I'm on bed rest :-(

[dear abbey]

I had my regular appointment last Thursday afternoon (with the "big" ultrasound), where I learned that my cervix is "worrisomely" short and got sent directly to the hospital. I spent Thursday night there being monitored and got to come home Friday evening, but I'm on bed rest for the duration of the pregnancy. I can get up to shower once a day, I can use the bathroom, and for now, I'm allowed to eat dinner at the table with my family (for which I'm so grateful). I have a follow up appointment Friday, and if things have not gotten worse, the rules will probably stay the same. They told me there's basically no chance of my getting off bed rest until the babies come (or we hit 36 weeks, when we're out of the woods for sure).

Here's hoping these two girls stop trying so hard to get out! I think they are afraid their brother is having too much fun without them, and they don't want to miss anything...

I am totally committed to doing everything I can to get these babies here as big and healthy as possible, and I know we can do this...but right now, it seems like a very long road. I'm hurting for my 2 1/2 year old, who is having a hard time adjusting to Mommy's being unable to run and play with him or get him a cup of milk when he wants it. I know he'll be okay, but right now he's acting sad, angry, and testing every possible limit (which is normal for his age, anyway, but he's really giving his dad a time of it!).

If anyone else has advice/suggestions/book recommendations, I'm all ears - I expect I'll be checking these message boards a lot more than I was before.

Hope all of you are well!

[Gena 22]

So sorry to hear that you're now on bedrest.  I can only imagine how hard it must be with an older LO, and at 2 1/2!  Lots of good wishes for all of you.

How many weeks along are you, and how short is your cervix if you don't mind the question?  Would a cerclage be a possible help?

Hope you can get lots of good relaxing time in - watch a good series on TV, or read it.  Something fun and escapist.  You need to keep your spirits strong and calm.  Is your DS out of the house much?

Best wishes!

[Smurfette2]

I was ordered to "take it easy" which I did not do and I ended up popping at 36w. This time will be different. Somehow. I'm a Type A/B personality - it's hard for me to relax.

[lesliesara63]

I was put on hospital bed rest at 28w when my cervix shortened to 1cm. I would have loved the chance to do bed rest at home. I still would have needed others to care for my older children but at least I'd have been at home. My ob admitted me to the hospital directly from that appt and said "she isn't going anywhere until the babies are born" I had the same rules for bedrest, but was also given wheelchair privledges. I didn't go far in a wheelchair  either though just because I was so big and tired. It was worth it though, my triplets were born at 32w6d and are very healthy and doing well. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

[Amanda Leigh]

I went into pre-term labor at 28w4d with my twins and was on magnesium sulfate in the hospital until 34w3d when my water finally broke. That was last week Thursday. My two boys are doing well and going to spend some time in the NICU learning to eat, but I can attest that doing everything you can do to "keep them in" is well worth it. We have a 28 week old baby in the NICU next to us and those six weeks made all the difference in the world. To keep from going crazy I started to focus on how I was going to care for them after we got home. I spent a lot of time reading about breastfeeding and how to keep my supply up while probably having to pump for twins (they're just starting to nurse a little now). I did a lot of visualization of having them both home safe and healthy in bed with me or rocking in their room, just snuggling as a new family. I found that I was never lacking stuff to do ie: crossword puzzles, knitting, reading, watching movies etc., but I just got so sick of doing those things. Lots of family support and learning to accept help from others were the two other things that really made it more bearable.

My husband and I also had a consultation with a neonatologist so that we could be prepared for what to expect at different points of gestation when they were born. It really helped us to visualize what we could be in for and to appreciate every day I was able to stay pregnant.

I wish you luck staying pregnant and when they are born that they are healthy.

PS: Moments of breaking down and thinking you just need to be done are to be expected, and are nothing to be ashamed of. Each and every day they have to develop is a gift to them, and you're being an amazing, strong, Mom to do what you're doing.

[Smurfette2]

Am I reading this right? You have newborn twins? Congratulations! :)

And your avatar... who are those little girls?

[Amanda Leigh]

Yup, two little boys just 9 days old. The pic is my Mom with my twin sister and I. Did you know if mom is a fraternal twin her chance of having fraternal twins is about 1 in 17? Neither did I. :)