My unexpected trip to Labor & Delivery
By Heather Ledeboer | Category: The Journey of Motherhood
My “office furniture” changed a little this weekend. Remember how I mentioned that a few weeks ago I had some spotting? This last Saturday my bleeding returned and my doctor recommended that I go directly to Labor & Delivery and be checked out.
They monitored the baby and felt that all looked very good there. Then they did an ultrasound (reconfirmed that it was a boy 
) and discovered what appeared to be a 1.3 cm separation between my placenta and the uterus. The doctor was concerned by this. He put me on bed rest and recommended that I stay in the hospital for at minimum of a few days (or possibly of the remainder of my pregnancy) to monitor my bleeding and keep an eye on the baby. After a few days they would re-assess and determine if I should continue my bed rest at the hospital or from home.
What a change it was to go from being a busy mom at home to laying in bed in a quiet hospital room with nurses to wait on me hand and foot! What a blessing it was to watch my husband step up to the challenge of keeping everything running smoothly at home with a cheerful attitude: priceless!
This morning I had a follow up ultrasound and the technician determined that the area of concern had not gotten worse and in fact perhaps it was actually only a Venus Lake (which is a collection of slow moving or pooled blood between the placenta and the uterus wall). I had never heard of this term before, but apparently it is not nearly as much of a concern as a separation between the placenta and the uterus. By this time my bleeding had also stopped, therefore the doctor felt comfortable sending me home to continue my bed rest with a follow up appointment at the end of the week.
So as I type these words, I am sitting on my own couch by my own wood fire enjoying the quiet of my own house. I am reminding myself that God is in control. I am choosing to place my trust in Him and I am finding much to be thankful for:
-Friends and family that care when you need help and reach out to let you know.
-Pillows from home that help make any bed more comfortable.
-Nurses who offer their care with compassion and grace.
-A husband who is willing and able to step up and be the “single parent” while I admire him from the couch.
-A 7 year old son who wants to know how I slept in the hospital and if I had any bad dreams.
-A 5 year old daughter who wants to know if my “little tear inside” hurts.
-A 22 month old who can’t get enough of mommy’s kisses.
-A son in heaven who taught me to look for the roses among the thorns.
-A baby boy alive and well in my womb.
This is my fifth pregnancy, but my first time on bed rest. I bet some of you have some experience you can share! Tell me your bed rest stories!
Heather Ledeboer
I am a Christian, wife, mom and the owner of Mom 4 Life. I have a passion for helping moms and encouraging them in their journey through motherhood. I invite you to journey along with me!
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Heather, pausing now to pray for you and your new little MAN inside
May God continue to provide you with His perfect peace, especially with the scariness of this latest step. May He guide you each day of this pregnancy, giving you yet again more awe and amazement for who He is as our Creator. May He take that precious little one, who was no surprise boy to Him, and develop him from now to birth, and also later, into a man of God. friend!
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mom4life Reply:
April 13th, 2011 at 12:30 pm
@Mrs. H,
thank you sweetie. Your words are so perfectly stated. “Later, into a man of God”, I love that.
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I have totally been where you are!! I have been on bedrest multiple times during my current pregnancy- I had a blood clot that was between my placenta and uterus at the beginning of this pregnancy. I have had high BP for this pregnancy and the last as well. I learned that God was giving time to just slow down! It is hard as a wife and momma, ( I have 4 kids currently), but it is GOOD to get those times of slowdown… It is a great time to spend time with the Lord and time with your baby inside! We miscarried a baby between this baby and our youngest, so the times I have had to “take it easy” I spend time feeling the new life within!! It has been a blessing that gets me through the times that are hard when I have to “slow down”. I will pray God blesses this time of “slow down” for you!!!!
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mom4life Reply:
April 13th, 2011 at 12:32 pm
@Heidi R, You are so right. This time of “slow down” (even though I haven’t been in it too long yet) can be very precious. I am so much of a busy natured person that my default is to be cleaning, cooking, etc. I am enjoying the couch time with my kids and knowing I wouldn’t have had that if I wasn’t on bed rest! Thank you for your encouragement!
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Praying for your sweet little man, I am so thankful that he’s alive and well!
I’ve so been there with the bed rest! Last October I showed up at Labor & Delivery thinking I just had an pregnancy-related incontinence problem, but it turned out my water had broken early at 32 weeks. They rushed me by ambulance to the biggest hospital in the area and had me on strict bed rest for two weeks until they induced me at 34 wks. My daughter was in the NICU for two weeks afterward, but by God’s grace & power she was (and continues to be) completely healthy. It was definitely the scariest and most draining time in my life, but the Lord grew me SO much through it! Looking back on it I am still amazed by His steadfast faithfulness.
