Day 20: Quotables

I'm trying to make Sundays a little different than other days, so while J and B are at Church, I watch Conference talks and read scriptures.  Honestly though, one day of bed rest is pretty much like another (unless of course I decide to go into preterm labor, see the doctor, or my husband and son have something exciting going on).  But I'd rather things be quiet around here in regards to bed rest, that's for sure.  So because today was pretty uneventful (thankfully), I decided to memorialize some quotes from the past week or two.

J:  "You're the only person I know who could get bruised on bed rest."
Me:  "Besides maybe my mother."

B playing with his new Bristle Blocks which he'd shaped into a phone:  "No, I can't right now.  I'm having contractions.".  (I wonder where he got that from?).

B, last Monday morning when he called me at the hospital after sleeping in our bed with J:  "Guess what, when Daddy woke up, I had my feet in his mouth. That's so silly."
J:  "No, that's gross."
Me:  "I told you that you move around too much when you sleep in our bed."
B:  "No, I don't."

Nurse, when trying to get Baby Boy's heartbeat on the monitor:  "Your baby is a worm.  I mean he's really wiggly.  I mean he's really moving around in there.  Sorry I fumbled that.  I hope you're not offended." 
(Not at all.  I'm just glad he's active).

B:  "Mom, can't you go back to the hospital so I can keep sleeping in your bed with Daddy?"

B:  "I didn't sleep a wink."
J:  "You didn't sleep well, son?"
B:  No, that means I slept good; I didn't open my eyes at all."

B, on Christmas Eve after praying that "everyone can go to sleep so Santa can come," came out and told me and J to go to bed and said, "Don't you want Santa to come?"

B, when a friend brought us dinner.  "I don't know why someone would just bring us butter and crackers. "  There was chili in the butter tub.

Mother-in-law:  "I have to clip my hair back."
Me:  "What?  You have to clip your hairy back?" 
MIL clarified
Me:  "Oh good, I was getting grossed out there for a second."  (Lots of laughter to follow).

B:  "Mom, are you ever going to make dinner again?" 

B, talking to Grandma on phone:  "Mom was pretty good at laying down today." 

Day 19: An Awesome Husband

Being on bed rest is difficult for me, and I know B's had to make a lot of adjustments because Mommy has to lay down all day, but it's also taking its toll on J.  He is taking on all my responsibilities, caring for B, getting meals on the table (or tray, in my case), all while carrying his normal work load.  He even does dishes, which is something he abhors.  He's also taken me to and from the hospital, makes my bed every morning, positions my pillows and makes sure I'm set up for the day before he leaves so I can stay in bed.  J also helps me comply with bed rest, though I don't always like hearing that I'm laying wrong, messing up things he just did, or pushing my limits by lifting things, sitting up too much, or "just getting one thing."  He is trying to help me be comfortable, to help me complain a little less (the way I lay dictates whether my back or neck hurt), and ultimately, to help me get Baby Boy here safely and healthily.  All I have to do is lay here while he takes on all the stress.  Plus, he's still healing from his snowboarding accident (I know he's pushing himself to the limits as far as his own comfort and health go in order to help me), and he has his state boards to study for as well.  I have it easy compared to that, so I appreciate my husband who is giving it his all and being patient with me, even though this whole bed rest thing is hard for him too.

 

Contractions get worse for me at night, and I don't want to get used to taking sleeping pills, so I kept J up last night with my inability to get comfortable, so he was tired today, especially after taking B snowboarding yesterday.  But he still got up to help me and B.  He also trudged through four inches of snow and took B to the grocery store to tackle my list, and he even used the coupons I pulled out for him (while on bed rest I've given up couponing for the most part, but still try to use the ones I have).  J is NOT a shopper, so I appreciate that he did that for me. Grocery delivery might still be in our future, though.

 

J did get in a much needed nap while I hung out and read with B.  J went to work and my mother-in-law took his place.  We've had a nice evening of movies, stories, and games.  As busy as I kept today, there were times I forgot I'm laid up, and it's nice to have distractions.  Honestly, bed rest isn't ALL bad, and I know I'm helping out Baby Boy, so I can't complain (well too much anyway).

 

By the way, J already gags at the fact that I'm blogging about bed rest, but I like using it as a journal and chronicling this time in my life, and it's also somewhat therapeutic.  He'd really gag at this post, but I don't care.  I want people to know he's being great through all this.   

