Bed Rest 101

It's hard to believe that this time last year my world was being turned upside down.  BED REST!  I remember it like it was yesterday.  I was wearing a green and blue striped shirt.  Seeing my reflection in the mirror as I walked into my doctor's office still shocked me.  I knew, while laying there on the table having an ultrasound done, before they said anything, that bed rest was in my future.  Drinking the nasty orange sugar stuff didn't even phase me since there were a million things running through my mind.  I didn't tell my family at the time that the doctor could feel his head when she did my examine!  Yikes that baby was low!  Dr. B kept asking me how close I parked to the office.  The last thing she said was, "Go right home and lay down.  Only get up to use the bathroom and to heat up soup, no cooking.  Period."   We were a nervous wreck.  29 weeks was just too early.  We prayed I'd make it to 34 weeks.  I've never seen Gordon more anxious than during this time period. 
Now here we are with an 11 month old who is happy and healthy.  I'll never forget March 26th!

For any mommas out there reading this, here are some bed rest tips (you can also visit the American Pregnancy Association for more information).

• People will tell you to enjoy your time off work because you'll never get this kind of opportunity again (to lay around and sleep all day without a baby and no work).  Just give them a smile and say okay.....if you've been on bed rest you know this couldn't be farther from the truth.  YOU WORRY.  Your baby could possibly be in jeopardy and if you're like me you're not bringing home a paycheck while not working. 
• But, do try your best to enjoy your alone time.
• It's normal to cry every day...well at least for me it was.  :)
• Make a routine.
• If you have some of the nursery done go in the room once a day, sit in a chair and think about holding that precious baby. 
• Have one place that you stay the majority of the day that isn't your bed. 
• Have a couple healthy snacks between meals.  It will give you something to look forward to and it helps break up the day.  My favorites were carrots and ranch, pumpkin seeds, pudding and fruit snacks. 
• Get caught up on thank you notes and update your address book.
• Read something besides baby books. :) 
• I made appointments.....for Gordon to have his teeth cleaned, Gus to go the vet and a dentist appointment for me after William's due date. 
• Have pillows, tums and chap stick at every location!  All the laying down is terrible for indigestion.
• If you have multiple stories in your home like I do have a phone charger on each floor. 
• Grab your snack/drink when you're up for a bathroom break.  Cluster things together as much as possible. 

A typical day for me went like this....I woke up when Gordon did around 7:00.  He'd bring me breakfast and I'd eat upstairs in our room while I watched GMA, Kelly and sometimes The View.  I usually took a little cat nap after that.  Around 11:00 I'd stop into William's nursery and sit in the glider for a few minutes and read him a book.  Afterwards, I'd head down stairs to eat lunch and read my book.  I usually talked to Gordon around this time too.  I loved watching The Chew and of course blogging.  After snack time I'd take a nap around 4:00.  Most days Gordon was home by 6:00 and boy was I happy to have company.  I'd tell him how to make dinner, he'd bring it into the living room where we would eat and watch TV until 10 pm when it was time for bed!  We watched lots of movies and home improvement shows.  :)

So, eventhough it's hard to really enjoy this time try your best because it's the most rest you'll get for a long time.  I read something to William tonight from his Jesus Calling for Kids book that was perfect.  ~ Waiting on Me means trusting Me with every fiber of your being instead of trying to figure it all out yourself.  I will fill your life with blessings.  I will give you strength and joy and hope.  "It is good to wait quietly for the Lord to save."  -Lamentations 3:26 

 Let me know if anyone has any other advise for bed rest mommas because there's a good chance I'll be there again soon.  :)

