Messages

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Monday Roll Call for October 7, 2013

« on: October 07, 2013 at 11:45 AM »

Gavin was born on Friday, October 4, at 5:55 pm.  He is 5 lb 9 oz and 16.5 inches long.  They kept us for 48 hours of observation - where he got to stay with me the whole time.  We ended up needing to get him out because he was having late decels with the contractions, but miraculously, he was able to be born naturally and vaginally.  I'm very happy to have him here and begin the new journey.  Thanks to everyone for your support through this.

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Monday Roll Call for September 30, 2013

« on: October 03, 2013 at 09:48 AM »

We have officially made it to 35 weeks.  Yay!!  Yesterday's ultrasound went very well.  Gavin looks very good and now we're just playing the waiting game.

Congrats to all the moms who have good news.

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Today's Doc Appt

« on: October 03, 2013 at 09:46 AM »

Congratulations!!  I'm sure that the good news has got to make your heart sing. <3

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Monday Roll Call for September 30, 2013

« on: September 30, 2013 at 06:14 PM »

Hi all.

I'm 34 4 today.  I was in labor for 13 hours yesterday before it fizzled out, but it didn't do much - only 1 cm.  My dr was mad that I didn't go in, but I didn't really see the point.  I've done this enough times that I know when I need to be concerned.  We won't stop labor from this point forward.  She's thrilled and surprised that we made it to 34 weeks. 

Fluid levels are still low, but I gained a pound so hopefully that means that being up is helping out with the digestion.  I'll find out on Wednesday how big he is.

Congrats to everyone for making it through another week!!

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Monday Roll Call for September 23, 2013

« on: September 23, 2013 at 02:19 PM »

Congratulations, Megdspilman.  28 weeks is such a huge milestone!!  Good thing to look forward to.

Things have been adjusted in our course - it's kind of a mixed bag.  I will be 34 weeks on Thursday.  Fundal height has been 30 for the last 5 weeks.  I haven't gained weight in 4 weeks.  Mainly I'm thinking there is an issue with my food not digesting because of my having to be down.  My doctor is taking me off official bed rest on Thursday.  We know 36 weeks would be awesome, but given some of the issues we're having, it's probably better not to wait that time.  So, I'll still be limiting my activity, but I can get off the couch and start moving around on Thursday - I can't wait to cook again!!!

I'm leaving things in God's hands and going to listen to inspiration about how much I can do.

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: struggling with this

« on: September 22, 2013 at 12:21 PM »

Welcome to the group!!  Bed rest can be terribly taxing on the mind and the body... especially when you have a loss to compare things to.  I have found that being involved in groups and forums can be helpful and keep me from letting my mind get to busy.  As Laura said, getting lost in pointlessness can also help, and prayer is what keeps me sane.

I tend to do needlework or crochet to keep me occupied and each stitch I try to put a positive mantra into.

There are several groups on Facebook for mothers who are working on rainbows.  These can be very uplifting and can help keep your mind busy.

Also, you might find that keeping a journal of the good moments might be helpful in the moments when you're feeling weak.  Most important thing for me is keeping my mind on the positive and surrounding myself with positive things.  If I add negative energy into my life, I'm lost.  good books, good music and good movies are a must.

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Monday Roll Call for September 16, 2013

« on: September 19, 2013 at 09:09 AM »

Thank you @122910.  I was told that the procardia lowering fluid levels was one of the possible side effects and that to fix it you just stop taking it and the fluid levels should go back up - Unfortunately, it doesn't look like stopping has brought them back.

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Monday Roll Call for September 16, 2013

« on: September 18, 2013 at 03:16 PM »

Update from today's NST.  Umbilical resistance is still high, but it's borderline - not over the limit.  Fluid levels are lower today than they were last time.  For now, we're just rolling with the flow.   33 weeks tomorrow!!

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Monday Roll Call for September 16, 2013

« on: September 17, 2013 at 12:01 PM »

Congrats to all the moms who are still cooking.  One more week down.  Hooray!!

