Bed Rest-Please need your suggestion and help

[suhanimom]

Bed Rest-Please need your suggestion and help
I am 37 yrs old. Last year in July-2011. I lost baby at week-20 due to 'Incompetence Cervix' issue. I went for a routine ultrasound and they found that my cervix got dilated 3cm. I delivered baby at week 20. It was very heart breaking to see I could not anything to save my baby boy. I am grateful that we got to hold him in our hand but it made our connection with him more stronger.

I am 22 weeks pregnant again now this year. I had preventive mcdonald cerclage at week-14. I had my cervix measured...

At eek 16.5 and it measured 3.9cm which is pretty normal and good.
At week-18, it was 3.2cm.
At week-20 it was 2.4cm.
At week-21, it was 1.9cm with funneling.

I am nervous about my cervix becoming shorter. Can I do anything to make my cervix strong?

My doctor asked me to take it easy and do bed rest where I can move around in house for fixing meals, shower etc. My dr. said he does not what else to do as I already have cerclage and weekly progestrone P17 injections given.

I am software engineer, so I have option to work from home. However, for last 5 days I have taken time off. Now I am lying in the bed most part of the day.

Q1) Is there any better position between lying on left hand side vs. lying on back?

Q2) Is it ok to sit in the bed (where there are pillows in my back but slightly angled so sitting straight) for working on computer or for eating?

Q3) when I get up to brush or get water or meal, how long is it ok to be on feet? I am trying to limit 15-20mins but it seems that is sometimes not enough for finishing things.

Q4) Do u face issues related to constipation as not moving much? I was taking calm magnesium powder but last 2 days it is not helping much.

Q5) What kind of pillow do u use in the bed for sitting? I saw this pillow on amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ls_o02_s00_i00

Q6) Once a day I put my feet on head board of the bed and lie in 45 degree angle for 10mins, trying to do inversion pose without actually keep feet completely straight in the air.

Q7) Is there any other advise you will give to make the bed rest more helpful?

Please help me, my baby is everything to me. I want to have healthy full term pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby.

[Sarahmom]

I had a shirodikar (sp?) preventative cerclage placed at 15 wks gestation. My cervix was at 1.6cm for about 6wks, then when I turned 25wks there was funnelling above the stitch and since the twins were past the point of viability my doc said it was time to admit me to the hospital for hospital bed rest. I've been here now for 3w3d. Yeah, it's not ideal, my cervix has continued to shorten, but only slowly so things are looking ok. Now our concern isn't so much about my cervix but more about size discordance...there's always something! I wish you luck!!!

[suhanimom]

Thanks for sharing ur story. I read ur blog for the latest update too. U have only 3 more weeks left for 32 weeks milestone, u will be able to make it easily. My good wishes n prayer are for u. Did u check some self hypno music for pregnancy? I can send u a few other good music name too, they seem to be pretty.

[Sarahmom]

Thank you Suhanimom, I'd rather have some music to make me comatose until the babies are ready to be born! lol. Being in the hospital the days sure drag on. I'm planning a cesearian birth this time around, mostly so I can have a tubal ligation at the same time (tubes tied). Best of luck with your pregnancy, I hope your cervix calms down and you're able to get much further in your pregnancy!

[momto3angels]

COngratulations on your pregnancy-I'm sorry it's coming with complications and I'm VERY sorry to hear about the loss of your sweet baby boy. I know that pain too bcs in '03 I lost my triplets, Hannah, Ryan and Abby, over the course of a week. It was devastating. In my next pg, I had a singleton and thought I'd sail right through but low and behold, at 21 weeks, I had a rescue cerclage because my cervix was shortening.

Here's the best answers I can give you to your questions:


Q1) Is there any better position between lying on left hand side vs. lying on back? Avoid lying on your back-rotote between your left and right side, but lying flat on your back can actually trigger contractions (I'm sorry that I don't remember exactly why-I just remember being told to NOT LIE ON MY BACK so I'm passing that along)

Q2) Is it ok to sit in the bed (where there are pillows in my back but slightly angled so sitting straight) for working on computer or for eating? Bedrest is tough because it means different things to different doctors and different women. For me, it meant that I had a hospital bed at home, I spent 14 weeks in trandelenberg position, used a commode and showered 10 min or faster every other day. I did not sit, I did not stand, walk, drive, etc. I took a leave from work and when I went on the computer, I did it from my side. I wore compression socks to prevent blood clots and I basically layed there day in and day out. Part of the conservative approach was due to my doctors and part of it was because I would never forgive myself if somethign happened again and I knew that I didn't do everything possible. These are all questions to ask your doctor and then determine yoru own comfort level.

Q3) when I get up to brush or get water or meal, how long is it ok to be on feet? I am trying to limit 15-20mins but it seems that is sometimes not enough for finishing things. (answered this is the previous question)

Q4) Do u face issues related to constipation as not moving much? I was taking calm magnesium powder but last 2 days it is not helping much. Yes and I drank as much water as possible (but be sure to empty your bladder as often as you need to bcs a full bladder can trigger contractions) and I took collace every day.

Q5) What kind of pillow do u use in the bed for sitting? I saw this pillow on amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ls_o02_s00_i00 I never sat but I did buy a wedge pillow to support my belly, and from time to time would put it behind me to support my back.

Q6) Once a day I put my feet on head board of the bed and lie in 45 degree angle for 10mins, trying to do inversion pose without actually keep feet completely straight in the air. It's not yoru feet/legs that matter here, it's your pelvic area-the point of trandelenberg position is to rellocate your baby and amniotic fluid OFF your cervix to elleviate pressure on yoru cervix. I'm not sure that how helpful it is to do this periodically vs all the time-it's worth asking your dr about.

Q7) Is there any other advise you will give to make the bed rest more helpful? Bedrest stinks. It's hard, it hurts, it's nerve-racking and it's long. Days drag into days and you can really lose yourself in fear, bordom, anxiety, etc. The best advice I can give you is to do as little as possible, keep yourself as mentally busy as possible (read, surf the internet, work from home, etc) but stay off yoru feet AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE and hang in there.

FWIW-my cercalge was removed at 36+ weeks. My cervix was funnelled to the stitch by the time it was removed, but once it was removed, I held onto the pg for another 10 days. My son was born at just 38 weeks completely healthy.

In my next pg, I didnt' have such strict restrictions. My cerclage was removed at 36 weeks and 2 days later, my daughter was born. She is also completely healthy.

Hang in there and best of luck to you.

[suhanimom]

Hi momto3angels,

Thanks so much taking time and replying to my questions. It is really amazing to know you are helping still when probably u may be active on this board after having Joey and Laura. Congrates again for having joey and laura with full term delivery, it is amazing testimony to all moms who go through all this for being a mom.

1) What made dr. to prescribe trandelenberg position? Was this due to cervix length?
2) In your 3rd pregnancy, why there was not much restriction for bed rest? what changed in 3rd pregnancy; was it ur diet or pelvic exercise?

[suhanimom]

Hi Sarahmom,

I hope u are doing great. I saw u completed a big milestone 32 weeks, congrates. R u back at home and doing bed rest?

I apologize, it took time to send u some list of music, they are really great.

1) My fav one; womb prayer meditation
Womb Prayer Meditation - YouTube

2) Sound healing- meditation
Sound Healing - Meditation Music {Delta Waves} - YouTube

3) Chakra Healing
Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Tibetan Chakra Meditations