32 weeks

How far along? 32 weeks 

Stretch marks? Nope

Sleep: I haven't slept very well the last few nights.  At least I can take a nap during the day!!
Best moment this week:  Finishing my yearly review for work.  I hate doing those things.
Miss anything: I guess I'm getting used to this bed rest thing because it's seeming more normal to stay at home all day and never see anyone besides Gordon and Gus.
Movement: He's the most active early in the morning and late at night.  The ultrasound tech had a hard time with the biophysical profile this week because he was sleeping so good.  It took some moving around (and poking on my belly) to get him up and moving!  I guess I shouldn't schedule the appointments at noon...it's apparently his nap time. 
Food cravings:  I really love eating toast with peanut butter and honey (I've loved it the entire pregnancy so it's nothing new).
Labor signs:  Some contractions but nothing regular or too painful.
Belly button in or out? No change
Wedding rings on or off?  On.  My hands do get a little bit swollen with all the laying down.
Happy or Moody?  Most days happy.  I usually feel emotionally drained after having a doctors appointment.  I'm just trying to stay positive and not think about all the what-ifs. 
Looking forward to:  Going to the doctor on Friday for a Non-Stress Test.  We've never had one done so it's something new.  I'm LAME...I know!   
Other: I went back to the Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor today to have a growth scan done of baby boy.  William has dropped down to the 5th percentile.  Since he is below the 10th percentile he's considered to have intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).  We will now be going to the MFM twice a week (Tuesday/Friday) to monitor the little guy by doing biophysical profiles, doppler (to check blood flow) and Non-Stress Tests.
Baby STATS: Heart rate 148, Estimated weight 3lb 9oz
Funny dad moment:  I had a bit of an emotional breakdown on Sunday (poor Gordon).  Like most pregnant women I have all these things I want to get done BUT can't.  For some reason on Sunday I felt upset that we didn't have any baby shampoo or lotion.  Gordon went to Babies R Us and called asking if we needed "the stuff for cradle cap".  HAHA.  I sure hope not!  I got a good laugh out of the conversation (which was good after the emotional morning).  He's a good man and will be an excellent daddy.  :)

32w3d

31 weeks

How far along? 31 weeks
Total weight gain? Up 2 pounds from my last appointment on March 26th (total weight gain is 17 pounds).
Maternity clothes? No change from last week.  Mostly wearing pajamas around the house.
Exercise: Can't :(

Stretch marks? Nope.  I read that bio-oil was good to use during pregnancy so I bought some the other day!

Sleep: Overall pretty good.  My back hurts a lot these days so I wake up feeling really uncomfortable several times a night.  Don't know if the back ache is from laying down all day or from carrying a baby for the past 8 months?!?
Best moment this week:  Just glad he hasn't been born yet!
Miss anything:  Lots of stuff...mostly just normal everyday life.  I miss our weekend routine of breakfast at Barnaby's, grocery shopping together and walking at the park. 
Movement:  He's still really active (especially at night).    
Food cravings:  Nothing really.  I've been really into chocolate covered marshmallows now that Lent is over. 
Anything making you queasy or sick:  Nope.   
Labor signs:  My cervix has shortened more from 1.8 to 1.43
Belly button in or out? No change...just barely out.
Wedding rings on or off? On.  I don't really wear them when I'm just laying around the house.
Happy or Moody?  Happy that I'm still pregnant & anxious about how much longer I will be!
Looking forward to:  The day I bring our baby HOME. 
Other: Uncle Dustin got married this past weekend in Jamaica.
I had 2 doctors appointments this week.  William's heartrate was 146 both days and my blood pressure is still good (100s/60s).       
Funny dad moment:  There are a million (I need to start writing them down after he says something funny)!  I asked G what he would do if I went into labor on Easter.  He calmly said, "Well Lindsey, I'd freak the **** out and throw you in the car."  He's such a laid back guy but I have a feeling this part of pregnancy could send him over the edge.  LOL.  I sure do love that man!

31 weeks 3 days

In the parking garage on the way to the doctor!

