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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Bedrest - any experiences?

24 replies

SweetLittleBee · 20/11/2013 14:29

Hello ladies, I've been on bedrest for a while now following a threatened premature labour and hospital stay at 25 weeks. Just wondered if anyone else had ever been on bedrest or is currently on bedrest? Would love to hear your stories... Thanks!

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mumofone25 · 20/11/2013 14:59

Hi, sorry to hear that your on bedrest! I was in the same situation when pregnant with my DD. I had a few contractions whilst walking my dog at 27 weeks. Had a positive fibronectin test and was given steroids for baby's lungs. Short hospital stay then allowed home on bedrest! I completely rested and took it easy until I was 37 weeks. DD was born at 39 weeks. How are you finding it? Have the doctors said how long you should rest for?

Shellywelly1973 · 20/11/2013 15:44

That sounds incredibly difficult.

I didn't think they did bed rest anymore. What do you do about your dc/ work/ etc?

Take care of yourself. Keep MNetting!

Original poster

SweetLittleBee · 20/11/2013 15:48

My situation was really similar - contractions and a positive ffn at 25 weeks. I was kept in hospital for a week, given steroids and scans for my shortening cervix and baby etc and then sent home to rest. I'm 34 weeks tomorrow which I feel really positive about but I've found bedrest so hard. I'm starting to go a bit bonkers now and really missing being independent and able to do things for myself. We've had such different advice from doctors so trying to be extra careful and just hoping to keep going for as long as possible. Brilliant to hear that your little girl stayed in until 39 weeks! How did you manage to stay sane during your 10 bedrest weeks? How strict were you with your rest? X

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Original poster

SweetLittleBee · 20/11/2013 15:51

Hi Shellywelly, I was signed off work by the doctors as I have a pretty busy job where I'm on my feet all day. This is my first baby so not got to negotiate childcare etc, thank heavens!

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Julietee · 20/11/2013 16:06

Not that I'm advocating going against doc's orders, but here's another perspective about bedrest that takes on the statistics:
www.slate.com/blogs/expecting_better/2013/08/19/bed_rest_during_pregnancy_doctor_s_orders_to_curb_premature_labor_but_there.html

Julietee · 20/11/2013 16:11

Also - Mumofone - out of interest: How did you know you were having contractions whilst walking and not braxton hicks?
I ask because I've been fairly uncomfortable walking the dog on occasion but have assumed either it's BH or just random discomfort. Did you KNOW they were contractions with a capital C because of how they felt?

mumofone25 · 20/11/2013 18:33

sweetlittlebee our stories are so similar. Such a worrying time getting the positive result. you've done really well to get to 34 weeks. Thats brilliant. It's very difficult being on bedrest. I remember feeling so fed up and lonely. I just took things day by day giving myself little things to do like one day I would sit and sort through the baby clothes etc. I read lots of books and watched lots of boxsets! Anything to pass the time. It got a lot easier towards the end. I was very strict until I was just over 34 weeks then from then on I would take some small trips out that didn't involve a lot of walking then at 37 weeks I carried on as normal. Xx

mumofone25 · 20/11/2013 18:40

julietee sorry I missed your post. I definately knew they were contractions, they were rather painful and made me stop to breathe through them. Braxton hicks are more like tightnings and can be uncomfortable but not painful if you see what I mean! X

Julietee · 20/11/2013 20:27

Ah, yes. Good to know, thanks!

Original poster

SweetLittleBee · 20/11/2013 20:38

Oh your story really gives me hope, mumofone25! It's really nice to hear from someone who has been in a similar situation and had such a positive end result. I've been pretty strict up until now and was planning to ease up a little at 34 weeks - just a few car trips out with my partner etc to stop me feeling too isolated and fed up. Would love to get to 36 weeks if I can! Thanks again for sharing x

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Ilanthe · 20/11/2013 20:46

Hi OP. I went into labour at 27 weeks, positive swab test, etc. I was kept in for 5 nights then discharged. I wasn't told to go on bed rest but was told to take it as easy as I could. No hobbies, no picking up my toddler. Minimal housework.

I got to 38 weeks, with further admissions in between. I was basically in stop start labour for 11 weeks. By 35 weeks I was behaving fairly normally, as far as you can when heavily pregnant. By 37 weeks I was on a mission to get the bugger out!

