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!

Day 8: Christmas Eve (28 Weeks)

Today marks day 8 of bed rest and 24 hours of being on strict bed rest, without getting out of bed.  I know bed rest sounds like a vacation to some people, but it's not so much fun, especially when you're not allowed to even sit up and it lasts for more than a day.  I'm a person who always wants to be on the move and it's hard to not be able to help little B or sit at the computer (thankfully my father-in-law loaned me his tablet computer for the time being, but laying down I can only type one-handed so it takes awhile).  J made me a bed in the front room that I can be in during the day to be with him and B as much as possible and then move to the bedroom at night.  That way I have a little structure to my day and  a change of scenery and can hopefully still sleep at night even after resting all day.  I figured strict bed rest would be an emotional journey, but didn't realize how physically draining it is.  After only 29 hours on strict bed rest, my back hurts, my arms ache from holding books and supporting myself, and I feel cramped up, but that shouldn't last forever.  B was very sweet upon realizing that I was having a hard time with bed rest and said, "Mom, It's OK, I'll come lay with you sometimes."  That made me cry and realize I got him here with bed rest, albeit modified rather than strict bed rest, so I can do it for Baby Number Two.

Even with Sudoku puzzles, movies, books, visitors, and Christmas Eve activities, the hours passed slowly, and I couldn't help but feel a few times today like I'm in prison and J is my warden.  He kept saying things like, "You're practically sitting up again with the way those pillows are propped up; lay down." "You're laying crooked, that's not good for your back," etc.   I want to be up putting presents under the tree and playing with B, but I can't, and that's disheartening.  Funny enough though, I have no guilt about not being able to do dishes or push a vacuum.  As difficult as it is, I know staying down is the best thing for Baby Boy, so rather than wallow in the misery that brought occasional tears and feeling sorry for myself, I'm going to make the most of it.  I'm going to take J's advice and be optimistic and take it one day at a time and focus on the positives.

The highlights of this day of bed rest were hearing B sing Christmas carols, seeing his excitement about putting out cookies for Santa and food for the reindeer, and being with B, J, and my in-laws for the evening.  Another blessing was that the lady from Whole Foods gave us the turkey dinner we ordered for tonight completely free after hearing our pathetic story from my mother-in-law (All it took was mentioning me on bed rest, J with numerous broken bones, and us trying our best to take care of our five year old).  That's the Christmas spirit for you!  Plus, as J reminded me frequently, I'm home with my family celebrating Christmas and our Savior's birth, and I am not in the hospital.  And there's the fact that baby is still in utero and I'm now 28 weeks and 1 day pregnant!  So there are many things to be grateful for even if bed rest is difficult.  Merry Christmas from our family (including Baby Boy) to yours!