Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Preparing for Bedrest

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I have been pretty busy lately trying to get things ready for putting myself on bed rest for the rest of my pregnancy. You see, Baby #3 was born a full month before my due date and with Babies #4 and 5, I spent one whole month each time in the hospital hooked up to all kinds of drugs designed to stall preterm labor.

Thankfully, Babies 4 and 5 made it to full term, but those weeks I spent away from my family were definitely inconvenient, to say the least. With my last pregnancy, #6, I decided to take action and find out everything I could about what causes preterm labor and what the remedies are. Basically, I learned that doctors have absolutely no idea what triggers labor or how to prevent it from occurring before the baby is full term.

I took what I could, though, from the possible remedies and tried to apply them as best I could. I drank one gallon of water each day, put myself on bed rest, and took extra zinc and magnesium. This seemed to work because I never had any signs of preterm labor, like I had experienced in the 3 previous pregnancies.

I am quickly approaching the time when most of my problems have begun in the past, so I have been trying to stock my freezer with ready made casseroles. This way, while I am resting, MaddieLynn can pop one into the oven and we can still have a homemade dinner.

This past week, I have made 3 lasagnas, cooked and de-boned 4 whole chickens, with which I have made 4 chicken and rice casseroles and bagged up 4 bags of cooked, cubed chicken, and made 150 biscuits. (Check back tomorrow for the biscuit recipe.)

I mixed up the biscuits and rolled them out, and all the kids had fun cutting them out for me. I gave each one a kiddie size cup and they cut as many as they could and put them on trays. We kept rolling out the excess and cutting away until none was left.

I put the trays in the freezer until the biscuits were hard and then I sealed them up with my food saver in batches of 12. On each package, I wrote the instructions for baking, so it would be easy for one of the kids to get them out and put them in the oven for breakfast.

Next, I plan to stock the freezer with a huge batch of pancakes and 3 pans of chicken spaghetti, and then I am going to waddle over to the couch and stay there until this baby I am carrying is close to full term.

I hope to continue homeschooling and blogging and incubating this baby without having to spend any time in the hospital until delivery, which should be around Christmas time, Lord willing.

13 comments:

Kim said...

I am just over a month behind you (pregnancy) and while preterm labor has not been a concern for me I could still learn a thing or two (or 52) about being prepared ahead of time. The casserole baking is something I have had lofty goals about in the past but this time...this time....it's gonna happen.

Blessings while you wait :)

Andrea@Sgt and Mrs Hub said...

I haven't started to waddle yet but I'm sure it will be soon. I'm due the same time as you but only have two other children to care for...you are doing an extraordinary thing for your family! That is living the Proverbs 31 principles.

I don't do my preparation so much for before the baby is born but for after when I can't think for the fog of sleep deprivation. I dearly love my full freezer then!

BTW - The baby bonnet is stunning - I am thrilled! Thanks so much!

-Andrea

Liz said...

Hi Connie,

I went into preterm with my first but never again with any of my other little ones; my problem was always pre-eclampsia! We will be praying for this little baby that it will stay safe inside until it is good and ready. Elizabeth

Anonymous said...

I spent 6 weeks in the hospital prior to delivering baby #1. Like you, I took measures to prevent baby #2 from doing the same. It's hard to stay down when you are at home, but it's so much better than being hospitalized.
We'll be praying for you and your family as you finish out your pregnancy.

Anonymous said...

Good job, Connie! I don't have anything cooked ahead! I have trouble keeping up with the current demand for sustenance, it seems!

I'm praying for you, too.

Tiffany said...

Wow! Just reading this made ME feel like going on bedrest - you have been busy! What a great example to me - I definitely need to work on my planning and foresight when it comes to stuff like this. Don't work too hard!

Melissa Markham said...

I was on bedrest for my the last three months of my first pregnancy. It sounds like you have an awesome plan! Good luck and God bless.

Linz said...

Thank you! I'm so impressed with this post (everything you're doing). You are an amazing example to me Connie. :)

Jenn said...

wish i could mail you a casserole... :o(

Heather Anne said...

What a great plan of action - you are really supermom under that maternity jumper right? I am praying that all goes well and that you and baby are healthy and happy! I have only had one sucessful pregnancy in all these years, by God's design but even after 8 weeks of bedrest, I felt it was so worth it, and such a blessing to deliver a full term baby!

Smockity Frocks said...

Thank you, everyone, for the sweet comments, prayers, and well wishes!

Heather, I am definitely NOT supermom! You should see the baskets of laundry waiting to be put away in my bedroom!

Unknown said...

You are one smart mommy!

I pray, since you are planning this, you are stress free and this can be a time remembered by your kiddos with JOY and HAPPINESS!

Hug those kids today!

A Hopeful Hollar Knits said...

I believe there should be a new term for "Super Mom" ... There is never perfection, only wonderful examples of ladies who live out Proverbs 31. You are a lady that is a blessing to your family, friends and the blog world! Great job.

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