I'll be 33 weeks on Thursday.  When I went to the doctor this week, Gavin was engaged at -1 and my cervix was 80% effaced.  Fluid levels are very low - which is making me worried about taking anything further to stop labor... since I know the procardia affects fluid levels.  We do have our full course of steroids in and we've now had our 4 days for them to take effect.

Tomorrow I have an NST so we'll see where umbilical resistance and fluid levels are at that point.

I'm not praying for him to stay in... I'm just praying for God's will to be done and I'm doing my part to keep him safe.  I guess that's all I can do.

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Monday Roll Call for September 9, 2013

« on: September 13, 2013 at 09:57 AM »

Angela,

I'm so familiar with the side effects of certain meds because I've been in PTL with all of my pregnancies. I'm pretty sure that it's the procardia that's causing the issues.  I totally avoid it if I can... but sometimes I can't.  I only take them if I'm over threshold.  I'm also taking the terbutaline only as needed because continued use of that is counter indicated for my heart.  I've been on the procardia on a more long term basis with 2 other babies and they've both had the same side effects of the elevated doppler.  The terb makes me shaky and the procardia gives me a headache from a very hot place as well as makes me see stars and affects my vision.  My eyes still haven't recovered from when I had to take it with my last baby.  I've only taken it a few times this pregnancy, but it's affecting me already every time I take it... and the effects aren't temporary.  I'm willing to go blind if I need to to keep him safe, but it's affecting him also and that's not a good thing.

I went to my OB yesterday and we discussed what was going on.  I'm a little more than a 1 and I'm a little more than 50% effaced.  I'm also only measuring almost 30 weeks.  She asked why I was already doing the NST and I explained that my MFM and I discussed it and decided that because I was dilating and taking the meds, it couldn't hurt.  She said, "Oh so just to watch him and make sure that everything is okay.  Except now you know it's not."

So we discussed our options with the MFM and decided that it was time to do a course of the steroids.  My OB and I both have a feeling that he'll be coming pretty soon and we want to give him the best shot (pun intended) at having his lungs as mature as possible.  At this point, I'm to 32 weeks which is an awesome thing, but I know if he comes in the next week it will be a bit of a road in the NICU.. 35 weeks would be ideal if he had to come prior to 36.  Right now I'm just praying for 4 more days if I can get them so that the steroids can kick in.  26 days to 36 weeks. and 12 days to 34. 

I'm really leaving it to the Lord at this point.  He always knows what's best and He always takes care of me and my family... I know this time is no different. <3  Thanks for asking.

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Monday Roll Call for September 9, 2013

« on: September 11, 2013 at 08:02 PM »

So last night I had to take my first trip to L&D to stop labor.  Up to this point, I have been able to avoid that trip by taking meds to stop the labor.  It didn't work, so I ended up going in.  It took 3 doses of meds and 2 L of IV fluid to get the contractions down to 4 an hour and they were pretty strong.  The nurse asked if I was okay going home, because doctor said to get them below 6.  I asked her to check my cervix and she said that it was still the same. So I decided it would be easier to sleep in my own bed.

I went to MFM this morning for an NST which will be weekly for the moment.  The doppler resistance is elevated which means that the meds are affecting him.  It's a little frustrating, but they sent me home on strict bed rest and with the instructions to drink more.

I find that funny - I've been on bed rest for 20+ weeks. 

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Monday Roll Call for September 9, 2013

« on: September 09, 2013 at 08:25 PM »

Cassandy, you can find me at Facebook.com/AprilDavis. 

I don't drive myself beyond 15 miles.  For me, if I'm driving beyond that I tend to start having contractions and the further I drive, the worse they get.

I got good news today.  Dr said she feels like I might make it to 34 1/2 weeks.  We are slowly getting there.  31 days to 36 weeks.  So looking forward to the new "normal".

I actually went to register for delivery at two different hospitals today. (one in case I deliver in the next 2 weeks and the other for after that)   It did me so much good to have more than 45 minutes out of the house.

Lynn, sending you warm thoughts and sticky stuff to keep your little girl in.  If I were in your place, I'd try to get a ride and lie down on the trip.  I think that the most important thing to do is to listen to your body.  I tend to err on the side of caution.  Big hugs.