Day 18: Snowboarding and Doctor's Appointment

J and his dad took B snowboarding for the first time today.  J desperately wants to get back on a snowboard himself, but he needs to wait a few more weeks after breaking his hip, scapula, and a couple of ribs in a snowboarding accident last month.  So taking B and teaching him to snowboard this season is the next best thing.  B had an absolute blast and J had to call it quits long before B wanted to leave.  He said "doing zig zags" was his favorite thing, and J was impressed with how well B did his first time snowboarding.  My husband is working on a video of B in action, so I'll have to post that later.   

While the boys were gone I took it easy (what else would I be doing on bed rest?) and watched a movie and read.  I also looked up some crocheting basics so I can learn this new skill.  I'm hoping to crochet a hat for this little one, but we'll see how that goes.  I actually enjoyed my time on bed rest.  My mother-in-law also came over and took me to my OB appointment and ultrasound where I got some reassuring news.

My cervix is staying stable!  It's very short, but it hasn't changed since last week, even with all the contractions I've had.  As long as its stable, I can take comfort in the fact that Baby Boy is still in utero and my body is holding out to allow this baby to continue to grow and develop (I was able to get to 35 weeks with my B, so I can hold out for at least as long again).  As hard as bed rest is, it's working, so I'll continue to do it.  Most people will do anything for their kids, and I am no exception.  If bed rest is what this baby needs, I'm willing to do it, even if the days are long.  I'm reassured by the fact that Baby Boy is growing and my cervix is hanging in there.  Baby Boy is pretty low in my pelvis, so the ultrasound techs have had trouble getting face and profile shots, but today she was at least able to show me a little of his face.  This shot was as good as it gets, but now I can look at this face and think about how worth it this is for him.  

It's hard to make out but you're seeing his forehead, nose, and mouth, which he has his hand to- we might have a thumb-sucker on our hands.

29 weeks, 4 days (Sorry it's hard to make out my belly in these shots, but it's getting bigger, I promise.  And, don't worry, I got back in bed as soon as B took the picture below).

Day 17: Stopping It In Its Tracks

Warning:   I know this blog, especially this post, is only interesting and relevant to about 2 1/2 people, so if you'd rather skip the lesson on uterine irritability, scroll down past the bulleted list that may be helpful to someone, to today's daily update. 

Last night, I went back to the hospital to be monitored for contractions, I did have one actual contraction that was picked up on the monitors, but most of the discomfort was caused by uterine irritability.  Irritable uterus (IU) is the name given to a uterus that contracts in a disorganized fashion during pregnancy. Most times, the contractions are constant and consistent, happening every three to five minutes. Unlike real contractions, which come and go in waves of regular intervals and last longer, irritable uterus contractions can feel more like knotting of the entire abdomen or quick twinges but can still be quite painful. In my case, UI causes lots of discomfort, especially with all the wiggling Baby Boy is doing. 

Thankfully contractions caused by uterine irritability do not shorten or open the cervix, and therefore do not lead to labor, which is what I was worried about yesterday.  So now that I know the difference between real contractions (which I WAS having on Sunday night and had to be stopped) and uterine irritability, I'm a less worried about all these quick aches and pains.  I've done some research and figured out that when I  do have a sudden bout of uncomfortable contractions from uterine irritability (not labor), I can take a bath, lay on my left side, and do the following things:

• Drink lots of milk.  Apparently hypocalcemia (low blood calcium) and hypomagnesimia (low blood magnesium), conditions which are known to cause muscle excitability, are common in women with uterine irritability.  Milk provides both calcium and magnesium, and also has lots of protein which can help bulk up this tiny (and I do mean tiny) baby.
• Eat foods rich in magnesium, a natural muscle relaxer.  These foods include raw spinach, brown rice, avocados, and bananas, and almonds (though I won't be eating those because of a nut allergy).  Magnesium relaxes the uterus, this is why my next treatment for preterm contractions will be magnesium sulfate, but getting magnesium through natural sources helps avoid the risks associated with the injections.
• Drink lots of water. The hormone responsible for water retention when we're low on fluids (called anti-diuretic hormone or ADH) is chemically almost identical to the hormone oxytocin, which is the hormone produced by the body to induce labor. The body gets confused between these two hormones and uterine contractions occur due to this "confusion." Staying hydrated will keep my body from secreting too much ADH.
• Empty my bladder regularly. Any sort of pressure against the uterus can cause contractions when you have IU, so reducing any irritants can really help. Plus, going to the bathroom gives me an excuse t get up and stretch (I can hardly believe a trip to the bathroom has become a highlight of my day, but anyone on strict bed rest would understand why that has become the case).
• Eat small, frequent meals rich in fiber that are easy to digest. As said above, extra pressure on your uterus can cause contractions, so it's helpful to eat smaller meals that help avoid gas and constipation, which can also cause contractions.  (TMI, sorry).
• Stay calm. While being on bed rest, I've found I have A LOT of time to worry and feel every little ache and twinge and then freaks me out.  Arguments or getting myself stressed out about a situation causes more contractions and makes things worse. Stress hormones are proven to cause preterm contractions, so staying calm is in my best interest.  Again, now that I know that I'm just going to have to live with some discomfort because of uterine irritability and can recognize the difference between UI and real contractions, I can relax.  It's times like these that I have to remember Psalms 46:10 -- " Be still, and know that I am God." I know Heavenly Father is aware of me and this baby, and whatever happens, we'll be Ok. I'm just praying for as much time as possible, as I know so many of you are, too.
• Get some sleep. At night, I contract WAY more often, so by sleeping through the irritability and getting rested up, I feel much better, and so does my uterus. 

On  personal note, today I've felt physically better, as the larger dose of anti-contraction medication (Nifedipine) less often has kept me more comfortable than smaller, more frequent doses.  I also think I'm experiencing less discomfort and contractions because I'm less stressed knowing that uterine irritability isn't going to cause labor and there's a better hope of being able to hold out longer.  My cervix, albeit, extremely short, is staying stable, and as long as that's the case, I can have peace of mind and focus on getting Baby Boy to term (or as close to it as possible).  I also keep reminding myself that my cervix/uterus held out before with 8 weeks of modified bed rest helping B get to 35 weeks with no real health issues. I can hold out again for Baby Boy.

B said something about ear pain the other night and came in this morning saying he couldn't hear well, so J took him to the doctor, and found B has an ear infection in his left ear.  I'm not surprised he has one because of the cold he can't seem to kick, but I am surprised B hasn't complained much.  He's doing a remarkable job dealing with all this.  He can now work the DVD player, type in "PBSKids.org" on the Internet browser, and get snacks independently.  We've been talking to him a lot about why Mommy has to lay down all day (so Baby Brother doesn't come too early and has to stay in the hospital for a long time), but I know it's a lot for him to take in.  We've also drug him back and forth from the hospital and I know he worries about Mommy being sick (having contractions).  Thankfully, he seems to be taking everything in stride and manages to stay busy at the hospital or near my bedside, and we enjoy "B and Mom time" reading every day.  

B has had his moments, though.  He comes in to sleep in our bed more lately, he cries more when he's upset (like when we told him no Christmas toys could come to the hospital), and he worries about me. The other day he requested that I hold him when he woke up in the middle of the night, but first asked if I had to take medicine first so he could sit on my lap and not cause the baby to come too early. (B is very compassionate).  After a few activity-filled days with Dad and Grandma and having a cold, B was on the verge of tears on Saturday.  When I asked him what was wrong, he said "Oh, you're just resting all day."  (It's nice to know I'm not the only one frustrated with bed rest).  I asked what I could do and he said "Can I lay with you?" There is not a lot I can do while on bed rest, but laying with my son, I can do.  So like I said, B has his moments but still manages to keep soldiering on.  He seems to be pretty resilient, but I still want to keep things as routine for him as possible even while being on bed rest.  B goes back to school next week, so that should help occupy his time and keep him from worrying too much about me, and J tries to take him on an outing everyday.  Today they went to the mall.

J left for awhile today to go to a work meeting and pick up B's medicine and refill my prescriptions (when you take 8 pills a day to keep contractions at bay, they go quick).  So he asked B to be "Mommy's helper." B has been great at retrieving things for me, emptying my meal trays, and refilling my water the last few days.  He has also become a mini version of J, policing me every time I try to get up.  Earlier, I was laying down rooting around in my bedside basket for something, and he called from his room, "Get back in bed.  Do you want my baby brother to be sick?".  I assured him I was still in bed, but he came to check anyway.  I thought it was pretty funny.  He definitely takes after Daddy who takes his responsibility as Bed Rest Police very seriously.

