We have been on bed rest from 24 weeks to 30 weeks in Melbourne due to a shortened cervix ( 1.7cm at 24 weeks down to 0.7 at 26 weeks ) and previous pre term labour DS born at 28 weeks.
It's been a hell of a long road, we are at quite a comfortable 33 weeks now, but have been seperated from each other and DS for the last ten weeks, with Sal ( tummy mummy ) in hospital or living in a caravan as she is only allowed to be 15 mins from a tertiary care hospital until this baby is born. Our home town doesn't even have a birthing facilities at the hospital and the nearest bigger hopsital is 45 mins away so going home wasn't a good option.
In hopsital, she was on lots of drugs to try and hold off labour, progesterone & Nifedipine, plus blood thinning drugs to prevent blood clots from not being allowed to walk around, vitamin D because of no sunlight and sleeping tablets, cause sharing a room with ante nates for 6 weeks with crying newborns makes sleeping hard!! Since coming out at 30 weeks, she has been weaned off all of them, with the result that she has been having contractions for nearly FOUR weeks!!! Only last night, we were in the birthing suite because they thought this baby was coming soon!
The contractions have been getting stronger and more regular, when we went in to our appointment last Tuesday she was 1cm dilated with a 'sloppy' cervix, no change for the next few days but increasing intensity with contractions. On Sunday night in ED when they checked, she was 3cm with bulging membranes so they put her in overnight. Contractions all night, irrregular but strong so not much sleep to be had. From 1pm yesterday afternoon, she had regular 3 & 4 minute contractions, quite intense but not so bad she couldn't manage without drugs ( though my wife has an incredible pain threshold ) but as they didn't stop, they moved her to birth suite about 6.30pm saying they would do an internal down there. She was in quite a bit of pain by this stage but confined to bed because of the monitors and given panadeine forte to try and take the edge off and we were just waiting it out to see when this little man was making his appearance.
They didn't do an internal until 11.30pm, even though we'd asked for one before we were moved to birth suite, and found it to be EXACTLY THE SAME! 3cm, bulging membranes. I know it's crazy, as we are still 7 weeks early, but we were soooo upset that this wasn't going to happen in the near future. Our whole lives have been flipped upside down for the last 10 weeks, our son is at home being cared for by his Nana at the moment, we don't get to see him more than once a week as I can't leave Sal alone for any length of time and Nana can't drive in Melbourne so I drive back up there, pick them both up, they stay in the caravan for a couple of days and then I take them back again. It's been really, really hard and as much as we would have loved our full term take home bubba, we made our peace with not being able to have that a long time ago. What we want is two healthy little boys at home and if both our kids have to journey through NICU or special care to get there, then thats how it is. At the moment though, our 19 month old is missing out on both of his Mum's and his little brother should be just fine being born at 33 weeks with no other problems such as IUGR. Sal has been soo strong through this whole thing, making such a huge sacrifice to get our baby boy to this point, where if he's born, he will be okay, and we just want it to be over.
Thanks for reading girls, just really needed to vent to people who don't take it for granted that all pregnancies are straightforward affairs & that everyone gets a take home baby.
sally ive been following ur story with great intrest!!!
so glad ot hear things are going well, but wow what a situation!!
i bet u guys will be glad when its all over and ur little one is here!!!
have they given u a indication of how much longer this will go on for??
the staff at the mercy are fab, we couldnt fault them when i was there
Thanks for the welcome ladies. As soon as I get a chance I will be more actively involved with everyones discussions.
Sally - I was only reading your thread yesterday about Sally being on bedrest since 24wks. I was so excited for you thinking that you were about to meet your little man. She has done terrifically getting your little bubba boy to 33wks, well you both have. Being away from your little one at home would be so hard, I know how hard it can be. It doesnt sound like it will be too long until your little man will arrive, how exciting. What a road you both have travelled. Thankyou for sharing yours and Sally's story, Im so sorry you havent been able to have an easy time of it. I cant wait to hear the BA of your precious little man that is being so eager to meet his mummy's. Hugs
Well today had my hospital appt with the physcians, well ended up having to see the endocologist or something like that as well, as they have now said that I have an under active thyroid So now on thyroid medication. At least I dont need to go on the clexane, will be keeping on taking the aspirin instead, and have been advised should definately be 4-6wkly u/s's to check up on bubs.
So now have my next appt in 2wks with the OB and the physician then 2wks later have to go back in for a BT then the following day back to see the endocologist. So yippee for me. Not.... lol.
So thats it for me for now. Hope everyone is doing well, and hopefully tomorrow will be a better day to catch up with everyone. hugs
Beema - I hope all went well today. Hugs
Crumpet - So happy to be in here with you too, I hope all turns out well when you go in and have the stitch done. Know that I am here for you. hugs
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