Was everyone on bed rest?

Hope I'm not abusing this forum, but I figured its best to ask those who have already delivered!

I was just wondering if having bed rest is more common than not. I also wondered if there are any predictors that you will need bed rest along the way? My doctor is very laid back (though she is seeing me for for exams/bw/sono 2x a month) and says that with di/di, healthy pre-pregnancy bloodwork and weight and so far no issues during pregnancy, I should assume the best and go from there. People tell me that they know people who never went on bed rest, but in this forum it looks like everyone had sometime in bed before delivery!

Is there any way to shorten it or prevent it? Should I be taking it easy now? Stop exercising altogether? Modify my work hours and/or the strenuousness of my (subway) commute before any problems arise? Or is there just really no way to know what will happen later in the pregnancy?

Thanks!

 

You are not abusing this forum at all, that's what it is here for...to ask your questions!!

It really varies from person to person as far as bedrest goes. I was put on hospital bedrest at 24 weeks due to PTL, but my mom carried my twin brothers until 38 weeks and worked up until a week before they were born. It really just depends, and every situation is unique.

Glad to hear everything is going well thus far! I hope you have an uneventful remainder of your pregnancy that does not result in bedrest!!

 

Like Krystyn said, it really depends. My friend carried her twins to 38 weeks as well and they were 6 pounds a piece. I was put on bed rest at 25 weeks due to everything! I was huge, the boys were stressed. I am a healthy 23 year old, but when I hit 22 weeks things got funny. I was never diagnosed with anything until I went to the hospital not feeling well. I have no advice because I don't think there is anything you can do to prevent bed rest. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!

 

I had 4 days of bedrest.. I went into labor when I was 35+2 and when I was dilated to a 4, labor stopped. I was sent home on bedrest - hoping to make it until 36 weeks (the dr. said at 36 weeks i could get up and start doing things and if the babies came... it'd be fine)... so I got "up" at 36 weeks thinking I'd have the babies that day! LOL...
yeah, 2.5 weeks later I had to be induced - LOL
I exercised 5x week up until 35 weeks.

 

I delivered at 37w5d and was never put on bedrest. I had a very easy pregnancy, the gaining of 64lbs did slow me down and the last couple weeks were mostly spent on the couch but that was self-imposed!! I did stop work at 26w but that was simply a precaution as I work 12 hour shifts as an RN on a busy surgical floor and my OB did not want to risk anything. I did prenatal yoga up until 32w and then just went for walks until the end.

 

I delivered at 37w6d and my boys were 6lbs10oz and 6lbs7oz. Like the pp (maybe a little more extreme), I was pretty much just in bed/on the couch the last 4 weeks but that was self-imposed ... or really, body-imposed; it was just really hard to walk or stand by that point. I didn't have a particularly strong back or abs before pregnancy though so I think if I'd been in better shape, that might not have happened at the end.

 

Hope you can make it without it, but I was put on hospital bedrest at 27 weeks for IUGR baby and preeclampsia.

I followed the recommendations from When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets or Quads and started voluntary modified bedrest at 20 weeks (no lifting, laying down all evening, trying to get one nap per day)
I also followed the diet - high protein, try to gain at least 35lbs, take calcium, magnesium, zinc supplements for PTL. And although I had other problems that made me go early, I never had any PTL!

Just remember you are putting an enormous strain on your body. Try and get as many of the calories you eat going to your babies. They need them! And you might want to consider planning your work out so that if you are put on bedrest, you and your employer will be prepared.

Good luck!

 

I delivered at 36w4d and never was on bedrest. I gained over 70 lbs, so I was a bit slow, and I was taken off work around 34 weeks for slightly elevated blood pressure, but I wasn't put on bedrest. Just the same self-imposed couch as pp's described above. Good luck to you!

 

I carried mine until 38 weeks with no bed rest. I think I could have gone longer but my doctor didnt want too. I was induced at 38 weeks and babies weighed 4.12 and 5.5. I "worked out" until 36 weeks and then I decided to take it easy from then on. People are usually shocked when I tell them I was not on bedrest and that I was able to deliver them vag. They just assume because you have twins your gonna be on bedrest and deliver by c-section. Not always the case!!

Good Luck to ya! I was lucky and I hope you are too!!

 

I was never on bed rest and I also worked out until I was about 25 weeks, only because it was getting harder for me to move. I delivered at 37w6d only because I begged to be induced. I'm sure I would have gone much farther. I also have di/di twins.

