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Thinking of you and your little girl....I wine into premature labor at 30 weeks. Ended up having a 30w5day-er. She spent some time in NICU but is now an extremely happy, healthy, LOUD little 3.5 year old!

Hang in there!

Thinking of you! So sorry that you have to be on bed rest but it seems like you are in good hands!

So sorry to hear this but it sounds like you're in great hands

@jaguar: I'm so sorry you have to go through this. Small silver lining is the amazing 3d pictures you got of your adorable baby girl's little face.

Thinking of you and sending good vibes!

I had a similar situation except no hospital bedrest - my baby was born at 39w6d!! - started having contractions and menstrual cramp-type pain around 24/25 weeks. My mom had incompetent cervix and had my sis @ 28 wks so I knew the family history was there. I had a shortening and funneling cervix as well. My OB put me on strict bedrest and I started seeing a MFM specialist every week.

At the MFM, they did a vaginal ultrasound at each appt to check my cervical length - interestingly, some weeks it would be almost normal, and some weeks it would be short/funneling. The doctor said sometimes the measurement can go back and forth?! They also did a fetal fibronectin test every 2 wks - it's a swab they do and if it's positive you have an increased risk of going into labor in the next 2 weeks.

I also got steroid injections for baby's lungs and was on nifedipine for contractions. I had SO MANY contractions, ALL the time.

At 36 wks, the MFM doctor told me I was off bedrest and do what I want to do! And baby waited till 39w6d. Hang in there!! The good part was when baby did come, I had a really fast labor, I think my body was ready to go after all the preterm labor!

She's beautiful! I'm so sorry you're on bed rest and I hope you can make it to 36 weeks!!

Hugs mama and all my thoughts are with you and your sweet baby girl

My friend was on hospital bed rest I think at around 24 weeks bc her water broke and she made it to 32 weeks and has a beautiful 4 year old girl

She is so precious! Sending positive thoughts to you all and hoping that baby stays cooking for as long as she can!

@jaguar: You have the right attitude - when I was on bed rest I really just took it one day at a time. Every day she's in there is a great accomplishment. You're in good hands so just focus on relaxing.

@jaguar: It is absolutely. I was just 30 weeks when I had preterm labor and when I was in the hospital they told me I might have the baby that first night I was there. The meds to stop contractions are fairly effective so hopefully that helps. I know Mrs. Green Grass had something similar, but very early (like 25 weeks) and I'm not sure how long she was able to keep baby cooking. It's very difficult to have no control over the situation but know that even if she comes now, she would be teeny tiny, but the chances are she would do very well. Thinking of you

@jaguar: thinking of you! Stay put baby Jaguar!

My advice: get a calendar, put your mantra on there, "keep baby in!" Have all nurses sign it. Every day you check off will feel good and especially all the big even milestone weeks. I just heard of some 28.5 week twins coming home after just one month!

Did you get steroid shots? Once you've had both, baby girl will be as well protected as she can possibly be. I was on both a magnesium drip and some kind of shot for when the contractions really picked up. And even though Dylan was born at 25 and we had a very long NICU stay (which there is no reason you should have...), he is 100% healthy with no lingering issues.

I'm sure it's just horrible to be away from GeorgiA, but just find some kind of comfort in the hospital and settle in for as long as possible! (If you want to read my stay, it was Sept 2012). Also don't be afraid to speak up to the nurses and make sure you are comfortable and not moved around a lot. Are you in an antepartum unit? My hospital didn't have one at that time and it would have made a world of difference in my experience.

Hugs

@jaguar: Hang in there, I know bedrest and the thought of baby coming out so early is scary. Like @Mrs Green Grass: my son was a 25 weeker. We are still in the NICU now and are approaching his due date in a few days. I was admitted to the hospital at exactly 25 weeks, got the steroid shots plus magnesium and indocin to stop contractions but ended up having an emergency csection at 25+4. The day before I delivered, I did not have a short cervix but was dilated.
That being said, the nurses told me that 80% of preterm labor is stopped. So there's a good chance you'll make it weeks longer. While in the NICU, I have seen a 27 weeker, and both 28 and 30 week twins go home healthy and weeks before their due date. Additionally your baby is a girl and the docs told me girls develop faster than boys and generally do better during their NICU stay. I know it's hard, especially with another LO at home. I have a 2 yr old DD and was so sad to be apart from her while I was on hospital bed rest.

@jaguar: I feel you, it is overwhelming to think of baby plus your older daughter. Do you have family or close friends near you that can help? Our NICU does allow siblings to visit but only during certain times and only for 10-15 minutes at a time. Over the past 13+ weeks we've only taken my DD a handful of times because of those logistics. During the week when my DD is at daycare I stay at the hospital during the day. On the weekends, my DH is off work and we'll either take DD for a short visit to the hospital or her grandparents watch her so we can stay at the hospital longer. It does take some planning and juggling around.
I'm sending good thoughts and prayers your way that baby will stay cooking as long as possible! And even if she is born sometime soon, chances are she will do very well and go home a couple weeks before her due date.

She's beautiful. No experience just sending some love.

@jaguar: Yup, just get through one day at a time. Looks like your first goal is to get to 30 weeks.

My twins were born at 34 weeks and only needed 15 days in the nicu.

Have you spoken to the nicu doctor yet? I admit when the nicu dr came to tell me what to expect, I was scared. They told me to expect to have the baby (babies in my case) stay until their due date. They say this so they don't give your hopes up and just so you are prepared for a longer (common/usual) stay. My babies were born at 34 weeks on Sept 5th and left the nicu on Sept 20th so they didn't have to stay until October 16th (their due date). Them being in the nicu was a rollercoaster experience. One day, there was a set back and the next day they did so well that it was like there wasn't a set back. I came in one day thinking the babies might be leaving next week and found out that they were leaving the next day. Definitely shocking and surprised us.

Sending positive thoughts your way. Just think of one day at a time...

See if you can have someone come in and get your nail or toenails done. I did some painting of the babies' wall art and it was pretty therapeutic.

Has your DH and daughter (or family) been visiting you? Those visits always cheered me up when I was in there.

Plus, if it's allowed, I took wheel chair rides out to the healing garden outside. It was great to get fresh air and my DH brought our two dogs since the garden was public access and away from entrances.

Oh, the healing garden is where we ended up getting our maternity pics done. I don't think many people could tell the building behind the trees was the hospital I stayed at for 6 weeks.

Oh, look up the preemiestore.com
I got a nicu calendar and journal ahead of time. Just to prepare me mentally for the nicu stay.

@jaguar: hang in there Jag!

@jaguar: my water didn't break until the last two days. My cervix wasn't super short. It was bleeding and unexplained...no idea whether blessing caused contractions or constructions started the bleeding...

Sorry reread your response and not sure exactly what you mean. Active labor happened after water breaking because they wouldn't let me stay on magnesium in case i developed an infection.