Bed rest is really rough because it’s easy to be consumed by worry and a whole mess of emotions (not to mention sheer boredom!). For me it was so frustrating to feel like everything was completely out of “my” control. But God is totally in control in all of this, I can assure you of that. I think He uses things like this in our lives to teach us again and again to trust solely in Him. He is so good and so full of love for his children! I’ll be praying for you, Mama! {{hugs}}
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mom4life Reply:
April 13th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
@Kendra B., Wow that must have been a scary time! I didn’t realize they could prolong delivery like that after water brakes. So thankful that your little girl was and is okay. God is able to remind us as you said that He alone is in control.
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I’m glad to read that all seems well, even if you need some extra bedrest. You had me a bit scared at first. Prayers for you and your family.
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mom4life Reply:
April 13th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
@Trisha W., It was a shock to me when I went to Labor & Delivery and ended up being admitted. I thought for sure I would go back home like the last times I had gone in to have my bleeding checked. Thanks for your prayers, we are doing really well so far:).
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I gave birth to twin daughters 14 months ago. At 19 weeks I started having contractions. At 26 weeks I went into preterm labor, and was ordered to bed rest. We were blessed with a wonderful church family that cared for us during that time.
I carried those girls to 35 weeks–5 pounds 9 ounces and 6 pounds 13 ounces. God is good! Bed rest is hard. I kept telling myself—I can do hard things. Still my motto. Actually a family motto—”We can do hard things”.
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mom4life Reply:
April 13th, 2011 at 12:37 pm
@Julia, holy schmolly, you lasted until 35 weeks? That is awesome, God is very good indeed:)! I like your family motto, that is a good one:).
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After losing a baby it’s amazing how you something like bed rest just isn’t a big deal – you have the eternal perspective that the outcome matters, not the process. Whatever it takes to get him here. And you go at it with a cheerful heart… A gift from Sawyer. My prayers is that this time goes quickly and is incredibly uneventful!
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mom4life Reply:
April 13th, 2011 at 12:38 pm
@Amanda, it is SO true, I totally agree. Thank you so much for your encouragement and prayers!
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You made me tear up today.
I did the bed rest thing twice, from 22 weeks on…It is amazing what you can make yourself do for the health of your child.
I will be praying for you and that baby boy!
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mom4life Reply:
April 13th, 2011 at 12:39 pm
@Kendra, from 22 weeks on?! Oh wow, see it is so good for me to hear stories like yours not only to remind me it can TOTALLY be done but also that I always have something to be thankful for (such as the 30 weeks up to now that I HAVEN’T been on bed rest). Thank you.
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I was on brief bed rest for a probably false alarm amniotic fluid leak in January. A month later (and 8 weeks early) my water broke on a Friday night so back in the hospital I went. We tried to wait a couple of weeks but Eli arrived Tuesday morning after a very quick labor/delivery. He is very stable but still in the NICU working on feeding by mouth
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mom4life Reply:
April 13th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
@Lisa, oh man, that must be SO tough being separated in that way from your little guy. I pray he gets that feeding down soon so you can all be together at home! Eli is a great name by the way, I like it.
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Shows how much I have not been on much. Congrats to your pregnancy, foremost, and like everyone else, glad to hear everything has calmed for now. I remember I first found your website while I was pregnant with my son and now I return to your site, pregnant again with another boy and so are you. Blessings.
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mom4life Reply:
April 13th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
@Nikki, oh fun to be sharing the journey along with you again, welcome back and congrats to you as well!
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for me i did a mini fridge by bed and had hubby surprise me after making a list of things i liked thru out the day and it was always stocked it made me feel a little in control. i did up a vanity bag next to my night stand so i could feel like i could freshen up quickly and mostly for my self but my hubby thought it was nice. change the bedding 2 a week makes you feel clean refreshed and anew! making a small todo list and completeing it form bed blogging scrapbooking online by making a story book of my experince
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mom4life Reply:
April 13th, 2011 at 12:43 pm
@jenny, great practical tips, I like them all, thank you!!
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Oh glorious bed rest… I always thought it would be nice to live like a cat, to sleep most the time with short bursts of high energy… until I had to be on bed rest for 10 weeks due to incompetent cervix with my first child. It was a very emotional time for me and a huge learning experience in trusting God for what I had no control over.
