Day 63: Bye, Bye Bed Rest (36 Weeks)

Today my bed rest sentence issued exactly nine weeks ago was finally revoked because Baby Boy and I made it to week 36!   Baby Boy is growing and weighing in at 6 pounds, 1 ounce and is about 17 inches long.  The ultrasound technician commented on his short little legs, but having another baby who is on the short side is no surprise to J and I who aren't very tall ourselves.  My stomach is measuring around 35 weeks because baby is low in my pelvis, but I'm still growing and Baby is still moving even in the very cramped conditions my bicornuate uterus provides!  Because he's so low, some of these ultrasound shots have part of his forehead cut off, and he kept moving his hand in front of his face (no, that's not a foot in the third photo below), but I liked being able to see my baby's little face and knowing he's doing OK.

I have also been taken off of Procardia and Progesterone which help to prevent early contractions and cervical change.  Some women go into labor within hours of stopping the medications and others last 10-14 days or more.  So we shall see what happens from this point.  Right now besides some back pain and feeling completely out of shape (after only getting up to go to the bathroom and the table for two months, even walking or sitting is fatiguing), I'm pretty asymptomatic.  Who knows when the contractions will start and send me in to actual labor?  People ask me when I think this baby is coming, and honestly, I have absolutely NO idea.  

 

Highlights of Week Thirty-Six (34 week fetal age):

• Baby weighs just over six pounds and doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's about 17 inches long. 
• Baby is head down in pelvis to prepare for delivery.
• Most of his basic physical development is now complete - he'll spend the next few weeks (hopefully) putting on weight and developing fat layers.   Baby will put on about half a pound a week from here on out. 
• Lungs should be just about fully developed (boys' lungs do generally take longer to develop than girls' lungs, however).  Circulation and immune systems are basically good to go, too.
• Skin is getting smooth and soft and his gums are rigid.  Baby's bones and skull are still relatively soft to make for an easier delivery and will harden after birth.
• His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. 
• Baby's reflexes are coordinated.  He can turn his head, grasp firmly, and respond to sounds, light and touch. 
• Eyes opened when awake and closed when sleeping.
• He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair (lanugo) that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that has covered and protected his skin so far.  Baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of his first bowel movement.
• Baby is sporting full-length fingernails and toenails and hair is growing on head.
• Baby is now developing daily activity and sleep cycles.
• Brain development continues to advance quickly.
• Baby’s digestive system is putting on its finishing touches in preparation to take baby’s first meal in a few weeks’ time.

Day 36: Time Off For Good Behavior

As a celebration for reaching 32 weeks, I had someone come in and give me a haircut, manicure, pedicure, and eyebrow wax.  All these things, except the haircut, were done at home while in a reclining or laying position (per doctor's stipulations).  It felt SO good to have my feet massaged, my hair done, and to feel better because I look better.  Let's face it, after a few days sick in bed, most of us feel our worst and don't want to look in the mirror.  After weeks of bed rest and throwing my hair in a messy bun, laying around thinking about how gross my feet were getting, and feeling like I was going to look like Bert from Sesame Street soon if something wasn't done about my eyebrows, it was time.  It was a great morale booster and felt so good to be pampered before my doctor's appointment this afternoon (Read on for news about that). 

The salon treatment and doctor's appointment today made for the most exciting day I've had in weeks.  We had some really good news.  The ultrasound showed Baby Boy is measuring great (about 4 pounds, 6 ounces), mostly because he has a big head (that measured 35 weeks while his tummy and thighs measured smaller and averaged 32-33 weeks).  The baby has his face turned toward my back, so we didn't get a profile shot but he has a very nice back of the head.  (I don't know what I'm going to do if he's already refusing to pose and smile for pictures at this very tender age).  I am also happy to report that my cervix is still stable even with all the contractions I've had lately.  There's some more "funneling/"opening where Baby's head is pressing on my cervix, but that's to be expected because I carry low and my cervix has shortened so dramatically.  

With B, my amniotic fluid levels were a little high the week he was born, which can indicate an abnormality (Down Syndrome, cleft pallet, neurological problems) or more likely, low kidney function for the baby.  So doctors will do another ultrasound in a few weeks just to make sure all my levels look good and Baby Boy is still thriving.  I'm not going to freak out unless we see that again and Baby is in danger.   I know I am being watched closely by wonderful doctors, and that is very comforting, and as I said, I know the Lord is watching out for us too. I'm pleased that everything looked good today, and I'll keep pressing on in bed rest journey so we can get to that 36 week mark or beyond.        

B's sticking out his tongue that was made blue by the Jolly Rachers that are always his first stop at the OB office.

Day 30: Stablity

At my doctor's appointment today, Dr. W. found that everything is still stable and Baby Boy is still hanging in there, and we're all happy about that.  Even the more frequent contractions lately haven't caused any real cervical change, so that's even better.  She suggested a maternity support belt to ease abdominal pressure and uterine irritability, especially since I am carrying so low, so I'll see how that works.  Besides that, Dr. W. just wants me to take it a week at a time, and we'll go from there.  32 weeks is a huge milestone because most of Baby's development is stable by then, and then it's mostly a matter of lung maturation (which I had shots to help the little guy with and can get another dose of if labor occurs before 34 weeks) and weight gain (which can occur outside the womb).  So only 4 1/2 days to go until then, and that's doable, and we'll go for the next milestone from there.

