Strict Bedrest SUCKS!!!

Hey everyone,

I've been a little slow on updating this, mainly because I didn't want to worry anyone, but I went into preterm labor on Saturday December 21st. I started not feeling well, that evening, thinking I was just having an off night. I'd been having braxton hicks (BH) contractions for days, not realizing how many I was having until I saw them on the non-stress test (NST) at my doctor's appt the Thursday prior. My dr. wasn't worried, as this is normal to have more BH contractions around 34wks.

Back to Saturday night, the contractions started getting closer together, wrapping around to my back, and hurting. We started timing them, and they were only ~2min apart, lasting for 1min. I called the on-call dr. at the hospital, and he told me to drink lots of water, take a warm bath, and if they continue for another 30min to call back. Unfortunately, they continued, and were starting to get worse. So, I called labor & delivery (L&D), and we headed into the hospital.

We got to the hospital around 11:30pm, and checked into a L&D triage room, and hooked up to their NST machine. After monitoring my contractions and Aeneas's movements & hear rate, the on-call dr. decided to try giving me fluid to try to stop the contractions that way first. So I was hooked up to an IV of saline, but it didn't do anything except make me have to go to the bathroom ALL THE TIME! I was starting to get worried at this point that Aeneas was going to come at only 34wks4days. The dr. next decided to give me a shot of terbutaline (it helps smooth muscles, like the uterus stop contracting). It was horrible, the meds made me feel like I was having an anxiety attack, my heart racing, I couldn't get comfortable, and all panicky. Luckily, this helped slow down, and then stop the contractions completely at the time. Aeneas was doing well on the monitors this entire time.

Around 7am we were finally released from L&D, but I was put on strict bed rest (only allowed to get up to go to the bathroom and get food. Minimal walking, going up and down stairs, etc.) until I saw my dr. on Thursday for my normal weekly check up and NST.

Needless to say, on December 26th at my normal check up & NST I was still having contractions about 5-7min apart, but they didn't last very long, or hurt. So my dr. decided that I need to stay on strict bed rest until 37wks (when they won't stop a baby from being born). Now this doesn't sound so horrible, only 12 days, but do you have ANY idea how long a day can last when you can't do anything but lay in bed, and nothing is comfortable anymore.

At this point I'm 8 days away from being able to get up and do anything again. Any time after 37wks (January 7th), Aeneas can come anytime, and shouldn't (hopefully) need any extra care. We still have some stuff left to get for Aeneas, but have installed his carseat, have his nursery mostly put together, and have our downstairs area ready for him as well.

I am still having contractions all day, everyday, and they get worse when I get up and move around even just for the few minutes to get food or go to the bathroom.

So yeah, I've been on bed rest, bored out of my mind since December 22nd, and as much as I complain, I'm glad Aeneas is able to stay inside, and mature longer.

Here are some pictures of me from the last couple of weeks.

32wks

 33 wks

 34wks

 35wks

Thanks for tuning in. Until next time!