Tell me your LONG bedrest stories...

Hi everyone.

I was admitted to the hospital on Friday after 2 weeks of home bedrest for cervical shortening and funneling. I was on home health contraction monitoring, and Fri AM they picked up 10 contractions in one hour. When I arrived here on Friday, I was 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced, cervical length 1.7. I've had two round of injectible tributiline - one Fri and one Mon- when contractions were less than 10 min apart. Now on 5 mg oral every three hours. It's wicked stuff and I hate taking it, but it seems to be working. Contractions are at least 45 min apart, and sometimes hours apart. I reall want to make it another 2.5 weeks to reach 34 weeks. Both because of the better outcome then and because my OB is on vacation out of the country until then! Any stories to raise my confidence that I can do this??

 

After I was released from the hospital for strict home bedrest, they put me on terbutaline every 4 hours for contractions. You're right, that stuff is no fun. How far along are you? The terbutaline has been working pretty well for me. I have even been able to space it out to 6hrs some days. It's so hard to concentrate on that stuff, but it does work. It's better than magnesium sulfate. I hope you don't have to be given that stuff!! Some days are harder than others. I've had more mood swings being on bedrest than I have in my entire pregnancy. It's all worth it though. I set weekly goals for myself and it seems to make time go by a little faster. Hang in there! I know it's tough, but you can do it.

 

I'm 31 weeks, 5 days. The doc has said she won't go the mag sulfate route with me because she's only comfortable using it for a couple of days. When the turb stops working, we'll deliver. Are you having any reflux? I'm having vicious reflux to the point of vomiting. The nutritionist comes to see me every day, and we're getting it under control with diet. I also have the major shakes. Sometimes I can barely write with a pen! That also seems to be getting better, and is worst after the injections.

The mood swings! Oy! My doctor suggested weekly spa appointments (the hospital has an in-house spa that will come to the bedside), and I have my first appointment for a pedicure tomorrow. I've also started listening to the Rainbow Relaxation CD from the Hypnobirthing institute, and it's really helping keep me calm and relaxed. Any other suggestions?

 

I was never on terb, but I've heard it isn't fun. Hang in there.

I spent weeks 24-28 on hospital bedrest, with absolutely no change. So I got to go home to strict bedrest. At 31 weeks DD PROM'd and I had to deliver though.

You are further along than I was, you are doing great. Every day counts!!

My DD's had no long-term preemie issues at all.

 

QUOTE(WildBlueBerry @ Jun 25 2008, 03:26 PM) [snapback]845555[/snapback]
I'm 31 weeks, 5 days. The doc has said she won't go the mag sulfate route with me because she's only comfortable using it for a couple of days. When the turb stops working, we'll deliver. Are you having any reflux? I'm having vicious reflux to the point of vomiting. The nutritionist comes to see me every day, and we're getting it under control with diet. I also have the major shakes. Sometimes I can barely write with a pen! That also seems to be getting better, and is worst after the injections.

The mood swings! Oy! My doctor suggested weekly spa appointments (the hospital has an in-house spa that will come to the bedside), and I have my first appointment for a pedicure tomorrow. I've also started listening to the Rainbow Relaxation CD from the Hypnobirthing institute, and it's really helping keep me calm and relaxed. Any other suggestions?

Yeah that terb will give ya the shakes pretty bad. I did have really bad reflux starting my first trimester. I tried tums, pepcid and zantac..none worked so my doc prescribed me nexium. It has been a lifesaver, but it took a few days to really work. I think it's great that your hospital has a spa that comes to you. You'll feel better after a treatment. I also think the relaxation cd is a great idea. I also do some deep breathing when things get really tough or when I'm contracting. It gets my mind off of things. It gets hard at times but I just try to keep my mind on the big picture.

 

I was admitted to the hospital at 30 weeks because I was leaking fluid (one of my girls ruptured their sac). I stayed in the hospital for 4 weeks having contractions on and off the whole time, but never went into labor. They did a c-section at 34wks 1d and both of my girls were perfect. Short time for both in the NICU and now they are happy healthy 2 1/2 year olds.

