Going into the hospital

I'm being admitted to the hospital on Thursday for the rest of my pregnancy hoping to make it to 32-34 weeks (they won't let me go past 34 with monoamniotic twins). I'll be there for 6-8 weeks and am looking for some advice from anyone that has had to spend a long time in the hospital on what to expect. The hardest part is having to leave my 2 kids and husband for such a long time. <_<

 

QUOTE(Irishlisa @ Jan 15 2008, 09:55 PM) [snapback]574373[/snapback]
I'm being admitted to the hospital on Thursday for the rest of my pregnancy hoping to make it to 32-34 weeks (they won't let me go past 34 with monoamniotic twins). I'll be there for 6-8 weeks and am looking for some advice from anyone that has had to spend a long time in the hospital on what to expect. The hardest part is having to leave my 2 kids and husband for such a long time. <_<


I don't have any advice, but I wanted to wish you luck and give you a :hug99:

 

sorry no advice here, just wishing you all the best,maybe visit the bedrest forum.goodluck, and wishing you healthy babies!

 

Oh wow, I wish you the best. I wish I had some advice for you. Why are they making you stay in the hospital? Are they going to be monitoring your twins all day every day? It's too bad you can't just be on bedrest at home. I hope all goes well.

 

I spent 69 days on hospital bedrest and I don't envy any mom who has to endure it. It was hard for me at first (the twins were my first children, so I didn't have any kids to leave home) but once I got into a good routine, it was easier. It also helped me to take my own clothes and a bra and get dressed everyday. It was a lot of work, but I was much more comfortable, especially when I was being monitored.

Create a way to track the time. I had a desk calendar hung on my wall as a poster. I would mark my goals in big fancy numbers on the days and I would cross off each day. On my hard days, it helped to have a visual reminder of how many days I'd already made it through and how many days I had until my next goal. One of the husbands on the unit helped his kids make a paper chain. There was one paper link for each day until her goal and at the end of each day, she took one link off the chain. It was fun to wheel past her on my 30 minute wheelchair ride and see how short her chain got as she got closer and closer to her goal!

Don't be afraid to speak your mind to your nurses and other members of your care team. I had techs and nurses who would sometimes want to wake me for my weight, etc. Most of the nurses recognized that the room had become my home for quite some time and were considerate of my wants and needs. They would change my IV bags together whenever possible to avoid waking me if they could. They would put me at the end of the list for vitals in the morning so I wouldn't be woken up. When I developed GD, they pushed to allow me to take my own sugars so that I wouldn't have someone in doing one more test 4 times a day, etc. If there is something you need your nurses or techs to do differently to make you more comfortable, don't hesitate to ask for it.

And of course, take a laptop if you can

 

Lisa,
I am so sorry you will have to spend the remainder of your pregnancy in the hospital, but I am so glad you are doing so well! I know it will be difficult to leave your 2 children and DH. I was in the hospital for 14 days and it seemed like forever, but I know many people are there longer. The hardest part was being away from my oldest DD. The advice I would say is take things to do, have people visit, bring your laptop, phone calls, magazines and books. Looking back I really wish the hospital would have had someone come talk to me, I was starting to get depressed not knowing how long I'd be in bed and I couldn't get out of bed for anything, so that made it so much harder.

I know this is going to be hard, but hang in there, it will be worth it to bring those 2 special babies home. Please keep us posted. :love0028:

 

Wow...good luck to you!
This probably sounds weird, but TV and gossip magazines helped me stay sane in the hosptial. I was too uncomfortable to do much else or get into a nice book. One thing that made me feel better every day was bathing and asking to have my sheets changed at least every other day. Weird, I know!
Best of luck to you!! :hug99:

 

No advice just wanted to wish you luck and give you a :hug99:
You have come so far and done so much for your family :love0028: …

 

Wish I had some advice for you but I don't. Good luck and hope you find a good way for the time to pass quickly.

 

I'm also on bedrest, although at home, & PRAYING I don't end up in the hospital. :mellow: My best friend spent 4 months on hospital bedrest a couple months ago. She had a 1 1/2 yr old at home. She, too, kept a calendar by her bedside and marked off each day towards her goal date. It was VERY hard, but her mantra was that it's a small price to pay for getting a healthy baby in your arms. (For you, TWO healthy babies! :winking0009: ) She also had her husband bring her a DVR so she could tapes tons of stuff on TV and always have something to watch & not deal with annoying commercials (or the constant interruptionss by nurses.) We also have a really group of friends and organized 2-3x a week lunch visits, which helped make her days go by quicker. And last, athough it's soooo hard (I'm trying to get over this problem right now), don't be afraid to ask for help. I wish you tons of luck getting through all this and I'm sure this site will provide lots of support.