Day 16: A Rough Night and Another Hospital Visit

Last night I had lots of contractions and cramping and had trouble sleeping.  Even a warm hot water bottle on my abdomen didn't help much.  B also came in my bed around 2 first because of growing pains in his legs and later because of an earache.  Thankfully, my mother-in-law was here to get him some medicine and get him settled again.  None of us got much sleep, so B and I slept in until 10 this morning, and J sent his mom home and laid in my make-shift bed in the living room when he got home from work at 8 a.m.  Unfortunately it was very uncomfortable on his broken shoulder and ribs and they've been hurting ever since.  I know he loves me and makes lots of sacrifices for me, and he's taking a lot on that I can't do right now.  He's a good man, and I love him for always supporting me.

Because of our restless night, we just took it easy today.  B and I watched a lot of movies while J slept off his shift.  But all day my stomach felt like it was tied in one big knot and I kept having pains and contractions.  I tried a hot water bottle and a bath, but they didn't really help my discomfort.  When J woke up, I had pretty much continuous contractions and was in a lot of pain.  I asked if I should call  the doctor and J said she'd just make me come in, which of course she did (and because it's New Year's the office is closed so we had to go to the hospital).  She also told me to double up on my dose of Nifedipine, the anti-contraction medication I'm taking. 

B and J weren't too happy about going back to the hospital since I was just released yesterday.  I further complicated things for J when he had to pack a bag for me again.  I really should have a hospital bag packed and ready to go.  J said we have to come up with a plan so we're not going back and forth to the hospital every other day.  I agreed and the purpose of this hospital visit was to be monitored and see if the painful crampiness and tightening I feel is just something I have to live with because of uterine irritability or if they're contractions that are bringing on pre-term labor and further cervical change.  That is something this baby and I cannot afford.  Laying here, I have lots of time to worry and stress, which just causes more contractions.  But, I just want to give this baby as much time in the womb as possible and would rather be safe than sorry so we packed up and went back to the hospital.

Of course by the time we reached the hospital the double dose of the medicine had kicked in, and I wasn't having many contractions.  Baby Boy looked good on the monitors too, which is good.  We were actually only at the hospital for a little over an hour, but I came back more educated about exactly what I've been feeling.  The nurse was really patient as she monitored me and explained uterine irritability versus labor-causing contractions. 

They told me I had an irritable uterus when I was in pre-term labor with B.  I remember feeling pretty much constantly uncomfortable at that time, but didn't exactly remember how the irritability felt and how to distinguish between that and real contractions.  The nurse explained how uterine irritability causes contractions that are either quick painful twinges/cramps or a tightening of the entire abdomen for long periods of time while real labor-inducing contractions come in waves, tighten the entire belly before releasing again, and have a consistent rhythm.  Most of what I've felt today and what was picked up on the monitor was uterine irritability (again they only picked up one major contraction in the hour of monitoring).  The irritability is uncomfortable, but I can live with it and am glad to see that the Terbutaline the other day seems to have disrupted my regular contraction cycle.  Now that I better understand the difference between the two issues, and know that irritability doesn't really cause the cervical change and premature birth like I was worried about, I am more relaxed.  I also have resolved that I can handle the discomfort as long as Baby Boy gets here safely and later rather than sooner.  In the meantime, I'm just glad another day has passed with Baby Boy still safely tucked away.  It's a Happy New Year, indeed.

B pushed me out in the wheelchair.  He almost ran me into a few walls, but that was the highlight of the hospital visit for us because we got to go home.

Monitor showing my uterine irritability.  Notice there are far fewer peaks (contractions) than on the monitor picture from Sunday night).

Day 15: Home again, home again, jiggity-jig

Ok, I can't do a jig while on bed rest, but you can. I'm glad to be home from the hospital, and I think the boys are glad to have me back too, though Bryson asked if I could stay so he could keep sleeping in our bed with Daddy and watch more movies.  After monitoring the baby and me for contractions last night and this morning and only seeing one or two contractions each time, they released me to bed rest at home.  I have to admit it is much better doing it at home.  J even let me lay propped up on the couch for awhile after the doctor said I can be in a reclined position for a few minutes each day. 