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Monday Roll Call for September 9, 2013

« on: September 09, 2013 at 10:50 AM »

Congrats to the new mommas.  I love reading the success stories.  It brings me hope.

Meg, Happy Birthday!  I hope that all is well and that you can maintain that super positive attitude of yours.  24 weeks is a huge milestone!

Cassandy, I'm so sorry that you're home on the couch instead of enjoying your trip with your family, but it's so much better to keep that little one safe... I know, I know... preaching to the choir.

Thank goodness that you have technology to keep you close to them.  Make sure that you have your nightly videos where they are telling you about their days, and I would suggest if you're using Skype to get a free video recorder - so you can keep memories of those conversations... and if you're using something else, get a recorder that will allow you to record your screen and sound - Skype is my favorite because there is no limit to the amount of time that you can have that thing recording, while some other things might cut off on you.

I completely understand the bundle of weirdness.  I want so bad to be up.  I get this nudge that says that I should be doing more than I am and that just doing a little might not make that big of a difference, and as a result, I've gotten very stuck.  This last month has been particularly hard on me. (with the anniversary of the death of my daughter who was born last year after 25+ weeks on bed rest -she died of a heart condition that was a result of T18) I didn't realize how much it had affected my performance until I got a note last night from my only client that he felt that he could no longer trust me to get things to him in a timely fashion and that we needed to wrap things up and go our separate ways with each other's blessings.  It's been decades since I've been in that place where I allowed a personal situation to interfere with my professional performance. 

I don't have the issue with bleeding - thankfully that's not been an issue with this pregnancy - it's just the contractions going over threshold and the having to take drugs or tempting fate to bring him this early.  I know it's getting close - we're literally a month from tomorrow to 36 weeks and we've been down for 25 weeks now.

I realized last week that bed rest to me is a little like Chinese water torture.  A single day isn't that bad.  A week isn't even the end of the world, but all those days and weeks start to add up and eventually it really starts to get to you.

One thing that I have found helpful is a process called writing in the writing.  This is where you get a pen and a paper and you write down all the unhealthy things that are going on in your head... but, instead of writing one line, skipping to the next, and so on, you go back to the beginning of the line you started on and begin again and repeat that 3 or 4 times so that there is no way to read what you've written down.  This way you're getting it out, but you're not anchoring it by reading the words.  Then you can tear it up and flush it down the toilet, burn it or whatever you want to do.  It's more helpful if you do it, than if you just know about it... haha... That's been my issue - I know what to do, but I'm feeling paralyzed. 

I hope that you can feel more healthy and that you will be okay during the week while your husband and family are gone.  If you'd like to be my friend on Facebook, let me know.  I'd be happy to chat throughout the week.  Sometimes it helps when you're not alone and you have someone to turn to.  Otherwise, hopefully I'll see you at the chat tomorrow.

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Madeleine Anne

« on: September 09, 2013 at 06:52 AM »

Congratulations!  I'm so glad that everything went so well.  Enjoy that little one of yours.

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Bedrest starts today and needing advice.

« on: September 05, 2013 at 01:07 PM »

Hi Cazz, 

Welcome to the forum.  I'm 31 weeks today.  I know that not everyone agrees on how bed rest should be approached.  I have been on bedrest for 20 weeks now.  It's a little frustrating some days and I admit that I can feel stuck at times.

For me, bed rest is absolutely necessary - not because of an incompetent cervix, but because I have an irritable uterus and walking around causes contractions and contractions lead to labor and labor leads to baby.

I went in to my doctor on Tuesday, and I was at least 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced.  When the contractions get to a certain point, I have to take meds to stop them.   May I say that I absolutely hate the side effects of the medications and I avoid them if I can.  I would listen to your normal doctor, and go with your gut.  We do have a point of intuition.  If you feel pressure on your cervix, mention it to your doctor.  I hope that you can relax and that you can feel okay staying down.  It's not the greatest thing, but it sure beats the alternative of having a baby this early... but, even if you do have the baby now, 30 weeks is not the absolute worst place to have a baby.  Sending you positive vibes.