 

I was never on bedrest although my BP got high towards the end so I was on basically couch rest. I worked until I was 35 wks and worked at home til I delivered at 37.5 wks. So it's definitely possible!

 

I worked up til the day of delivery, a desk job though and in the last 3 weeks I was told to go from 8 hour days to 6 hour days. I delivered at 36 weeks and was induced because the sudden onset of pre-eclampsia. I did have to give up heavy lifting, housework like vacuuming, and slow down my treadmill walking.

I was on two weeks of bedrest in my 1st trimester due to bleeding, which was from a clot they believe was the 3rd embryo we implanted, but didn't take.

Good luck to you on avoiding bedrest.

 

I hope you avoid bedrest. We were fortunate, we did not land on bedrest. I was unable to exercise after the 5th month, Baby B was so high, I could not breathe. I was very fortunate to have a problem free pregnancy other then swelling, so I would have to prop my feet up. I worked until my 36th week and my employer was understanding about letting me put my feet up. They were also prepared for the possibility that I could be pulled out at anytime for bedrest. Just take it easy, get as much rest as you can. Good luck to you!

 

There really is just no way to know. I had no bedrest with my other kids, but went on bedrest with the twins at 27 weeks for a shortening cervix. Hang in there, listen to your doctors, and most importantly, listen to what your body is telling you. If you are tired, rest. Best of luck, and come and visit us anytime! :hug:

 

You are not abusing the forum at all! :hug: I was put on modified bedrest for 12 days. I don't think it made much difference as I was still shopping and going for walks after a few days and nothing happened. I was put on this for contractions at 34 weeks. My water has to be broken (this runs in my family) for labor to progress. So, I think my body was ready when I began to measure 40 weeks, but it was stuck for that reason. Actually, by the time I was induced at 38 weeks, there were absolutely no sign of contractions! I wish you a healthy and happy pregnancy.

 

I was up walking around town right until the day my water broke (at 36 w 5 days). I exercised during my pregnancy as much as I could - I was working full time so I was too tired a lot of the time. I think at my 34 week appointment when I started to dilate the doctor said that I should stop having sex if it was uncomfortable and around that time they told me that if I was still working I should slow down. But no bed rest here and no NICU time either!

 

I was put on bedrest at 19 weeks due to PTL and short cervix. I delivered at 30 weeks due to PROM. Hopefully you're pregnancy will go smoother.

 

I wasn't on bedrest.

 

No bed rest for me and i was induced at 38 weeks and 4 days
and i was still helping to clean horse stalls up to 2 weeks before delivery.

 

My pregnancy was fine, no problems, until the end. One of my babies developed IUGR and suddenly everything changed, I was on bedrest. It wasn't strict, but staying at home & sitting/laying down all day, doing contraction counts (I couldn't risk going into labor on my own because my IUGR baby would have been too distressed). If it hadn't been for the IUGR, I bet I would have gone up to the 38 week mark with no problem.

 

I was never put on bedrest and delivered at 35 weeks + 6 days. However, I quit my job around 32 weeks and spent most of my time on the couch after that.

 

I think that everyone is different so you cant be sure how the rest of your pregnancy will end. I had two other healthy children who were induced due to being over due (with no complications whatsoever) so we all thought my twin pregnancy would go uneventful too. However I was on bedrest at 22 weeks due to contractions. I was dilated to 1 cm at 28 weeks, 3 cm dilated by 34 weeks and delievered after my water broke at 35 1/2 weeks. I was also having high blood pressure at the end too. I could barely walk around after 30 weeks as baby a was extremely low (hence the effacement and dilation I had). I started having contractions around the time you are that just got increasingly stronger and more effective. I also had sciatic nerve pain around the time you are too. I had round ligament pain at the end due to the heaviness of the babies. I am a teacher so perhaps that is why I was having issues. I tried sitting but it was too hard to do that for me. Good luck in your pregnancy. It will feel like forever towards the end but its well worth it to wait to see those babies as long as possible.

