How Does Bed Rest Work?

[littlebbigb]

I was released from the hospital on bed rest at 31 weeks. They doubled my Labetelol to 200 mg bid and my bp seems to be pretty normal for the most part. Every now and then it will be 140ish over 80 ish...but for the most part it will be 120's over 70's. My swelling has gone down considerably. I have lost 4 lbs of water weight in the last week.

My mom and my grandmother both delivered all of their babies at least 6 weeks early due to Placental Abruption.

I had asked to be on bed rest because I felt so terrible and yet my MD was not 100% sold on taking me out of work for the two weeks until they were about to discharge me. I go for my follow up appointment tomorrow and I am afraid he will send me back. I do not have a desk job, so I cannot take it easy at work.

My question is: Will he send me back to work because I am doing better or will he keep me at home because I am doing better?

What is the point of keeping someone out for only two weeks? I am scared I will go into labor around the 34th week if I am not careful.

[hillary8l8]

I have read a few articles that say that the benefit of bed rest has not been proven with preeclampsia, but obviously your case is a little more complicated with your strong family history of placental abruption. My OB was quick to take me off work at 29 weeks with both pregnancies, and I was on strict bed rest with my first. I do believe that bed rest benefited me with my first pregnancy. In my opinion, the improvement in your condition is relatively good proof that bed rest is a good option for you, but I'm obviously not a doctor:) It's amazing how doctors opinions differ so much.

Also, do you get short term disability from your employer? This may be something to discuss with your OB as well because if he takes you off work, puts you back on, and takes you off again, the disability company will not like this, plus there is typically a 2 week waiting period for benefits to start. This may give you a bit of an angle with your OB, if your employer offers short term disability.

[littlebbigb]

Thanks! No I did not opt for short term disability...that was a mistake, but we can get by without the percentage of my paycheck that they would have paid. I feel better than I have the whole pregnancy and the thought of going back and risking delivering early scares me.

I agree with you that it may not benefit everyone, but it seems to be doing my/our body good. I have been checking my bp pretty regularly because I know that bed rest hasn't been proven to be a cure-all.

When I do seem to push it by folding laundry I start sweating and feel really crappy.

[holly3372@msn.com]

Listen to your body then, tell your doc you feel you cannot go back to work for all of the resons you are descirbing period end of story. Bed rest seems to be working, so stay in bed and take it easy .

[littlebbigb]

Thank you! I did just that and he said he agreed. I am so happy to be home and relaxed. Turns out my Grandmother, Aunt and my Mom had Placental Abruption. I am keeping off of my feet to prevent as much as possible.

Thank you for your advice.

[caryn]

Have they asked you to do kick counts? I can't remember the gestational age at which those are useful!

As you note, bedrest doesn't seem to prevent this condition from progressing in the background, even if it does sometimes seem to lower pressures for some women. Are you going in for a couple of sessions of monitoring a week?

[littlebbigb]

Have they asked you to do kick counts? I can't remember the gestational age at which those are useful!

As you note, bedrest doesn't seem to prevent this condition from progressing in the background, even if it does sometimes seem to lower pressures for some women. Are you going in for a couple of sessions of monitoring a week?

No, I am only going once a week. He is moving like crazy. I started the kick count without them telling me to. He is really active. Trust me, I am scared to death of all of this, so I freak out a little if I don't feel him for a while.

Things were getting better and then last night I developed ringing in the ears, my BP went up a little (150/90) and my hands were swollen. I haven't felt super wonderful today.