 No apologies necessary! I have the LLL Breastfeeding book and I really should start reading it more. I just ordered a hypnobirthing one too. How long will you be at this new hospital? Why the switch? Tell DH he needs to get you one of those hotspot things. What's an NST?

    As for me, I'm going stir crazy. I was okay yesterday, but today I'm itching to get outside and read under a tree or by the pool. DH says that should be fine, and I know he's sad that I'm all cooped up, but I'd never forgive myself if something happened to the baby. Idk what to do. 
  • An NST is a non stress test. They hook you up to a fetal monitor to check your uterine tightening as well as the baby's heartbeat and movements. LO's heartbeat was fine but the NST was showing a lot of uterine activity (which I was definitelg also feeling). Usually the tests are twenty minutes long but doctors kept me on longer to see if there was a pattern to the contractions and also to see how baby withstood them. No pattern and baby did well. 

    I started red out at this hospital at 20 weeks but was transferred to the speciality hospital at 26 weeks as they thought a emergency csection was imminent. The other hospital's NICU is one of the best and they specialise in preemies 22-32 weeks. Since I was 32 weeks on Wednesday, I 'graduated' from the specialty hospital and am now at the first hospital. I've been here now since Wednesday. 

    A ma friend was going to bring one of those hotspot things for me but it turns out his son nabbed it. Going to have to find another way to get one! 

    I hear you on the stir crazy. I have some movies to watch on my DVD player but it's like I'm so bored of the same old routine each day. I would kill for a walk by the water with my dogs. I miss my dogs. 

    Can you ask your doctor if you could sit on one of those recliners by the pool? As we've all noted, strict bedrest hasn't been shown to be excessively useful to it likely would be ok. But I do hear you on not wanting to risk anything without consulting your doctor first. 
  • Anyone have any good book suggestions? I kind of want to avoid ones on birth or breastfeeding or even the infant stages because I'm feeling kind of down about having premies 
  • MsIanMsIan member
    What kind of books do you like @Sunshinebins? I've read the Twilight series, the Hunger Games series. The Divergent series is supposed to be good. I have on my list the new novel that came out by Harper Lee--Go Set a Watchman. Something Borrowed and Something Blue by Emily Griffin are good. Pretty much everything she writes is good. 

    Right now I'm into non-fiction, so I'm reading Just Mercy (which fits into my job). It's about the guy who started the Equal Justice Initiative helping poor people and minorities.

    I need a book compass to help you more lol.
  • MsIanMsIan member
    I know @seasalt123 I guess logically I know it'd probably be okay, and I don't want to call my doctor and ask because I hate being a bother. That's the worst part about bedrest is feeling like DH has to wait on me hand and foot. I guess we're all on an emotion rollercoaster right now. 
  • Anyone have any good book suggestions? I kind of want to avoid ones on birth or breastfeeding or even the infant stages because I'm feeling kind of down about having premies 
    I totally understand how you feel. I don't feel like these books are at all supportive of women who are unwillingly placed into these circumstances. It's disheartening.  

    Are you looking for novels to read? One author whose books are super easy to get into and very light/entertaining is Marian Keyes. Her older stuff is better (Watermelon, Last Chance Saloon, Rachel's Holiday, Sushi for Beginners). Any Emily Giffin book also has a similar light vibe. If you haven't read the book Room, definitely give that one a try. Khaled Hosseini's books are also all very good but not as light as the first two authors (I find I have trouble concentrating right now). 
  • Thanks for the suggestions ladies! i may get discharged tomorrow but I have no idea. It seems like everything is a wait and see game. 

    how are you all handling getting stuff ready? We haven't installed car seats or anything because we thought we had time. Now we aren't sure what to do 
  • MsIanMsIan member
    Last night, DH and I ordered the rest of the hospital bag stuff, a diaper bag, and the bassinet online. Our nursery is mostly ready since we won't be using it until LO is about 3 months. I did tell DH that he's going to need to go out and get a carseat system and install the carseat in my car sometime soon. 
  • seasalt123seasalt123 member
    edited March 2016
    I haven't started any of it yet. 

    Ugh. The rest of my post didn't post. Will rewrite it later. 
  • MsIanMsIan member
    So I made the walk to the pool to hang out here for a while. Probably won't be doing this again without Doctor's permission. As soon as I made it down the stairs, I felt a ton of intermittent pressure in my lower regions. I'm gonna stay here as long as possible before I get up again. 
  • Oh no! I notice some pressure and cramping when I walk around too. But I wonder how much of that is just lack of use. For sure ask the doctor 
  • MsIanMsIan member
    I was wondering if I should call and just be like "hey FYI" or whether I should wait until my appointment on Friday.
  • I would call. I've learned the past week to always just call. Because sometimes it's better to be over cautious and a little crazy then wrong. I've had things I thought were no biggie that they wanted to deal with immediately and vice versa 
  • Resurrecting this thread since I am on first full day of at-home MBR (but so glad to be out of the hospital). How is everyone else doing? This gets easier, right?

    Also, holy back pain, Batman! I didn't realize how much being on my feet took the pressure off my spine!
  • MsIanMsIan member
    I'm the only one left in this thread who's still pregnant. The other two moms have had their babies! As for "does it get better?" You definitrly get used to it for the most part. I'm used to be home every day, but it's still hard on me sometimes. DH is as supportive as he can be, but I feel like this has turned me into a slightly needier person. Find a good book and a place to sit outside. :smile: 

    im hoping I either get to go back to work soon or LO is on his way. 

    How was your first day?
  • I made it through. I have a feeling sleep will be more and more difficult since I'm not wearing myself out during the day. Tomorrow working from bed will be the ultimate test. 

    I felt utterly useless as DH mowed both lawns, cleaned out the garage, went and picked up supplies, cleaned all the bathrooms, vacuumed the floors, made dinner, and cleaned the kitchen. I just wanted to cry, but I held it together. 
  • MsIanMsIan member
    Only a few more weeks! And yes, I understand the useless feeling but everyone has been telling me to remember, we're doing what's best for LO. We're in the homestretch. Sleeping gets harder, so I try not to nap during the day. 
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