Signs of Premature Labor and Now Bedrest- Help!

I have been where you are 3 times! My first one I went on bed rest at 35 weeks and she came exactly one month early. The second one, I went at 32 weeks and she came at 38 weeks, and my 3rd one I went on bed rest at 26 weeks and he came 4 weeks early. They all ended up healthy. It can be scary because they are worried about lung function. Only the first one had to stay an extra day or two in the hospital for jaudice, which is common in all babies. They are now 7, 9, & 10, all healthy. Just try to relax. I think the hardest part was trying to explain to the other kids I had why I couldn't pick up an hold them. They never knew why I went with premature labor. It is worth every moment of bed rest when they come! Best of luck!

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A.,
So sorry for the news of your bedrest. I was on bedrest with my first child for 4 weeks and later volunteered for a local agency that helped support bedresting mothers. I know it can be hard. I remember crying when my husband told me he was going to go and get gas in the car.....silly I know, but i just thought he was so lucky to be able to leave the house. Just keep reassuring yourself...you CAN do this, for you and for your baby boy. It's not always easy to stay positive. Try to keep a supply of good books and magazines around you, and maybe a supply of good movies. See if friends/family can come to visit/bring you lunch and help out with your 16 month old. You will definitely need to extra help with your 16 month old because it will be hard for him at first to understand why mommy can't do all the things that she always does. I had premature labor with my third child also. I know how it makes you feel so helpless. I think I just finally resigned myself to live my life in faith and not in fear. I have 3 amazing and healthy children that I thank God for every day. Just listen to your docs, do what your intuition tells you and LET OTHERS WAIT ON YOU! I know that is super hard for us,as mothers, to do. But do it! Keep us posted on your new addition. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Please feel free to contact me if you just need to chat. Sometimes it's nice to talk to someone who has been through it!

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Hello A. I have been in your shoes at one time. I was 30 and at least our daughter was a lot older. We had our daughter and when she was five We tried to get pregnant but misscarried two times. We kept trying and I did get preg. again and had 17 shots to help me carry the baby and then bedrest. Pay attention to your Dr. and all should be ok. Ask family or friends to come in and help. I am sure someone around you would be glad to give you helping hand. If I were closer to you I would be happy to help out :-)Best of luck. God Bless you and yes pray a lot Prayer works. K.

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First of all... GOD bless you for being down with a little one at home. That feels impossible. I recently was on restricted activity with my last pregnancy ( I too had a 2 year old demanding my attention). The days seem to last forever!

The best thing for you to do is take care of yourself. Whenever possible get help from your Mom, Mother-in-law, friends, obviously hubby. You can't be the active mommy right now because you are busy growing your youngest son. Let your family burn off some energy with the little one. Don't let the guilts set in. It did with me BIG TIME. If you can, find activities that allow you to be still and play with your son (reading, coloring, movies, etc.)

As far as the preterm labor thing goes.... you are 33 weeks. That is getting to the point where he is almost term. My oldest son was delivered emergency c-section at 37 weeks. He did GREAT... after he was born. My sister is currently 28 weeks pregnant with twins and having contractions. Her OB told her that if she could make it to 30 weeks, the babies would be fine. You've already made it to 33!!! Hang in there as long as you can. If that little guy comes early... he comes early. He's past the window of viability. Now his lungs are just developing. If he should come within the next 3 weeks, there is medications they can give to speed up surfactant development in the lungs.

Keep your chin (and feet) up! Hang in there... it's almost over! This late pregnancy stage stinks. But remember your reward is coming!! Best wishes and CONGRATULATIONS!!

