I've Been Put on Bedrest for Pre-term Labor.....

[Tink00]

and I feel really alone. I'm 28 weeks and they are keeping me on bedrest and medication (to stop contractions) until at least 34 weeks. I feel very isolated and challenged to find things to distract me from the long days on the sofa. I have a 20 month old son who is going to day care full time because I can't take care of him in this situation. I have a great DH and mom that have been taking care of everything from cooking and cleaning to getting me crafts to work on from my "resting spot." I have internet access and a lot of books, but it is still hard looking at the next 6 weeks...

I did have preterm labor with my son, but not until 31 weeks and my mom was able to come over every day to keep me company because she was off for the summer.

If anyone has advice, tips, reassuring words, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

[Rita]

Hi there,

I just wanted you to know that I have been there done that and it is so hard!!! I was put on modified bedrest with my second at 27 weeks and put on strict bedrestat 29 weeks. I started the terbutline and got shots for the lungs all within that two weeks. At the time, I had a almost 1 year old and she had to go to daycare for the same reasons! I watched a lot of tv. and read a lot of books!!! The thing I hated the most was how bad my hips would hurt. I would rotate them all day long and going to bed was a nightmare, more time on my hips :mr.pukey:

We went to the hospital numerous times for contractions. At 28 weeks I was 1.5 cm dilated and 50% effaced. I was put on two other medications besides the terbutline (sp) By 33 weeks my terb. wore off and I went having more contractions then 4 an hour. I decided to wait overnight before calling the hospital, by the time we got there the following morning I was 3 cm and was placed on Mag. to stop contractions. The end result of all of this was that I was on mag. for 2 straight weeks. I was not able to come off of it without contracting. We opted to have her lungs checked at 35 weeks and they were so I came off the mag and had her the next day. So....here's my soapbox....

You are going to hear constantly how important it is for the baby to stay inside as long as possible. We choose to deliver at 35 weeks with really mature lungs - never again - if I have the choice (I will stay on mag at least until 37 weeks for the next one if I am able to). Lexi was born a good size (6 lbs and 6 oz) but struggled with eating her entire 1st year. She spent about 4 days in the NICU and then was able to come home. I know that there are lots of babies born earlier who struggle a lot more, but I know first hand how important it is to stay in the womb!!! We are planning one more and planning for the worst case senerio - bedrest with two toddlers. Please do everything you can to keep that baby inside. I thought I was going to go insane on the couch, but take it one day at a time and get into a routine. Feel free to e-mail me anytime. The problem with the second pregnancy is that the preterm labor starts earlier and gets worse faster. Be prepared for a hospital stay and lots of medicine. think how hard it would be on your toddler with a preemie in NICU and constant hospital trips!!!

Good luck and write anytime.

Rita
rbrennan@stanwood.wednet.edu

[Margaret]

I don't have any advice (the longest I did bedrest was 1 week), but I wanted to send lots of hugs and "keep that baby cooking" vibes!!

Margaret

[Tink00]

Dear Rita,

Thank you for sharing your experience with me. My docs are planning on taking me off my meds (Indocen) at 32 weeks. I told them I don't want to deliver that early - they don't think I will, but I disagree. I notice when my meds wear down I start contracting - and they're NOT braxton hicks, either! So they said that if I do have more contrax. when I come off the indocen that they will use brethine or terbutaline or they'll mag me. I don't want to have this baby until at LEAST the 36 week mark for the main reasons you mentioned. Lung development and eating problems. My son was born at 37 weeks after me having preterm labor with him beginning at 31 weeks. On top of it all I have gestational diabetes which is why they don't want me to go on the brethine yet - it causes blood sugars to rise.

So I am definitely NOT looking at the length of time I will be on the couch. I am taking it day by day and I have lots of craft projects and scrapbooking to work on, several fat books to read, puzzles to do and some favorite tv shows I like to watch.

But it is scary being in this situation. My husband and I also decided that this will most likely be our last baby because he doesn't want me to have to go through all of this again. We did want three, though, so maybe in a few years we will reconsider.

Anyway, I really appreciate your story and advice. Thank you so much!

Sincerely,
Anne

[Anya]

Hi Anne,

I was just passing through and saw your post. I'm not sure if you've already discovered this resource that we have here at StorkNet, but I wanted to draw your attention to it nonetheless.

http://www.storknet.com/complications/bedrest/index.html

I hope you find some helpful insight from other Storkies that have walked in your shoes. I'm here to chat if you ever feel the need. I am not on bedrest, but I've got my share of frustration with this pregnancy due to the diabetes and sometimes it helps just to have someone to vent to.