 

HEY! I am headed in for hospital bed rest in less than 3 weeks....keep posting - so I can see how you are doing. Are you going to keep posting on the MOMO site? I will talk to you soon. GOOD LUCK!

 

I was only admitted for a few days and was released about a week before they were born. I think one of the worst things was how terribly uncomfortable I was while in bed. It's bad enough while pg with twins that those beds are not made for a hugely pg woman to remain. I finally got my Dr's permission to move about the room from time to time and to be upright in the rocking chair as much as I wanted. Ask for an air mattress that goes on top. I was finally offered it by the hospital the day that my bp was stable enough to go home. I think it would have made a huge difference.

Magazines, books, computer, cell phone (especially if you have text messaging), a deck of cards so that you have something to do with your hands...and don't be afraid to ask friends or co workers to stop by.

 

Best of luck to you. I hope you reach your milestones! I was on bedrest in the hospital for 25 days...but at the time, I had no kids and DH was close and came every night after work and stayed on the weekends with me. so, I don't have that much advice. If your hospital has Internet, take a lap top (or see if you can borrow one if you don't have one). i borrowed one from a friend for part of the time I was there and it was a lifesaver! Catch up on some books you've been wanting to read, etc and tell all of your visitors not to come at once...space out the visits. I remember when I was first hospitalized, EVERYONE came within a week and after that, not too many people came. Would've been nice to ahve them spaced out more!

Also, ther eis a great website for woman on bedrest...it's called Sidelines. It's at www.sidelines.org. You can sign up to receive an email and/or phone referral (ususally someone who has been in a similar situation as you) for additional support. I did this whenI was on bedrest and it was really nice to have someone constantly checking in on me. I have since signed up to volunteer with their website and I have had 4 referrals in the past 2 years of my own! It's been a very rewarding thing!

GOODLUCK!!!

 

Okay, bring some of your own pillows, clothes and any other "creature comforts". I brought a portable dvd player and movies. I have a little boy and every night he would bring books/coloring books to the hosp. and we would read and color together. It is going to be hard...I cried every night when my family left. You can do it!! See if you can bring a laptop or if the hosp. has one you can check out...staying connected will really help. There is also a great group sidelines.com (it is a group that will partner you with a support person and you can email each other daily) I did that and I am still talking to my support person...it really helped.

Good Luck!!

Shannon

 

I have not been on bedrest or in the hospital but told my husband the other day that if i am, I want to hire someone to come in and give me lessons or teach me something. Maybe knitting or brushing up on my spanish. Maybe there is something like that that you would like to do if you can spend the extra $$. They may even have volunteers at the hospital who come visit, perhaps you could request.

Best wishes to you!

 

Thank you soooo much everyone!!! It helps to get the support and hear your well wishes.

 

QUOTE(nifer @ Jan 15 2008, 10:04 PM) [snapback]574391[/snapback]
I don't have any advice, but I wanted to wish you luck and give you a :hug99:




Thank you!

 

Are you hooked up with the ladies on the monoamniotic site? They have so many great experiences to share regarding mono pregnancies... my dd was "happily misdiagnosed" but we hung out on their board for awhile and they even have online groups for women who are hospitalized together...
Wishing you the best and I am so happy you have a supportive team of docs who recognize this kind of pregnancy can have a successful outcome!!

 

QUOTE(nana2C&C @ Jan 16 2008, 09:53 AM) [snapback]574785[/snapback]
Are you hooked up with the ladies on the monoamniotic site? They have so many great experiences to share regarding mono pregnancies... my dd was "happily misdiagnosed" but we hung out on their board for awhile and they even have online groups for women who are hospitalized together...
Wishing you the best and I am so happy you have a supportive team of docs who recognize this kind of pregnancy can have a successful outcome!!



Yes, and you are right it's a great site. Thanks for your wishes...

 

I don't have any advice either but I wanted to offer some :hug99:. I know you'll get through it and then you'll have two beautiful little girls!

BTW, I love your son's name!

 

No advice here either, but good luck!!

 

QUOTE(Mommy2ATeam @ Jan 16 2008, 10:11 AM) [snapback]574817[/snapback]
I don't have any advice either but I wanted to offer some :hug99:. I know you'll get through it and then you'll have two beautiful little girls!

