Tell me about Bed Rest experiences

[sent]

Because my doctors have now ordered me to bed rest.  My AFI keeps hovering between 6 and 9 for the last 4 weeks, no explanation.  Every time it goes to 6, I get scare sirens thrown at me that "This baby is going to need to be delivered NOW if you drop to a 5."  On top of the "Your fluid is low so your breech baby isn't turning so prepare for C-SECTION" scares.  

I am 32.5 weeks.

I still need to find out more instructions on exactly how much I should move, but this seems like it is going to be really hard.  It was not comfortable laying in my bed only on my left side yesterday after the appointment.

[simpsongal]

Dang, I'm sorry. How do they measure those levels? I'm about as far along and my doc hasn't checked any of that stuff.

Maybe hunker down with Chritsmas cards, movies, wrapping, and feel free to chat with the rest of us as much as you like?

[disappointedkittens]

I don't have personal experience either, but I wanted to send you hugs and good vibes! I know someone who went on bedrest around the same time and she was bored but she did some needlepoints and knitting for the baby to keep her busy.
Hang in there and visit here often!

[Amy]

I was on bed rest for a couple of weeks with DS. It was the middle of the summer so I took a couple showers a day because I couldn't get cool but other than that pretty much stayed in bed. Have everyone bring you all of their DVDs
Sorry you're going to be stuck in bed

[sent]

Dec 5, 2013 8:45:43 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

Dang, I'm sorry. How do they measure those levels? I'm about as far along and my doc hasn't checked any of that stuff.

Maybe hunker down with Chritsmas cards, movies, wrapping, and feel free to chat with the rest of us as much as you like?

They check it during your ultrasounds.  AFI = amniotic fluid index.  They measure pockets of the fluid during the ultrasound.  I think normal is like 12 - 15 so if you're normal, they probably don't even mention it.

The reason they found it was low for me 4 weeks ago is bc i didn't feel my baby move in almost 18 hours.  It was apparently normal at 20 weeks and somehow dropped by 28 weeks.

[simpsongal]

I'm sorry sent That makes me a little nervous because I'm not getting any more ultrasounds. The 20 week a/s one was my last one. I guess every practice does things differently.

Can you take epsom salt baths? A friend of mine was on bedrest and she got really swollen from the inactivity. I think epsom baths may help. And stay well hydrated.

[shelbyann]

I have no advice, but I'm sorry you're in this situation.

[sent]

Dec 5, 2013 10:16:14 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

I'm sorry sent That makes me a little nervous because I'm not getting any more ultrasounds. The 20 week a/s one was my last one. I guess every practice does things differently.

I think I wasn't supposed to have another one after the 20 weeks until 32 weeks.

I am not actually in bed yet.  I have to go to a doctor's appointment tomorrow morning so I plan to start tomorrow afternoon.  I came to work yesterday and today because I had agreed to cover another doctor's vacation a long time ago.  I found out Tuesday night about this and I think it is unreasonable for me to cancel 150 patients on such a short notice when I am not on my deathbed.  Well at least that's how I feel about it. 

I work in two offices.  The second office understands because I was hired to cover a doctor who had an organ transplant and nearly died so he completely gets it.  He worked until literally the day he got admitted to the hospital to wait for his transplant.  I am my own boss in the first office.  So as the boss, I have decided I will lay in the office with my laptop so I can access my server and get stuff done.  

My friend who is 3 weeks ahead of me also got put on bed rest because her baby is underweight.  

[formerlyak]

I was on bedrest for a month with ds. I'll be honest ... it sucked big time. I was put on bedrest because of preterm labor. When I got to L&D I was having good contrax but was not dilated, so they were able to give me meds to stop/slow the contrax. That in combo with bedrest at home was what I was told to do. For me, I was able to move from the bed to the couch to vary positions. I didn't have to stay in bed. I just had to really limit my activity and movement. My advice is to have lots to read and watch. Don't even look around your house and think about all the things you could get done. You just can't and it will drive you crazy to think about it. If you have friends nearby who don't work, ask them to come visit you for lunch. You can even call in an order to a take out place and pay over the phone and ask them to pick it up on their way over. I had a lot of friends and co-workers (my office was 10 minutes from my house at the time) do that and it was a nice break in the day.

It's one of those things where you have to just know it is what is best and you have no choice and it won't be fun, but it WILL end.

Good luck!

[annabear07]

I'm sorry to hear this. Hopefully your fluid levels will go up quickly and you won't stay on bed rest for long. Good luck!