preemie-l Re:Preparing for a Second Baby(long reply)
MarAim@aol.com
Thu, 13 Jun 1996 09:03:02 -0400
Suzanne,
Well, I feel that I'm in a good position to answer this, since I'm now 34
weeks pregnant with #2 (and recently on bedrest). Before we even started
trying to get pregnant again, I got my plans in place. My husband and I
discussed the chance that I would end up on bedrest again, and all the things
he would have to take over, and how we could take care of our 2 year old
(luckily, Grandma doesn't work and only lives a mile away!). Then I got
together my lists of resources for preterm labor and preemies (the ones I
keep posting here) and got all the books that interest me on preterm labor,
bedrest, high risk preg and preemies (ironically, the last book I had ordered
came in 1 week before I was put on bedrest!).
It took a few months of trying to conceive, and every month I wasn't
pregnant, I was a little disappointed and a little relieved. Then I was
thrilled to find that I was pregnant.
The first 20 weeks were mostly uneventful, although this pregnany was
completely different than the last. I had morning sickness and just carried
completely different. So this comforted me. I did have a rush visit to the
office at 14 weeks with a bad backache (that and pelvic pressure were my only
signs of preterm labor) which turned out to be nothing.
Around 20 weeks, I started to feel a little apprehensive, since preterm labor
started at 26.5 weeks last time. I stopped working at 25 weeks, and tried to
start taking it easy. I aslo had my husband start taking over more nighttime
rituals with our son. We used to go every other night, so I had him start
doing 2 nights to my 1, so my son was used to Daddy doing it by the time I
went on bedrest.
I've had a few more extra visits to the office because of backache or some
contractions, and one trip to OB triage, but all turned out fine, and I was
always reassured that it is much better to come in than ignore it. Last
Thursday the bad backache started again (I knew this one was the real thing)
but I hadn't dialated yet, so I was just tolde to lie down as much as I
could. Then this past weekend, I started having contractions every time I
was vertical, so I started bedrest and called the office Mon., and was told
to stay on bedrest and if that stopped the contractions, that was enogh for
now. This afternoon is my next check up.
I was so relieved to pass 27 weeks with no problem, and even more happy to
pass 32 weeks, where my son was delivered. Now I just have to hang on for a
few weeks, and even if I don't quite make it to term, I've made it to a very
good point. Also, although it was always on my mind, I wasn't as obsessed
with what could happen as I thought I would be, I just made sure to stock the
freezer early on and only counted on making it to 6 months.
I hope this helps, please feeo free to contact me for any support I can give!
Mary