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« on: October 28, 2013 at 11:29 AM »
Good morning all. I joined the group a couple of days ago. Here is my story:
My first pregnancy was an ectopic pregnancy that ruptured, in 2007. I was thrilled when we were able to get pregnant again after that trauma/damage as a lot of moms are unable to after a rupture.
At 26 weeks into our second pregnancy, I thought I was having braxton-hicks, but was encouraged by an L&D nurse to call my doctor because she thought there was a problem. We headed to the hospital and I was contracting every 3 minutes (I thought it was every 10) and had funnel dilation and cervical shortening. Starting that night, I was in the hospital for 8 weeks. The doctors were certain I would deliver "any time." I did two more weeks of bed rest at home and our first son was born at 36 weeks- he only needed about 2 hours of monitoring for "grunting" and not crying, but was healthy and went home with us three days later (no NICU stay).
Pregnancy number 3- we were more prepared for potential complications and started the Progesterone shots at 16 weeks. Contractions started around 15 weeks. At 25 weeks I started the cervical shortening and was placed on modified activity. Modified activity lasted 3 days before a trip to L&D to slow the contractions down and was sent home on strict bed rest for the duration. At 32 weeks I was dilated to 3, then by 34 weeks I was at a 4. Weekly doctor visits and about 6 trips to L&D to "slow things" combined with a variation of tocolyitics got us to 36 weeks 0 days after 11 weeks of bed rest. I was taken off bed rest in the AM and delivered that night. Healthy baby boy that went home after three days in the regular nursery.
I am now 25 weeks with pregnancy number 4. I have been having contractions since about 15 weeks again- and we are doing the Progesterone shot again. Last Thursday (at 24w4d) I had significant cervical shortening with additional shortening with fundal pressure. I began "modified" activity that day and the doctor said to expect strict bed rest by the next appointment (this coming Thursday).
So- that is where I am at. Third round of bed rest and thrilled to have found this group. The hospital I stayed at with the first bed rest experience had a "support group"- after the first two weeks I was wheeled into another room to meet other moms stuck in there as well. That connection really helped mentally. With the second round of bed rest I had a friend who was going through it at the same time and we emailed a ton to stay sane. So- I am excited to connect with other moms dealing with bed rest and encouraging one another in the process.