Need some encouragement

[ABig30]

Hi. Just thought I'd post how I'm feeling/what I'm thinking right now....I'm feeling alone and scared right now. I'm currently 24 weeks and been on bedrest since 18w due to an IC with rescue cerclage put in. My cervix is down to 1.4cm and to the stitch, and I keep telling myself I have to make it to 28 weeks which seems like a long way. I've met my 24 wk goal today and I can't feel excited about it. I'm very grateful for eah and every day/week that passes by, but why can't I feel happy about reaching my first milestone?  I'm new to this group and I thought that by reading some of you posts, I would feel better, but I feel that my goals are so far along the road. Need some encouragement and maybe need to shed a few tears to feel better. Thanks for listening.

[momof26weeker]

I am sorry to hear you are having such a tough time. I wanted to give you a little hope and encouragment...i had my son at 26w/2d in 2009. He is doing remarkably well and while we are still not out of the woods, we are grateful for him as we saw a lot of sick babies in the NICU. If you can hang on even 2 more weeks, it will make a world of difference. Every day matters and you are doing great. I think all your feelings are normal. Good luck and best wishes.

[KayEm]

You have already made it six weeks on bed rest, which is a huge accomplishment.  I went on bed rest at 24 weeks, and spent 25w2 through 27w1 in the hospital...the nurses and doctors all told me that every day was making a big difference for my little guy, and 28 weeks truly is a turning point.  I will be 28w on Monday, and my next goal will be 30w.  But, I have actually been more focused on livingbin the moment because reaching full term is still so far away.  Each day that we wake up healthy and still pregnant is a gift; you can do this, mama!  Grow, baby, grow!!!

[twins]

I have felt the same way through my so far 8 weeks of bed rest and hopefully 8 more weeks to go.  I breathed a tiny sigh of relief when i hit the 28 week mark but will feel much better when i am into the thirties (fingers crossed).  Its really hard but i try to remember that this is just temporary.  I feel grateful that i have made it this far because when i was 21 weeks 28 weeks seemed impossible and unlikely - but here I am.  You can do it - try to distract yourself with books and movies.  Do you have anyone who can come and keep you company during the day?

[ABig30]

Thanks for your kind words everyone- its good to know that I"m not alone.  Thanks for sharing what keep your spirits up! 

[babyrom]

I understand about not getting excited about the 24 week mark, I too wasn`t breaking out the bubbly (sparkling juice) when I hit this milestone even though it was my first big milestone.  I was relieved to get to viability but that soon turned to anxiety about having a micro-preemie.  I was given the steriod shot at 24 weeks which didn`t help relieve my anxiety, but the worst thing was meeting with the staff at NICU and been given the real nitty, gritty about the problems mirco-preemies face.  I even had the nurse tell me that I wouldn`t make it to 30 weeks!  Talk about putting the fear in you and erasing all hope!  Well I proved them all wrong and have surpassed all goals and am 35w2d and looking at a full-term baby!!  Hang in there, I know the next 4 weeks are going to be tough, but keep focused on little bubs growing inside and stay to strict bedrest.  When you hit that 28 week mark you much better.  I know I did.

[Alicia]

I totally understand. You get there and realise you are ONLY 24 weeks! Thats wasnt enough in my mind. BUT hopefully, my story will help you, and I loved hearing about hope.
By first preg ended at 20 weeks, he didnt live.
Second at 34 +5 weeks, after and emergency stitch at 20 weeks for 9mm cervix. 2 months strict bed rest in hospital and 6 weeks modified at home. Obviously the modified rest at home wasnt enough. 34 +5 is awseome, but they still took her to special care, I didn't breastfeed for days, or hold her...
So this time, my goal was to hold the baby, and breastfeed stright away.
I had a scheduled stitch at 15 weeks. Cervix was 3.7cm at 18 weeks! Yah! But at 21 weeks it was 1.7cm and I got the dreaded call from the doctor to go home and go to bed ( I was locked out the house and carrying the 15 month old to the servo to buy and ice cream while we waitied!). Then came 3 months and 17 days of fear, isoltaion, sadness, anger, but knowning it had to be done. Subsequent scans showed the cervix shortened to the stitch (at 1.7cm it turns out) and flattened. I was trying to dilate.
The stitch came out at 37 weeks and bed rest ended. Here I am at 40 weeks + 3 days hopeing he comes soon otherwise the doctor wants to induce on Tues. I'm walking (joy!), having sex (joy!), expressing as he'll need the colustrum (bed rest came with Gestational diabetes too), eating curries. But still, quitely content and happy that we all made it safe and well.
This of course won't happen for everyone, but I definalty rate bed rest as a baby saver. Not so good for Mummies unfortunalty, but babies do make it, and everyday inside for those llittle angels is a day better for everyne.
Good luck, I did a silly amount of craft and a lovely 120! page photo book on line with blurb.com. Passed the time well.