Hospital Bedrest

Well, I knew my cervix was shorter than the doctors liked, but we had just been watching the situation. Until 2 weeks ago when I went in and it was really short. They did an emergency cerclage at 1.5cm and I was put on hospital bedrest. I've been here for 2 weeks (and 2 days) now and was stable until today. It was a little shorter today at 1.2cm. I think it may have been because the vaginal ultrasound was hurting me and I may have tensed up. Good news is the cerclage looks good still and babies are 1.7 pounds each. I was 24 weeks on Monday and got the steriod shots Monday and Tuesday. I'm just hoping to keep these babies in a bit longer. I would love to make it to 30 weeks. I'm trying to stay positive, but some days are harder than others. I'm hoping now that I'm finally connected to the internet again (problems with the wireless network in the hospital) things will be easier.

If anyone has advice or just anything positive to say, I'm all ears! I'm scared to death, but know my situation could be worse. (There's another mom down the hall with no cerclage and no measurable cervix. She's doing well though and has made it to, I think, 30 weeks.)

Thanks!
Gina

 

I was on hospital bedrest for pre-e. I didnt go in until 30 weeks but I just wanted to say that everyday is one step closer to the finish line whether its 30 weeks or 34 weeks. So hang in there :hug99: Try and find something to look forward to each day whether its reading a chapter of a book, making a phone call to a family member...anything.

Rachel

 

Hi there....I feel your pain! I just spent 6 days there during my 15th-16th weeks.....I had been hemmoraging....and had to have 4 blood transfusions! All went well and we are now 19 wks and 2 days! My advice to you is pretend you are at an all exclusive resort....and these people...(medical staff) are your SERVENTS! that gets me through!! At first they told me that I would have to stay until I delivered! I am not due until February!!! and I was in there in AUGUST....so I was a deer in the headlights....Keep doing all you can do to help the babies grow! you are in good hands!


Take care

Missy

 

Hang in there, I was in basically your same exact situation. I started hospital bedrest at 24 weeks due to a very short cervix, despite an emergency cerclage at 16 weeks. I had my steroid shots right at 24 weeks too. I held on and remained completely stable for 4 weeks of hospital bedrest, and they decided I could be released back to home bedrest at 28 weeks. I went in weekly and was still doing well, but at 30w5d, baby A's water broke and since she was footling breech and in danger of pushing her cord out with her foot, they decided to deliver me versus trying to keep them in one more week to get me to 32 weeks. So they immediately gave me a rescue dose of steroids, and 48 hours later I had my c-section.

My girls were born at exactly 31 weeks, at 3lb4oz and 3lb8oz. Lily (A) never needed any oxygen support, she was on room air from the beginning. She was a feeder/grower and spent 5 weeks in the NICU. Grace (B) did need a bit of oxygen support, and spent one day on the vent to administer surfactent and was on nasal cannula off and on. She also had a PDA, but did not need surgery to close it. It eventually closed around 8 months of age. She spent 6 weeks in the NICU.

The bedrest is so, so hard, especially hospital bedrest. But take it from me, it really truly is so worth it. My doctors really felt mine were coming right at 24 weeks, but I held on 7 more weeks, and my cerclage would have kept holding had baby A not PROM'd.

 

Everyone's situation is so unique, but my pregnancy was similar. The extra challenge I had was that it was too late to do an emergency cerclage by the time they realized I needed it because I had no cervix left by then! I spent 69 days in the hospital and 56 days straight on magnesium sulfate. It was a roller coaster, some days they were positive I'd deliver anyday. Late in my 25th week they even moved me to a room on L&D right next to the OR. BUT...I held out until 34w6d and brought my gorgeous boys with me. So...hold tight and take heart in knowing that MANY of us had rough pregnancies like yours and had fantastic stories in the end. Good luck!

 

Gina- I am so sorry you are on hospital bedrest. I too had an emergency cerclage at 24w. I was on hospital bedrest after Emilie was born and it was not fun, I was not able to get out of bed for anything. Do you have bathroom privileges?

Just try and stay positive. I know it's hard. If you do deliver early, please know the steroid shots will really help. I got them and I truly believe they helped my two tremendously! The NICU can do great things with little babies born too early. Please feel free to PM me anytime, I have been there and unfortunately my two were born very early, but are perfectly healthy now! :hug99:

 

Thanks so much for all the support!! It really does help to know I'm not alone and not the only one who's been in this situation. (And really, there are 4 sets of twin moms in the hospital too for various reasons, so I know that. But it helps to be able to talk about it.)

Today has been a much better day. I know that staying positive can really do wonders.

Regarding bathroom priviledges- at first I was using the bedpan to pee, but could get up for BMs. The doctors said I could start getting up to pee too, but I was really nervous and didn't for a week after they said that. Then since my cervix went down 2mm I've gotten nervous again and have gone back to the bedpan. It sucks, but I'm just so scared to mess anything up or put too much pressure on the cerclage.

Again, thanks so much for all the feedback!!! :hug99:


** Also, what does PROM'd mean? I haven't heard that before.

 

QUOTE(gina_leigh @ Sep 13 2007, 09:04 PM) [snapback]406623[/snapback]
Regarding bathroom priviledges- at first I was using the bedpan to pee, but could get up for BMs. The doctors said I could start getting up to pee too, but I was really nervous and didn't for a week after they said that. Then since my cervix went down 2mm I've gotten nervous again and have gone back to the bedpan. It sucks, but I'm just so scared to mess anything up or put too much pressure on the cerclage.

Again, thanks so much for all the feedback!!! :hug99:
** Also, what does PROM'd mean? I haven't heard that before.


My cervix hovered at .8cm to 1cm from 22 weeks on, but I still used the bathroom even in the hospital. The bedpan is awful! It was seriously the thing that would have put me over the edge, I hated that bedpan! I did occasionally have to use it when I would be initially admitted (was admitted often after U/S's, appointment) but then after my peri assessed he said I could have bathroom privileges.

PROM is premature rupture of membranes.

 

Hi,

Some tips from someone who spent 8 weeks on strict bedrest in the hospital on Mag and terb shots. Try not to think about the numbers. What I did to stay positive was to ask all nurses, staff and visitors to not ask me how long, how many weeks, what day are you etc. Time goes so slow already on bedrest let alone counting the minutes and hours as they creep along with only fears and scary possiblities to think about. In your mind see only one number. And that will be 32 weeks. Envision it and place that number on your board. If anyone asks just point to it. Tell yourself that this is a number that you will make it to and in fact you are already there. Ask yourself and body and talk to your twins and make a deal to make it to this number. Don't think about any numbers in between. It is so hard but it worked for me. Then to fill time, space and your mind with positive thoughts try doing something with your hands. I made friendship bracelets with string. I could do that for hours and just keep going, making something out of string that I could eventually give to all the nurses and family that helped me. It is a simple task that can inspire you to stay positive and keep you busy. Good luck! Envision the good times to come and don't let a negative thought enter your mind...