BTW, I love your son's name!



Thanks! I love your son's name also! And Alexis and Alexa are so close also! Funny!

 

QUOTE(Mommy2ATeam @ Jan 16 2008, 10:11 AM) [snapback]574817[/snapback]
I don't have any advice either but I wanted to offer some :hug99:. I know you'll get through it and then you'll have two beautiful little girls!

BTW, I love your son's name!



Will you call him John or Avery?

 

He'll be called Avery. John is my dad's first name, but he also goes by his middle name.

 

Hugs. I was a basket case right before the appointment where I knew they were going to admit me long-term, it's so hard. And I didn't have any little ones at home.

I was admitted at 23w5d, and spent exactly 4 weeks on hospital bedrest, due to a shortened cervix and contractions (despite an emergency cerclage at 16 weeks). I was stable that entire time so they let me go back home to bedrest at 28 weeks.

Bring comfortable things from home (body pillows, etc.) If the food is awful get with whoever can bring you good food. Ours was awful and always the same menu each week, so I got with the nurses who ordered takeout often. And DH brought me food too. Lip balm and lotion are good, it's usually dry.

Have things to occupy your time and thoughts. Take lots of naps. If you have a laptop definitely bring that.

Hospital bedrest is extremely hard, but very worth it to keep those babies safe and sound for as long as you can. In the end, it will become just a distant memory. But for now just take it one day at a time, one week at a time, and celebrate each and every milestone.

 

GL! you got some great advice! bring lots of books to read,crossword puzzles, knitting/crochet-tell all your family/friends so u can have a visit a day or 2 Ask what your limitations are ; can u go for walks to the cafe,outside,halls-do u need to be flat or can u sit up most of the time- maybe if u like i would even get a gameboy :lol: lots of fun to play silly games and pass the time! or sign up on your computer to play on line games against other people!

 

I will be praying for you and your kids. I know it will be so hard for you, but you will all get through it and soon enough it will just be a memory. God Bless, Lisa

 

Oh Lisa, I can only imagine all the things you are feeling!!! Good-luck! I don't have any advice but to hang in there!
I will pray for you. Being at the hospital they will watch you closely and thats what you need with your situation.
I was told when I first found out I was pregnant that we were having Momo twins, but the specialist found the membrane.
Stay strong for your babies and family. I know that's easier said than done.... But here is a big hug from me Tina in Atlanta, GA :hug99:

Tina

 

QUOTE(Tina ezzell @ Jan 16 2008, 06:03 PM) [snapback]575650[/snapback]
Oh Lisa, I can only imagine all the things you are feeling!!! Good-luck! I don't have any advice but to hang in there!
I will pray for you. Being at the hospital they will watch you closely and thats what you need with your situation.
I was told when I first found out I was pregnant that we were having Momo twins, but the specialist found the membrane.
Stay strong for your babies and family. I know that's easier said than done.... But here is a big hug from me Tina in Atlanta, GA :hug99:

Tina


Thank you so much!

 

Just wanted to say best wishes to you during your hospital stay. You are getting there! Every week is HUGE in the babies' development and you have made it so far already. I hope it goes very very well for you!
PS what is the MOMO site, I have a friend who is pregnant with mono twins.

 

I saw someone suggested lessons, etc. That's a great idea!! I learned how to crochet in the hospital. DH bought me a kit and I tried to learn but couldn't, so the nurses all came and helped me It was hard to do for long because of the mag, it made my head so foggy, but it was something I could do when I was bored or couldn't sleep, etc. I made two great blanket s for the boys and one for a friend who delivered on the floor below me during my hospital stay

Also, if you have a pet, find out what the hospitals pet policy is. One of my most favorite things to look forward to was visits from my doggie, Cinderella All we had to do was have her shot certificate present when she visited. The other mamas on the floor really enjoyed seeing her too. She was a great big golden retriever and you just couldn't miss her when she was around LOL

And the other thing I wanted to mention but forgot before...Make a list of things that would be helpful to your family. Doing the laundry, mowing the lawn, picking up groceries, washing baby clothes, bring a crossword puzzle, etc etc etc. Have some big stuff on the list and some small stuff on the list. That way, when friends and family say, "Do you need anything?" You can give them something to do! That's what we did and I think it gave our loved ones some peace of mind to be able to feel like they could help instead of feeling helpless...and it helped us too, of course! I wrote the name of the person next to the task so I could send a thank you note, because I had plenty of time to write thank yous! lol