How does hospital bedrest work?

I expect to be on hospital bedrest next week for about 4 weeks. Do you wear your own clothes? What if you have an IV - you just wear their gown? What about food? I eat more than 3 times a day. Do you just have snacks on hand from home?

 

Best wishes for hosptial bedrest, not fun but worth it. I wore my own clothes, as for the IV if you have to be on continuous fluids, the nurse can disconnect so you can change shirts. You will just need pants loose enough or low enough for when they monitor the babies.
They had the nutriionist come in, she sent 3 snacks a day in addition to meals and said I could write in anything I wanted on the menu even if it wasn't listed. I think the nutrition department has to mark this in the records for the kitchen to follow this. Snacks from home are always a good idea though, much more tasty!! Best of luck.

 

Sorry about the hospital bedrest. I was on it for a week after my cerclage and then 10 days after Emilie was born. I wore their own and yes had an IV. They brought me 3 meals a day, they actually weren't too bad, but you could have snacks brought from home/cafeteria, restaurant anytime you wanted.

I would ask them if you can eat more than 3 times a day, they may be able to work it out, but the cafeteria is usually only open so often during the day, so you may have to get DH just to bring snacks from home.

It's not fun, but it will be worth it in the end. I also know it will be difficult for you leaving your oldest DS, I had to leave my oldest DD and it was not easy, but I had no choice. Hang in there. Will you have a laptop that you can check in with us? :hug99:

 

I wore my own clothes. I was only on an IV when things were looking bad (had several 1-3 day occasions of this) and then I'd just wear a gown because it also usually involved continuous monitoring and the gown was easier.

The hospital brought me 3 meals a day, and a morning and afternoon snack. The nutritionist asked me the kinds of snacks I wanted and that is what they brought (pudding, veggies/dip, peanut butter/crackers, etc.) My DH and family also brought me stuff to snack on too (candy, cookies, veggies/dip, fruit).

Hopefully things go smoothly for you. Hospital bedrest is no fun, but totally worth it to keep those babies in longer.

 

I wasn't on hospital bedrest, but after the c-section when I was back in my room recovering, they sent in 3 meals a day and 1 snack. I of course wanted something different or more than what they had brought me, so if someone called and asked if I needed anything I would tell them, sure swing by so and so and get me a burger.

Hang in there, and the best of luck to you.

 

I'm currently on hospital bedrest, but in a different hospital than my own (I was shipped to a hospital with a Level III nursery, since ours only has a Level II & won't accept babies under 34 weeks). This hospital is GREAT for meals. You order whatever you want, whenever you want from 7am-6:30pm. There's a fridge in the room, so I just order extra on all my trays & store it in the fridge. It's ideal for bedresters (which is the unit I'm on). My last hospital brought the 3 meals, plus an afternoon & evening snack. They had snacks on the floors & family/friends were allowed to bring snacks in too. I've been wearing my own shorts/underwear, but typically wear the hospital gowns b/c it's easier for monitoring & when the IV is hooked up. When the IV isn't hooked up, it wouldn't be a problem to be in your own clothes, just a pain when they were doing the monitoring.

Best of luck with hospital bedrest. It definitely tests your inner strength & I've found my hormones have gotten the best of me a few times with some mini-emotional melt downs. I'm horrifically homesick & even though my end is in sight (THURSDAY!!!), it's hard being away from home. My husband is here with me, since we're in a different state right now (about 2 hrs from home) but when I was on hospital bedrest back home, I was alone a lot. Be sure to have lots of things to keep you occupied & keep your mind off things. Hope your hospital has some sort of internet access....it definitely helps me pass the time!

Why are you going on bedrest?

 

Good luck to you!!! I know this sounds CRAZY, but hospital bedrest was actually quite a relief for me. I was so far behind in my baby preparations at home, I was having a difficult time staying in bed and obeying my strick bedrest orders! The hosptial sort of has a way of making you do that!

I was not able to wear my own clothes as I was on a cathedar the whole time. I wasn't too disapointed though...I didn't fit in any of my clothes or my 6'1, 250 lb. husband's!

I ate the hosptial meals, but they got really old. Friends and relatives brought snacks and dh would pick up food from my favorite restaurants. I was also always offered an evening snack from the antepartum ward I was in which consisted of a sandwhich and fruit - this always tasted good!

Good luck and hang in there - you are doing an amazing thing for your babies!

 

Well, I'm here in the hospital as predicted. I ended up having a rare placenta condition called vasa previa so I'm here in case I go into labor, bleed, water breaks, etc. Right now I am 32w4d and the scheduled c-section will be between 7/10 & 17 when I am 34w-35w. Just thought I would end up here due to being twins but now I have a medical reason. Lucky me.

I'm wearing my own clothes and just have an IV port in just in case. No tubes or anything hooked up. I get fetal monitoring once a day plus vitals, etc. Nothing really.

I can order off the regular menu and after 5 days it is getting old. My mom is bringing me lunch tomorrow and DH brings in some snacks. It is bearable for the short time I will be here. Actually planning meals is the highlight of my day!!!!

Hopefully DH will bring me some DVDs. I made him a list of rentals I would like to see.

 

Good for you - planning and getting meals was a highlight for me, too! It's funny, because after our boys arrived, I found I didn't have ANY time to think about it!

Good luck on bedrest - I know it stinks, but you are in the right place and getting excellent care and monitoring. Enjoy watching your movies!

 

I was put on hospital bedrest when a surprise U/S showed my babies had severe TTTS. It was the night before our oldest started first grade. It really was horrible that night. I cried, my 6 year old son cried and kept asking why I wouldn't be able to take him on his first day. He ended up doing great and our 3 year old DD had a lot of fun with all the different members of the family who watched her so DH could work 2 jobs. I got to go home on strict bedrest after a full month in the hospital. That month was hard and lonely but considering it saved my babies lives, it was the most important month of my family's life! A calendar helped me a lot. I kept it on my bedside table and really enjoyed crossing the days off. Movies, books, hand held games, and crossword puzzles were great, too. I even wrote out and addressed my Christmas cards! I was admitted in late August but my girls were due in November so it was fantatsic to get them done while I had the time. Best wishes to you!!

 

I have completed my 3rd week in the hospital. My c/s is Wed so I should be home by Sat or Sun and hopefully the babies will be coming home with us. They will be 35w1d so not sure.

 

Wishing you all the best this week! It sounds like you've done a fabulous job and all the "resting" was well worth it. My boys came home with me at 34w6d, so I hope they'll get to head home with you too!