When we arrived there, we were concerned about what the next steps would be as I was already contracting due to dehydration in anticipation of surgery. Once my contractions were under control, surgery was scheduled the next day which went pretty well. Then it was a waiting game of seeing what would happen over the next couple of weeks and if the cerclage would do its job. This was a scary time but we were so thankful to have so many wonderful nurses who often shared positive success stories in light of the dreary statistics of chances of survival and long term complications that the specialist loved to share. At this point I was on strict bed rest (only able to raise my head 30 degrees) with permission to get up to go to the bathroom and take a 5 minute shower only. My vanity quickly went out the window! Our first big goal was 24 weeks which is considered viability for most babies with a good NICU.
At 23.4 weeks, my cervix was measuring 1.1-1.5 and I was sent over to the antepartum unit at St. Francis hospital for continued hospital bed rest since my OB rounds there and they had a new perinatologist starting October 1st in case we needed him. Over the course of 8 weeks total I had several steroid shots to help the twins lungs if they came early and the doctors basically prepared us that they would be more than happy if we could just make it to 28 weeks which is a huge milestone in the world of preemies.
I will say, it is difficult to be a nurse who is now a patient! I luckily had so many friends and family that would bring us wonderful meals, but did on occasion have to order from the hospital menu (Yuck! I used to hand these trays out to my own patients and was so thankful I wasn't the one having to eat it). I had so many wonderful nurses that I got to know very well during my 6 week stay which was such a blessing. They were more than encouraging on days when I was totally discouraged and became true friends by the time I left. I can't wait to show off the babies to all of them after they get here! We were also blessed to get to meet a few other couples who were also having multiples that were in the same predicament as us. It's just nice to know you are not going through this alone!
When I finally made it to 29.5 weeks, my doctor decided that since I was so compliant, I could finally go home after 8 long weeks in the hospital to finish my bed rest there. I was anxious but so excited to get out of there!
I did make a short list of all the things I wouldn't miss about the hospital after I was gone:
- the terrible 1/2 ply toilet paper
- vital signs being taken 3 times daily (my BP was always low so this would occasionally be repeated 2-3 times until a respectable number was obtained :))
- answering the same assessment questions twice daily (necessary, but I could recite the list of questions without any problem now)
- Waiting an hour for every hospital meal to arrive and then being asked after EVERY meal if I ate 100% of it (what pregnant woman doesn't like to eat?)
- Being asked daily if I plan to shower or have my sheets changed
- Having to sit down in a tiny shower stall to take showers (no fun!)
- Using a 19$ electric razor
- Having to wear SCD's daily to prevent blood clots in my legs (also no fun!)
We even had a panini making party one night in my room. Thanks Brenda! You're the best!
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