It is boring and it does feel like forever at the time but every day the baby stays in you is a day it won't be in SCBU. Well done for getting this far. Trips out in the car really won't hurt, just don't walk too far, this always set me off.

peeapod · 20/11/2013 20:54

i know its slightly different but I was on forced bed rest for my morning sickness. I'm still now at 14 weeks on alternate bed days to get me through the out days.

It is a real shock to the system, but make sure you have all you need and have some books/ tv shows/ dvds lined up.

basically make the most of it, in a few months you'd give anything to be able to be on bed rest :)

Original poster

SweetLittleBee · 20/11/2013 21:07

Thanks Ilanthe, really lovely to hear positive stories like this. It must have been so hard for you having to look after your toddler too. I've just got to be patient for a little while longer I think and try to keep positve. Like you say, every day baby is safe inside is a day he won't be in hospital. Thanks for sharing x

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Original poster

SweetLittleBee · 20/11/2013 21:09

Oh peeapod, poor you, hope you feel better soon x

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twinsmonplusone · 21/11/2013 06:05

Hi OP. I have some experience with bed rest. I was pregnant with id twins and on my -+25 weeks check up I my doctor measured my cervix length and found out is was shortening! which indicated premature labour. So from that day I was ordered strict bed rest. He gave my husband a note to my office for indefinite medical leave and from that moment on, I only moved from my bed to my couch, allowed one shower a day, and that wads it.
It was incredibly difficult, but so worth in the end. I got to 35+5, when my twins were born. But that stage (earlier in fact), I couldn't really walk too much, so I would have been on bed rest even if doctor hasn't ordered it :). During my two and half months in bed, I read many books, watched tv and slot a lot. I also played card games or monopoly when my husband was aroun and then when mom arrived from overseas. Good luck!

twinsmonplusone · 21/11/2013 06:07

I meant slept a lot....iPad auto correct, sorry

Original poster

SweetLittleBee · 21/11/2013 08:27

Great to hear about your twins and brilliant that you kept them cooking for so long. Good tip about board games too - hadn't thought of that.

Hearing these stories is really inspiring me to be patient and keep my feet up!

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plentyofsoap · 21/11/2013 10:31

Hi I was on bedrest from 26 weeks due to threatened pre term birth. My cervix had shortened so I was restricted and given hormone treatment. It is frustrating but worth it. I managed to get to 33 weeks (again) and she was alot bigger than my ds and i think the resting helped. Once I got passed 31/32 weeks i started doing more though. Every extra day helps

mumofone25 · 21/11/2013 20:37

Good luck with everything sweetlittlebee i agree a few small trips out with your partner sound like a good idea. X

Original poster

SweetLittleBee · 22/11/2013 09:25

Thanks so much, ladies, it's been really helpful and inspiring to hear your stories. Bedrest can be very isolating so it's lovely to know that other people have been through it and had such happy endings! X

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schokolade · 22/11/2013 09:53

I'm in a similar position - rapidly shortening cervix seen at 28 weeks followed by doctor's orders to stay at home, if not and bed. I'm 31 weeks now. It is a little frustrating, particularly given that my job is/was very active.

I've been doing the same as everyone else, as well as the part of my job that I can do from my bed! Also a few odds and ends like deleting old emails and files on computer. Oh, and sorting out the admin paperwork for when the baby arrives. Probably you don't have as much of that though (I'm in Switzerland).

Original poster

SweetLittleBee · 25/11/2013 08:47

Good luck Shokolade! It is so hard, isn't it? But every day is another positive step forwards. Take care and keep resting. X

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Wuxiapian · 25/11/2013 21:04

I was told to take to my bed after a threatened per term lanour at 28 weeks.

It was not possible as I had DS1 and a puppy to take care of. I think I got an afternoon on the sofa then it was back to the normal slog.

I had to be induced in the end at 40+15.

AuditAngel · 01/12/2013 23:23

I suffered with placenta praevia with both DD1&2 (DC2&3). Whilst not strictly on bed rest, I was admitted at 33.5 weeks with DD1 and could not leave the maternity unit. With DD2 I was admitted at 24 weeks, 26, 31 weeks then 3 times at 32 weeks when I was kept in. After 2 weeks off following the first admission, I was only allowed to work part time from home.

So not as miserable as complete bedrest. Ladies you have my sympathies.

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