(((Hugs)))

[Zoemakes5]

Hi! Saw your post and had to send in some hugs. I know how hard it is. I was put on pretty restricted activity with my second and full hospital bedrest with my third. (First was born very unexpectedly at 33.5 weeks, second was full term, and third was 33 weeker, all healthy and no breathing or eating problems.) You feel bad, cranky, frustrated and all sorts of other emotions anyway, then you feel guilty for feeling them because you'll honestly do anything to keep your baby safe, and then guilty even more because you feel you're cheating your older child(ren). Been there and I commiserate with you!
I've got a couple of suggestions for you...make a "date" a few times a week. Make time with your DH with just the two of you alone if possible and spend time talking about something, anything that is not about the pregnancy. Set up a IM "date" with a friend (either online friend or IRL friend). That way you have a specific time to look forward to each week. Something to anticipate. Spend a period of time every night doing something with your older child. Read him a book, brush his hair, snuggle with him, watch a special video, eat silly snacks, paint, whatever you can do to keep him close. I imagine he's scared and confused about you in addition to everything that an older sibling thinks of and worries about with having a new baby in the house.
Also, think of ways you can really "do" things. Make a to do list each day or once a week. You will feel a bit better if you believe there's a purpose other than just filling the hours while you're laying there. For example, are there charities or political parties or candidates that you would love to support, but haven't had time? Give them a call and see if you can do envelope stuffing for them, or phone calling, or letters to the editor or database maintenance or something that you can do from home in a basically prone position. Have you been wanting to get your recipes or address book onto the computer? Enter your checking system into one of those systems. Go through your bills and put them in file folder. Have someone bring up the junk drawer and clean it out. Go through all of those instructions from the toys, electronics, etc. that are probably all over the place and get them organized and or put into notebooks or folders. (One of the things I did was take my Palm Pilot and get it completely up to date! No easy endeavor.)
Well, I've once again written a book (bad habit for me) :rolleyes: I wish you the best of luck. I'll check in on you every once in awhile, if you like.
Michelle

[Tink00]

Michelle,

Thanks for your story and advice. Some of the things you suggested I'd never even thought of! You have given me some great ideas and I really appreciate it.

Anya,

You're always there for me - thanks!!!!!

Anne

[KBeee]

I've been there, and few people realize how truly challenging bed rest is. I made a list each morning of things I could accomplish from bed (I've always been a list person!). That way, even if I did just 2 things, I felt like I accomplished something, and didn't feel so helpless. I did things like organize my piles of pictures which had accumulated over the years, learned to knit (which took many attempts) and made booties for the baby, updated my address book, borrowed a laptop and designed birth announcements, and finally read a few good books. If you don't have addresses in a computer, you could do that, or you could start addressing envelopes by hand for birth announcements, etc.

Good luck; take it a day at a time. I've been on bedrest at 33 1/2 weeks in every pregnancy so far, and I just hit 33 weeks yesterday, so if the past holds true...I'll proably be joining you on the bedrest brigade soon.

[Amy2003]

I just finished a week of bedrest and before going through it I couldn't have imagined how tough it is. I'm released for now - but still taking it very easy. Apparently all the contractions I've been having haven't caused any dilation and the cervix still seems fine - so they are letting me be up and around - but frankly at 28 weeks I'm not inclined to take any chances by being really active.

Having a to do list is helpful to making you feel like you got something done, but frankly the most fun I had all week was shopping for baby online. I stocked my nursery medicine chest and bought a bunch of stuff for baby's room. My advice is to buy stuff for baby (and you) when you get bored. Oh, and use the phone! Catch up on gossip and family stories with old friends.

Good luck with baby!
Amy

[mommyto3]

Just lurking.

Hugs are coming your way, as I know what it is like. I was put on bedrest with my second when I was 20 weeks pregnant as I was already 2 cm dialated. This was after our first was born at 23 weeks. I found the days extremely long. I learned how to cross stitch, I did lots of crossword puzzles. At this that time, DH was working 16 hour days, but my mom and dad would come up twice a week to do house work. After 18 weeks in bed, I delivered on my due date a healthy baby girl weighing 8 lbs 3 ozs. I had to just keep on looking at what would be there in the end. With subsequent pregnancies, they put a cerclage in so I would not go into preterm labour. I think I had the worst kind of preterm labour, it was what the doctor referred to as silent. I never actually felt the contractions.

[JMN]

Yes I know it is hard and can be depressing as well. I was put on bedrest with my 2nd baby at 32 weeks to prevent a 2nd preterm labor (I delivered my first almost 5 weeks early).

I will tell you the things that helped me and to be honest the time did go by quickly!

1. Get up every day and shower/dress if you are allowed to (I was but then had to go back to the ole sofa). Feeling clean and in fresh clothes makes a world of difference.

2. Have a daily routine just like you did before bedrest. Get up, get first child out to daycare, shower, dress, eat, take a nap, return phone calls, work on a project or pay bills (something like that), have lunch, nap again (that was the best part! ha), etc etc.

3. Take this time to start some sort of project or work on something special so taht when you look back at this time, you will have some tangible item (otehr than baby or course!) to show for your time ... that way you wont feel like you "didn't do anything" even though you are actually doing the most important thing you will ever do, but you know what I mean.

4. Schedule "nights out" from home. Send other family members out for a few hours and invite a friend or two over for a movie and pizza so you can hang out, chat, etc. This is really helpful as a mood lifter!

5. If you are not already, work on the baby book or a journal for baby.

6. Work on birth announcements and update your address book for all of your upcoming mailings (announcements, invites, thank you notes).


Good luck to you and I hope you weather the bedrest well. Fingers crossed that baby stays put until the end!