 

I got dehydrated and had some strong contractions at 32 weeks. That was enough of a scare for me to really slow down at work. I only went in 2-3x week (I had a longish commute by train) and I worked from home the rest of the time. I tried to nap every day and ate lots of protein and gallons of water. I also did a sort of self-imposed "couch rest" because (1) I was exhausted and (2) I didn't want to end up in the hospital on bedrest. I delivered by c-section (my water broke) at exactly 37 weeks. The boys were 5.10 and 6.12.

best of luck to you!! Rest as much as possible. :hug:

-maria
DS1 4 yrs old
DS2 DS3 6 months

 

no problems here. Had them at 36W1D and no bed rest here. I was bringing my 2 older kids to b-day parties etc until the day before they were born.
Only eason i had them at 36 W is becasue my pelvis seperated.. If that didn't happen I know I would have carried them2-4 more weeks.

 

I was never put on bed rest either and delivered at 38w1d. I will say that I was on restrictions for most of my pregnancy in terms of lifting and types of physical activity. I had a low lying placenta so my dr had me take it easy. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

 

I put myself on modified bedrest around 28 weeks ... but it was completely self-imposed. My doctor did not put me on bed rest, but I was having a lot of BH contractions (starting around 26 weeks) so at 28 weeks I told my job I could only work from home (which they let me do). But I still go up, walked around my house, showered, etc. I just tried to limit going up and down the stairs, walking around too much ... I even used those motorized carts at the supermarket and Costco so I wouldn't have to walk. Oh, and my babies came at 36w3d, no NICU time.

 

I did modified bedrest at 28 weeks and then I went on hospital bedrest at 30 weeks for pre-eclampsia. Just as the pp's said, everyone is different. I hope you have a great rest of your pregnancy.

 

I was never on bedrest at any point during my pregnancy. I was not given restriction either. However, I do need to say that I did not work while I was pregnant except in the first two months. I did a lot of physical activity during this time as my job was restraining people and learning restraint techniques. After that I quit and just never was able to find another job. This worked out for the best because I believe that had I been working I would have had problems. I think it is important to get moderate exercise like walking, they do not recommend abdominal exercise or anything too strenuous. I would also take it easy as much as you can. I also made sure to get a lot of protein. I had two eggs with toast and fruit every morning. Lunch was often soup or a sandwich with fruit and veggie and dinner was meat with veggies . I also drank a Boost everyday and had Cliff bars. I don't know what kind of job you have but I would definitely discuss your concerns with your dr. GL.

Jen

 

hi. delivered my twins @ 37weeks and 3 days, they were 7lb3oz and 6lb14oz. no doctor ordered bed rest, but I was so low energy, anemic an d tired that I was almost on it anyhow. they're now 5 week old.

 

No bed rest for me. My water broke the day before I was supposed to be induced. I ended up having the girls at 37wks 6days. I did spend most of my time on the couch or on the bed with my feet propped up because I was really swollen. It was difficult to walk for that reason and because I was huge! I could not drive for about the last 6 weeks b/c I could not fit behind the steering wheel. My pregnancy was uneventful fortunately. GL!

 

In the absense of problems, my doc was very into the listen to your body and slow down if you feel the need approach. No bed rest, no restrictions, no complications. I had them at 39 weeks by C after a failed induction. Yeah, I did slow down pretty dramatically after 32 weeks but just because I felt huge and uncomfortable.

 

I was on bedrest beginning week 29 and was in the hospital on bedrest beginning in week 30. I went to the hospital due to contractions every 5-6 minutes. They were able to slow the contractions but they continued until I delivered at 33 weeks. The whole time I was in the hospital I wanted to deliver my babies as I wasn't comfortable. My babies were big for their "age" and ended up running out of room. It would have been great to continue that bedrest for a few more weeks... would have spent less time in the NICU.

Good Luck and if you do go on bedrest - enjoy it, you'll be doing what is best for your babies!

 

I worked until 34 weeks--the school year ended, and I was a teacher--and never went on bedrest. I delivered at 36 weeks.

 

I wasnt put on bedrest and i worked quite an active job looking after kids with special needs and an after school club running about after children lol. I felt fine all the way through my pregnancy up untill exactly 32 weeks were i got extremly tired and ended up having them at 32.4 weeks. I guess i should have slowed down abit but because i felt fine i had no inclanation they would come early so kept on going! Luckily my little monsters are fine x x

 

No bedrest here either. I was scheduled for a CS because both were breech. My water broke at 36w4d as I was getting up to go to work. I worked until the end, although I did cut back to 4 hours a day for the last couple of weeks. Like others, I put myself on the couch whenever I was home to ease the strain and b/c I was so darn tired. I didn't have other kiddos to care for, though.

Best of luck to you!