I had a routine Non-Stress-Test (NST) to monitor contractions while there and Baby Boy sounded good on the monitors and I only had some minor uterine irritability, without having any contractions, which is our goal.  Knowing things are stable gives me some peace of mind and the confidence we can make it another week.  Stability in this pregnancy also allows me to focus on B and J a little more.  Now I can better support J who is having major anxiety while he prepares to take his state nursing boards next week and is currently applying for a job in his unit.  I can also provide B a routine to help him cope with the changes he's experienced.  So I'm very grateful for the blessings stability brings, and I pray it continues.

I found the following mantra on a fellow bed rest blog, and I liked her thoughts on stability so much I thought I'd share:

 

As long as I am in a stable state, I need not worry.
As long as I am not having contractions, I can relax.
As long as I am not feeling pain, I can remain still.
As long as I focus on the likelihood of making it further, I can find hope.
As long as I have faith, I can find peace.  
-- Ashley Potter, Bedrestboutique.com

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 11: A Blow to the Ego- Still Progressing

After being cooped up in the house for almost two weeks and only getting out of bed to use the bathroom for the last four days, I was ready for an outing.  You know you're hard up when a doctor's appointment is the highlight of your day!  But because I have trouble sleeping at night after resting all day, I ignored the alarm this morning.  Of course today was also the day B slept in because of his cold, and J, who has been working a stretch of nights, didn't wake up either.  So we all woke up at 9, the same time as my appointment, but we rushed to the OB office anyway.  Somehow I spilled  my water all over J on the way there, so I came in flustered and J came in agitated and wet.  Thankfully, the doctor still managed to get me in for my appointment even though we were over a half hour late. 

I was very disappointed to hear from the ultrasound tech that my cervix has shortened eight more millimeters since Monday, even with bed rest.  I've felt occasional contractions the last few weeks, and have noticed them more while laying down all day, but I was hoping they wouldn't cause cervical change now that I'm totally inactive.  Unfortunately, they have.  I couldn't help but feel like my bed-resting efforts over the last 96 hours were in vain, though J reminded me that it could be worse if I wasn't being diligent about bed rest.  He's right, but it was still an emotional blow that caused tears throughout the day and made me even more worried about the possibility of an extremely premature baby, and I was super stressed and basically an emotional wreck.  J has a hard time dealing with crying and doesn't really know how to help me, but he's being as supportive as possible, especially since he's still not feeling so great with his broken bones and taking on all my responsibilities.  I tried to hold it in, but I still got weepy several times and if J didn't notice, B would say, "Dad, Mom's crying again." It was just an emotional blow to hear that bed rest hasn't kept preterm labor from progressing and I was upset that I'm not a better baby carrier.

The baby's head has also dropped further into my pelvis (ready for delivery) so he's putting more pressure on my cervix and making my uterus measure 25 weeks rather than 28, which also has me worried.  In fact, his head is so far down, the ultrasound tech couldn't even get a face or profile shot like I was hoping for.  Baby Boy is only 2 pounds,10 ounces so WAY too small to be born, and he still has A LOT of developing to do.  Thankfully my cervix is still closed (not dilated) so my doctor said I could continue bed rest at home as long as I comply to strict bed rest.  J has been quite the "bed rest enforcer" ("Lay down, let me get it.  Quit lifting thing!  You're laying crooked.").  B also tattles when I get up, even if I'm going to the bathroom.  J keeps reminding me that bed rest is for the best and I'm lucky to be doing it at home where I can be with my family (and see B for more than 45 minutes a day), have resources (DVDs, games, computer, books, etc.), and be able to wear my own pajamas, shower, and use the bathroom rather than a bed-pan at the hospital.  He's right; I am lucky, even though bed rest is not easy nor ideal.  So enough of the pity-party; I can do this for Baby Boy!

 

I have another appointment in a week and if I'm at all dilated or if my cervix measures less than a centimeter (which is not too far off), they'll admit me to the hospital until labor can no longer be stopped with medication and other measures.   I'm praying that doesn't happen so I can stay at home on bed rest.  Doctors are hoping for 34 weeks, but realistically think he'll come at 32.  I'm hoping and praying for 36 even if that means more bed rest. My condition is nerve-wracking, but delivery isn't imminent yet and my body held out before even when dilated, so it can hold out again.

 

I just have to have a good attitude and take it one day at a time and remember each day Baby Boy stays in the womb is a victory.  I know I can't dictate everything as far as when this baby actually arrives, but I can do my part by remaining as still as possible and keeping weight off my cervix and keeping contractions at bay.  I am trying to count my blessings and find joy in the simple things (like snuggling with B while we work on reading, a daily shower or bath, and being waited on). 

 

I have decided to find moments each day that get me through.  Today's highlights were seeing B conduct the music he was listening to (the Piano Guys) with Legos, playing the Headbanz game and laughing with B, and that J tried numerous times to make me feel better even though I'm sure he is exasperated with his hormonal and weepy wife.  My gratitude moment was that my mother-in-law came over to help with B while J is at work, and  she did some housework and brought dinner.

 

When it comes down to it, there is hope (even if I'm scared about the possibility of a pre-mature baby).  There are numerous success stories about mothers with the similar prenatal issues as mine having babies that make it almost or to- term with bed rest.  I know that prayers are answered and that my faith can get me through.  Even though it's hard, Baby Boy is so worth this and I have to remember I'm doing this for him!