Hang in there. Being on hospital bedrest is never fun, but relax and enjoy this time before your babies are born. Now looking back on it, oh how I wish to lay in bed all day with people waiting on me and bringing me meals. :rotflmbo:

 

I was in the hospital for shorting/funneling cervix from weeks 23 to 32. Yup. 8.5 weeks. Most of the time I never had many contractions, but I did have 2 or 3 shots of terb. That stuff is rough. Get the spa treatments, do what you can to pass the time. Good Luck.

 

I was put on house arrest at 23 weeks, which meant I was to take it easy and was not aloud to leave the house. I was put on procardia for preterm labor. At 29 weeks I was put in the hospital for 4 days with magnesium sulfate. That stuff is aweful!!!! They sent me home on a pump with terbtaline in my leg that constantly gave me meds. I was on strict bedrest then. I could only get up to go to the bathroom and a quick snack. This worked well. 2 days later though I was back at the hospital again because I was dehydrated from throwing up. I guess I had a virus. They never figured it out.
Everything was fine until I was 34 weeks and I started showing signs of pre-eclampsia. I was admitted to the hospital at 34 weeks 6 days because of high blood pressure and they did an emergency c-section that night.
Abby was 4#11 and Ella was 5#11. They were healthy for the most part and only spent 11 days in NICU.
It is a scary time. My thoughts are with you. If you have any other questions or just want to talk(I remember how lonely the hospital was) PM me!! :hug99:

 

I was put on bed rest at 29 weeks after 5 weeks of oral terb. The oral terb stopped working for me and then I was put on the terb pump which is an infusion line directly into your leg. I was still having at least 4-6 contractions per hour with the oral terb. Then with the pump I was still having 4 an hour for a while and toward the end I was having up to 8-10 per hour. There was never any change to my cervix until the end. I was also put on home health monitoring which drove me INSANE! But it worked. I made it to 36 weeks 5 days. The terb SUCKS, but it is effective and worth it. I went into labor within 24 hours of the pump stopping and delivered 48 hours after it stopped.
Try to eat before you take the terb, at least something little. I found that helped a bit.
I know it sucks to be on it and to be on bed rest, but you quickly forget once your little babies are here.

 

I was put in the hospital at 22wks after getting an emergency cerclage. I was released from the hospital at 35wks. (13wks in the hospital!) I only had to have terb a few times, but it was the injection. I hated that stuff! It made me shake so bad. It really freaked DH the first time he saw it. (He was at work the first time I got the shot.)

I also did weekly goals. It really helped me to see those goals, so we used the dry erase board in the room (supposed to be for nurses info) and marked off days.

Hang in there!!

 

Adding my story. . . which was pretty recent.

I was put on home bedrest at 21 weeks with a cerclage because I was dilated, funneling, and all that. We also had TTTS, and I had a history of early dilation/PTL. So none of that helped. At 27 weeks, I was hospitalized on bedrest just hoping to get to 28 weeks with all we had going on. My cervix was 0.9 cm, and I was dilated at least 1 cm, effaced, etc. I stuck to the "rules" of my bedrest, and surprisingly, we made it to 34w1d! Once I got to 34 weeks, I could breathe a sigh of relief but still wanted to go further. One of my twins' water broke at 34w1d, and of course, I went into labor. We had the steroid shots at 26/27 weeks, and that really helped them to breathe and all that on their own. They were both out of the NICU before they were two weeks old. . . just days ago.

Hang in there. . . it's mighty hard to predict what will happen, but believe in the best! Do what you have to do emotionally to keep yourself sane and staying put!

 

Oh god, hospital bedrest...SUCKS. Sorry, it does.

I went in at week 23 and delivered at almost 31 weeks. Yes, almost 8 weeks in the hospital, only allowed out of my bed to go to the bathroom.
Hang in there. You get to know the nurses, what food you like (loved their pizza LOL) and do have mood swings. I felt so bad when I was cranky with some nurses, but they were too sweet.