J straightened up the house for my return.  I'm learning to let him do things his way and to not pay attention to little messes or piles.  He's working his butt off to take care of me and B, going to his job, preparing for his upcoming nursing exam, and also taking on my responsibilities.  I'm very grateful for that and love him for supporting me through this.

After being at the hospital for 48 hours, I really enjoyed watching B play today (he dressed his doll in the preemie outfit he picked out the other day).  My in-laws came to celebrate New Year's with us.  We played Rummy Cube and we wore the New Year's hats B made while counting down to the New Year at 9 p.m before B went to bed.  My mother-in-law is spending the night because J went to work tonight and I can't get up to help B.  I've had a little cramping and few contractions tonight, but at least I can rest assured that  Baby Boy will not make his appearance in the year 2013.

J says this self-interview video is super cheesy but I wanted to get the baby's heartbeat on video.

Day 14: Staying Overnight Again (29 Weeks)

After getting three shots of Terbutaline last night, my preterm contractions finally slowed to a minimum.  But around 2 this morning, my contractions came back with a vengeance.  Mercifully, though, I didn't really feel them as intensely because they gave me Ambien, a medication to help me sleep and relax my uterus.   When the contractions didn't stop, the nurse gave me another shot of Terbutaline around 5 a.m.  Within twenty minutes of getting the first shot, my contractions stopped completely, and she didn't need to give me the remaining two doses.  The Terbutaline seems to have successfully interrupted my body's contraction cycles, though the doctor doesn't expect my uterus to "be completely quiet," and I was told to still expect occasional (keyword here) contractions, as my body IS still in preterm labor.  My uterine muscles have honestly not felt this relaxed in weeks, and that relaxation has brought great physical relief.  I was still nervous about the contractions coming back like they did last night, so I am having them keep me overnight again so they can monitor me.  So far today I've only had four contractions, and those were after I was active (like when I got up to shower or walked down the hall to see the perinatologist).  One contraction an hour is to be expected in my case, but the eight to ten I was having in an hour yesterday were not.

 

I visited the perinatologist (high risk pregnancy specialist) this afternoon and got an ultrasound, though Baby Boy is too low in my pelvis for the ultrasound techs to get a profile or face shot.  The good news is Baby Boy looks good, my fluid levels are great, and although my cervix is still a lot shorter than it should be (1.5 cm. instead of the normal 3.5+ cm at 29 weeks), it has remained the same length in the last few days, despite contractions.  The doctor also said that although Baby Boy is low, because my cervix is stable, birth isn't imminent yet.  It actually looks like he's mostly in the smaller horn of my bicornuate uterus (the left side), so as my cervix has shortened, he's settled there to be able to stretch out and have enough room. That gave me some reassurance, as did hearing there are still more measures that can be taken to stop labor if contractions start up again in the near future.  I can also get another series of steroid shots to help Baby Boy's development if it looks like he'll be born before 34 weeks.  So there's still hope for a more to term baby, which is very good news because Baby Boy would only be about 2 pounds, 10 ounces if born right now.  That's only the 36th percentile for weight at this gestational age so he's on the smaller side.  Now that preterm labor has been stopped, my prayers are now for this baby to grow.

 

J and B spent the morning at home so B wasn't bored while I laid in my hospital bed and saw doctors.  He needed a chance to play (I think there was more movie-watching than playing going on, but I'm OK with that at the moment).  The funny thing is that Jarom woke up with B's feet in his mouth.  (I've always told Jarom that I have trouble sleeping next to Bryson because of all the moving and fidgeting he does, and he finally believes me, but B still isn't he moves around too much, even after the feet incident).  They did come by for a few hours after lunch and a visit to the library, around the same time they transferred me from a labor and delivery room to a mom/baby room.  (This bed is a lot more comfortable than the labor bed I was in last night and most of the day). B wanted to be J's twin today, so they both dressed in plaid shirts, jeans, and brown baseball hats.  It's pretty cute how much this boy idolizes his Daddy.  Soon I'll really be out-numbered with boys at our house.   

B enjoyed watching a movie in bed with me, getting snacks from the patient lounge with Daddy, and dancing around my room to Disney songs.  Sorry the quality of the dance video isn't great, but I had to share.  Watching him "get down" and hanging out with my boys (my husband and son) was the highlight of my day as was having my contractions successfully stopped so Baby Boy doesn't come any earlier than he has to!