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I had a similar experience which was pretty scary, but all turned out well! I had just turned 31 weeks and started to bleed...very scary. I was dialated and effaced a little and they treated me for preterm labor. I spent 2 days in the hospital, stressful enough but I also had to be away (for the first time!) from my 20 month old son. I was sent home after everything was stable and put on bed rest also.
My husband was able to take vacation time from work since it was an emergency and help me with our son while I was on bed rest. We had to fill out papers for the Family Medical Leave Act (which maybe you can do) so my husband was sure to keep his job. I also had help from my mom and mom-in-law for a couple weekends. Once I was past about 36 weeks, my midwife told me to not worry so much about bed rest anymore because the baby was big and health enough to be born. My daughter took her time! and I had to be induced at 40 weeks!
I wish you all the best and that your little one takes his or her time to come into this world. Another thing that may help...when I was in the hospital, the doc told me that 32 weeks is the important time for babies. At 32 weeks they are developed enough to be born and be healthy since we have such good medical technology now. You're at 33 weeks so that's good! so rest, take it easy, and know that all will be fine.

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Hi A.,

I hope you have family or friends that can help you! I went through the same thing, except my daughter (child #1) was almost 3 at the time. We were blessed to have parents and in-laws that would take turn staying with us for a week at a time and they would do all the cooking, cleaning and help take care of my daughter.

My first child was born at 31 weeks...that was 23 years ago!
With my second child, my doctor was monitoring me very closely
because of my history. I went into labor at 31 weeks and stayed in the hospital for 12 days. My doctor said she would let me go home on bed rest if I had help. Like I mentioned previously, my parents and in-laws took turns coming and staying the week with us so I could stay in bed. We put our bed right in the middle of the living room floor so I could see what was going on and not feel secluded! My oldest would climb up in bed with me and we read alot of stories! I was on bed rest about a month before our 2nd child was born.
She is now 20 and we are blessed to have 2 beautiful, healthy girls who are now college students!

May God bless you with friends and family to help you!

C.

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Hello'
My name is D.. I have 2 children whom are 25 and 22 now, but when I was pregnant with my first child, I had to stay in bed for 6 weeks because I had toximia. With my second chld, I was dialiting early also. I was due in late December and I started dialate in early Novemver. They were looking for me to go into early labor. They told me to take it easy and start bedrest, but at that time of year, it is not an easy task. I ended up having her in early January, after my due date. I know that we are talking about over 20 years ago and a lot of things change, but they still thought that i would deliver early and ended up going late. So even though they know 'all', some times they are not right. You might just dialate enough that it is not bad, so don't worry yet. Just pray about it and let God handle the rest. He will you know. He is in charge.

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The same thing happened to me with my fifth pregnancy. My son was 11 months old and a high need child. We are military, away from all friends and family so we had to put him in part time daycare just for that two months and when he was home we bought 2 of those play yards made up of what looks like 6 baby gates that all fit together. We attatched them all together and made one giant corale that we put in the living room. We set it up so that it fit aound either side of the sofa and we were in the corale together. I had a laundry basket with his food, diapers, wipes, bottles of water, formula, changes of clothes and anything else I thought I might need for him. We just hung out inside that corale, that way he had everything he needed including toys and could move around while I laid on the sofa. It was my husband's idea and I thought it was crazy, but it actually worked pretty well.

I carried to term and all was well. I will pray the same for you. God bless you.

L.

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I went into premature labor several times and was in the triage 3 times before begging them to induce me at 37 weeks one day. They kept saying I was dehydrated so my advice to you keep very hydrated and well nourished throughout the day. I was never told to do bed rest I think I started preterm at about 34 weeks. I also never dialated except 1 cm. Any way, take it easy not sure if the bedrest would be necessary but I am not a DR. I bet fluids and food would ease some of this at least that is what helped me. Good luck I am sure all will be fine.

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Dear A.,
You have already gotten a lot of good advice/encouragement. Let me add a couple things....a LOT of women begin to efface & dialate early in the pregnancy and it does NOT lead to premature labor. Yours may not. I would definately follow your care provider's advice and also put in a call to sidelines
www.sidelines.org They offer bedrest support and will match you with someone who has been through your same situation as a mentor. They will send you a package of materials to get your through your bedrest and it is all for free. A wonderful service. Get help, and accept every bit of help that is offered!
Blessings to you & your family!
D. Easthon CD(DONA), LCCE, ELCS
www.heart2heartbirthmatters.com

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