I placed a sonogram picture of my daughter next to the couch so I could see her sweet face and it was a gentle reminder to stay put when I was feeling really tired of laying flat. The boredom and achy body was a bit hard to deal with, but at least you have your children to keep you company! That’s a sweet blessing!
To encourage your hope, my second pregnancy was problem free, and so far my third pregnancy is too (10 weeks to go!). So even though you’ve hit a bump in the road this time, that doesn’t mean it’ll happen again.
Congrats on your expected little boy, may he bless you all his life and follow God faithfully! I’m praying for you both!
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mom4life Reply:
April 13th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
@Cassie, thank you for sharing your story and I love the idea of putting the sonogram picture by your couch, I think I will do that:)! Thanks so much for your prayers as well!
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I’m so thankful you’re both alright! I love what Mrs. H said. May he be a mighty man – full of valor! I’ll be praying for all of you.
Bedrest was not an option with my Emily. My water broke at 33 1/2 weeks and she was born a few hours later. I think loafing at home is a pretty good trade for weeks in the NICU waiting for your bean to be released.
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mom4life Reply:
April 14th, 2011 at 8:02 am
@Amanda, man that is sooooo true Amanda! I can’t imagine how hard that would be to have your child in the NICU!!! ((hugs)). THANK YOU so much for your prayers!
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[...] though I am on bed rest, I decided I could still make a video to explain how great I think the SafetyTats are. If you will [...]
Hello Heather! long time no write. I lost touch with the blog shortly after my 4th was born I think. I decided to check in to discover you expecting again! Congrats. I wanted to say all your emotions over the mistaken gender sound totally normal, and okay to me. I’ve never had them be wrong, but I’ve always feared it- enough to get double checks sometimes just in case lol.
As far as bedrest, try to enjoy these last few moments with your baby.. and now that you can concentrate on just you two, it’s a special time! I remember at the end of all of my pregnancy I would take nice baths and just connect with them and enjoy them being inside me knowing how much I would miss them when they weren’t.
I went on to get pg again after my 4th child and this time had twins, who are now 15 mos old. I was certain as was everyone else I’d more than likely be on bedrest as well as have a c/s. I was fortunate to never need bedrest or have any issues at all, carried to 38 weeks and delivered vaginally. Our bodies are definitely amazing things! Although that pg was excruciating and difficult and I wish someone would have let me slow down lol, I feel for you! But I am very happy to hear everyone is healthy and well!
I just wanted to leave a little note saying hello again!
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mom4life Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
@Kristina, hi! Thanks for checking in and leaving your thoughts and feedback. Congratulations on your twins, that is so wonderful that you were able to carry them so long and have a vaginal delivery! I am finding ways to make the best of my bed rest time. It isn’t often as a mom that we are able to slow down so I am thankful for the excuse:).
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[...] you may want to sign up on the lower right to receive posts via email. Thanks for visiting!Life on bedrest is a little bit of a change for me. I wanted to share some recent highlights from my time on the [...]
Good heavens where have I been!?! I had no idea you were pregnant again, but I am so happy to hear that God has chosen to bless you with another little boy!! If anyone understands bedrest it is me (and others too, of course!)! With my first pregnancy I was on mostly modified bedrest for about 8 weeks or so. With my 2nd and last pregnancy I was on bedrest for 19 weeks…almost 20, but who’s counting!?! I can’t count how many times I was in and out of the hospital for various things, but my little guy stayed in my womb for 6-8 weeks longer than anyone expected. I had to just give it all up to God and enjoy the time that he gave me to slow down. It was nice to spend time with my daughter before her brother showed up! The time that she and I had while I was on bedrest was extremely special to me and I would not have had those moments had I not been in bed. It was also such an honor to watch my husband step up and take care of everything!! He was (and continues to be) amazing beyond belief!! He jumped in and never complained and did an amazing job. We were blessed with the fact that he was able to take time off to stay home with me and take care of us and that is also time that was very special to me. As weird as it may seem, try to enjoy this time. Look at it as a blessing and get the rest your body needs. I know it is hard, but it is what is best for you and your baby. Hang in there!!
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mom4life Reply:
May 8th, 2011 at 10:16 am
@Elizabeth, it is encouraging to hear from other mothers who have “been there” and I do agree, it can be a time of blessing and precious memories if we allow it to be. That is my goal and I am happy to be in this place for the safety of this little one. Thanks for checking in and for sharing your story!
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[...] that the girl we were expecting is really a boy. I have had spotting and bleeding and have been admitted to the hospital for a weekend stay. I have been on bed rest for the last five weeks. I have wavered within a [...]