Bed Rest

Well the last week has been pretty eventful! Last Thursday I went to Dr. L's office for my bi-weekly appointment to measure my cervix. Unfortunately it had gotten even shorter and was cause for alarm. Dr. L came into the office and said that she wanted to admit me to the hospital and have the Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor check me out. David and I were shocked to say the least! They rolled me out in a wheel chair and took me immediately up to labor and delivery and got me a room. I changed into a gown and got back in the wheel chair to be wheeled to the Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor. During the ultrasound examination at this new office my cervix kept fluctuating between 1cm and 1.7 cm. Definitely short. The major cause for concern however, was that I had started funneling. This means that my cervix was starting to open at the top. I wasn't dilated thank goodness. The Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor, Dr. Hughes, told us our options and mentioned a cerclage. A cerclage is a stitch around the cervix that helps keep it closed. At 23 weeks it was borderline too late for the cerclage but she explained the risks to us. The risks included infection and the possibility of rupturing the bag of water. David and I had to decide if this was what we wanted to do. We decided to go ahead and go through with it. Dr. H scheduled the Cerclage procedure for the next morning and I was wheeled back up to my room for STRICT bed rest....this, unfortunately, meant the use of a bed pan! The next morning around 9:30 I was taken back for the procedure. I was given a spinal block. Once Dr. H started the procedure she found that I had dilated 1 cm overnight....while on STRICT bed rest. It is a really good thing we decided to go through with the cerclage! The procedure went well and I was taken back up to my room. I stayed overnight Friday night but I was allowed to get up for bathroom breaks. Around 2:30 on Saturday I was released with orders that I remain on bed rest at home. I am allowed to get up for bathroom breaks, a brief shower and I am allowed to sit up to eat my meals. Other than that I have to remain in a reclining position.

We went for a follow-up appointment yesterday. Both babies are looking great (we found out last week that they weigh about 1 lb 5 oz and 1 lb 4 oz). The cerclage is still in place and everything is closed up. My cervical length is holding steady at 1.4cm. I will be seeing both Dr. L and Dr. H every two weeks so I will get a little jail break from the house. Tomorrow and Saturday I will be going to L and D to get steroid shots to start strengthening the boys' lungs in case they are born prematurely. Hopefully we will make it to 36 weeks with the bed rest.

As an added note, thank goodness for my mother-in-law. She has come by every day so far to help out. She gets here around 9 and leaves around 2. She lets Chipper out, brings me my meals and bless her heart, she has been a cleaning machine! It makes me tired just to watch her! David is going out of town this weekend for a work related softball tournament (I INSISTED that he still go). My parents are going to stay with me for the weekend to help with my meals and such. Everyone is being so helpful. I couldn't ask for better family and friends. This is going to be a long road but a road that is definitely worth it! Once I have Trey and Ty healthy in my arms it will seem like a distant memory! Oh and I am getting out of jury duty!