 

Wow...I feel like it was yesterday when I read everyones post. Remember that this really is a short time.... but I know
it feels like forever. I used to say to all my friends that came to see me that I wish I could just hit a fast forward
button. Stay strong. And always call your nurses when you feel any contractions because there is a good chance labor
can be stopped. Me, I went home after being in the hospital for 8 weeks. I was home for 4 days and then delivered at
32 weeks and 2 days. I was STUBBORN about my contractions. I felt them coming on and kept trying to fight it that
they weren't real labor pains. Because I did NOT want to go back to the F^%$^%$% hospital! Everyone in my family
didn't feel comfortable with me being out of the hospital. They were right. But ya know, we delivered by c-section and
all is fine. They were in NICU for a few weeks--- but now they are 11 1/2 pds smiling I was like you, I wanted to make it to 34 weeks. Sometimes, they just want to come though.

Isn't this such an experience???? It was just 3 monthes ago that I delivered, and I'll never forget what we had
to go through. You are doing so well, hang in there for just a tad longer. If not, your all in good care.
Your lucky about the pedicure service, I had to hunt for a service! It was $$$, but SO worth it!

Good-luck!!!

Tina

 

I was on bedrest for several weeks and then hosptial bedrest for two before I delivered at 35 weeks, 4 days. I was originally given trib. at around 30 weeks and had a horrible reaction to it, so for a while I was on Nifedipine and then the mag for about a week before I delivered.

Hospital bedrest is NOT fun, but I can tell you, it was a little better than sitting at home. I was so uncomfortable at home and those beds in the hosptial are adjustable, so that helped me rest a little easier. I'm so sorry you are having such horrible reflux issues. I didn't experience that, but with pre-e, one of my doctor's prescribed twice-daily trips to the hospital rehab swimming pool so help ease my swelling. It became the highlight of my day, and also made for very funny stories later on. Picture a VERY pregnant woman (I had gained 90 lbs) being wheeled down to the pool and getting in with only a hospital gown on and a cathedar pole on the cool deck!!! :rotflmbo: Had I not felt so miserable, I would have died of humiliation!!! :laughing: If you can make it down to the spa, it might help relax you and feel more comfortable.

I may have missed the answer to this, but have they given you a steroid shot to help develop babies' lungs? I got mine and swear it was helpful. My boys were early, and a bit on the small side, but didn't require a NICU stay.

Good luck to you and keepings those twinkies in your belly a bit longer!

 

Thank you, everyone. I'll be 33 weeks tomorrow - still in the hospital. I'm feeling pretty good. They reduced the tributiline to once every 4 hours, and after this weekend are considering going to every 6 hours or reducing the dosage. The reflux is still there, but with the less frequent meds and 2x daily Pepcid, it's getting a little better. I even had a burrito for dinner!!!

Yes, I had the steroid shots 3 or 4 weeks ago- before I was admitted to the hospital, when they first started seeing the shortened cervix and funneling. I'm feeling confident we can make it to 35 weeks, hoping for 36 or 37. I'm bored and really want to go outside, but I know it will be worth it. At least they moved me to a beautiful corner suite with lots of windows, and I'll be able to watch the city fireworks from my room.

2boys- a pool sounds awesome. I wonder if they have one here?? I'll have to check. The in-room pedicure was fabulous. I'm going to do either a manicure or a pregnancy massage next week. It gives me something to look forward to!

I'm contracting about once every 30 minutes. Sometimes I'll go hours without any contractions, and sometimes I'll have 4 or 5 in an hour. None of them are intense- I can talk through them just fine. Hoping this holds for a few more weeks!

WBB

 

I was on strict bed rest starting at 19 weeks due to PTL and a short, funneling cervix that was less than 1 cm. Up to go to the bathroom only, a short bath each day, and to go to doctor's appointments. At 28 weeks, I was put on hospital bed rest. By then my cevix was less than .5 cm. I was on Niphedipine. Baby A PROMed at 30w4d. I delivered vaginally and have two healthy baby girls. We were in the NICU for 8 weeks, but mostly as growers and feeders. They are meeting milestones appropriately for 4 months adjusted age now.