Officially Resting

Hi All,
I officially went on bedrest on December 19th at 27 weeks, per my doctor's orders. He explained to me at my first visit that I should not expect to work past 28 weeks at best with a twins pregnancy. At my 24 week visit, he told me he was being nice in letting me continue to work for a few more weeks.

For those not familiar with the ways of multiples pregnancies (as I was not in the beginning), there is a substantially higher risk of pre-term labor. Approximately 50 percent of twins (compared to 10 percent of singletons) are preterm (or premature), which means they are born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. (Full term is 40 weeks.) Preemies are at a higher risk of all sorts of medical problems, and even death in extreme cases. So, it is in our best interest to do all we can to avoid pre-term labor. That's where bedrest comes in.

I'm not sure how "restful" my holidays were. We were certainly busy with shopping and family events. But it was all very enjoyable, and we would not have changed a thing.

With the holidays behind us, I am working on resting. :) I know it sounds silly, but it seems I have been behind in all aspects of life in general this year, constantly in "catch up" mode. But, my body is good at telling me when it needs a break. I require tons of sleep it seems. And, I am working to reinstitute my afternoon nap, which helps me be less of a zombie when my husband comes home from work.

What is bedrest exactly and what restrictions come with it? Great question! It seems there are many definitions, and the doctors' responses can sometimes be ambiguous, as it can mean different things to different patients. From what I have learned there are three basic levels:

House Arrest or Modified Bedrest: This is the least restrictive form. Plan to rest a few hours in the am and again in the pm, then all evening and night. Avoid heavy lifting, housework (note to Jim), exercise, and trips up and down the stairs.

Strict Bedrest: You must spend almost all of your time lying down, with only a daily shower and trips to the bathroom.

Hospital Bedrest: Severe complications can lead to hospital bedrest, where you may not even be allowed to get up to shower or use the bathroom.

Thankfully, I am currently on the least restrictive form of rest, which allows me the most freedom. This is because the pregnancy thus far has been complication-free. Don't get me wrong, I am still experiencing many of the common discomforts of pregnancy, and some to the extreme. But the great news is that the babies are doing super, and we have successfully kept any signs of pre-term labor at bay thus far.

I'm sure everyone would like to hear more about those babies. In my next post, I'll try to include some stats we have received on their growth progression from our ultrasounds. I'll also work to get some pictures posted!