A Quiet Easter

Things were pretty quiet and uneventful at our house this Easter. We've gone to Texarkana the past three years so it was kinda sad to be stuck here.  It's well worth it if it helps baby boy stay put a little longer!  It does make me more excited for next years Easter!!  I can't wait to dress William up, take Easter bunny pictures, and hunt eggs (as best as a one year old can I guess).
We spent the weekend laying around of course.  Gordon did the grocery shopping, picked up some pants that were being altered at Dillard's, ran to Home Depot for outside light bulbs, bought stamps for thank you letters, went fishing Friday evening, and did some cooking on the Green Egg.  We watched lots of Chopped episodes and the movie Warrior.  The movie was actually pretty good.  I am NOT a fan of UFC so I was taken by surprise. 
Other exciting news....my brother is officially a married man!  In honor of his Jamaican wedding Gordon took me on a date to get a snocone.  I got coconut :) since it reminds me of the beach (and it's always been my favorite flavor)!  Poor Gordon had to wait in line for 45 minutes.  What a good hubby! 

Cheers to Dustin and Skye

Gus insisted on sitting right there

31 weeks

   

Change of Plans

Monday I had my routine doctor appointment.  I was scheduled to do the glucose tolerance test and have another ultrasound done to check my cervix.
Let me start off with a little past history....
At my very first "baby" appointment I was told that I have a bicornuate uterus.  Since I was already 7 weeks pregnant they said it's hard to tell exactly what shape my uterus is since it had already started changing/growing.  Some of the things associated with this "funny" uterus are preterm birth (15-25% chance) usually due to shortened cervix and  malpresentation (baby is breech).  My doctor said my cervix would be checked every 4 weeks starting around week 24 and I would be seen by a maternal fetal medicine physician.  At 19 and 22 weeks I was seen by the maternal fetal medicine physicians where we were given lots of good news.  They said William had a beautiful heart, a healthy looking umbilical cord, all his measurements were good (70th percentile overall), and at 22 weeks my cervix was nice and long at 3cm.  At 25 weeks my cervix was 2.8 cm (still good). 
Now here we are at 29 weeks....
On Monday I went to the doctor without Gordon since we both figured it would be an uneventful appointment.  HA.  Little did I know everything was about to change.  I had my ultrasound done first.  As soon as she started measuring my cervix and I saw 1.8 and 1.9 on the screen I knew that #1 there would be no trip to Jamaica for my little brothers wedding next weekend and #2 bedrest was most likely in my future.  My BP is good at 104/66, I gained 3 lbs since my last visit, and I passed my glucose test with flying colors!  When my doctor came in she was just as shocked as me to see such a change in my cervix length.  I was put on bedrest and scheduled to go back to the MFM doctor 2 days later (which was yesterday).  Overall the appointment went well.  My cervix hasn't changed.  Still 1.8cm.  They did a test called fetal fibronectin that helps to determine if a preterm delivery is going to occur in the next 7-10 days.  Thankfully it came back negative (super happy about that)!  Other good news...William's heartrate was 146 and my amniotic fluid level is good.  Baby boy is measuring a little small.  He went from being in the 70th percentile in February to the 11th.  His estimated weight is 2 lbs 11 oz.  SO, what do we do from here?!?!  We wait and hope the little guy stays put for at least 4 or 5 more weeks.  Until then I'm on strict bedrest.  I can get up to shower, use the bathroom and grab a snack from the kitchen.  No cooking, no cleaning and no other extra curricular activities.  I go back to my doctor in 12 days to have my cervix checked again and to the MFM doctor in 3 weeks to do another growth scan of our little angel.  So, until then all we can do is pray!
I'm super sad to miss my brother's wedding but so thankful that all this happened before we ended up in another country.  I'm hoping we can have a fun post wedding celebration this summer when William can join in on the fun!  We also canceled the Texarkana baby shower but will hopefully have a sip and see sometime this summer.  What will I do with all my free time?  READ, catch up on Grey's Anatomy, watch lots of movies, work on some snapfish photo albums, learn how to use my fancy new camera from my parents, write thank you notes, and daydream about the day I hold my BIG baby boy.

29 weeks 4 day