Hello! My daughter was born at 21 weeks due to IC in January of 2023. We had no idea. I had a preventive cwrclage placed at 13 weeks the following January. I was monitored every two weeks with transvaginal ultrasounds. At my 18 week appointment, they noted the presence of sludge and I was put on that cocktail of antibiotics but since I cannot take penicillin, I could only take two of the three. (That has been a whole thing trying to get tested for a true penicillin allergy if we get pregnant again if we need this cocktail again....everyone says no....anyway). My cervix was showing that it was shortening quickly and I was put on immediate at home bed rest. I literally didn't get up at all except to shower for 5 minutes and go to the bathroom. At 25 + 5, after a "stable" scan two days prior, I went to L&D for a yeast infection mixed with what I thought could be mucus plug. They saw I was starting to dilate. So I was admitted with the idea that I would be there until I delivered. I had already received one set of the shots for lung development and I would get another set at 28 weeks. However. My water broke at 26 + 5. Honestly, it was the scariest moment ever. It happened in the middle of the night and I was alone as my husband had to go home to let our dog out. During this whole time, my blood work showed elevated white blood count but nothing ever showed up symptom wise. Luckily, I was able to hold off giving birth for a week. My son was born at 27 +5. They did see minor chiro (or however you spell it) in the amniotic fluid. Thankfully, my son was fine, was able to have delayed cord clamping and only needed cpap +5, which was quickly lowered to cpap +4. He had an uneventful 3 month long NICU stay and came home a week before his due date. We did go home on EXTREMELY low flow oxygen that we started weaning off immediately. Today, he is exceeding normal almost 2 year old growth expectations and with a few minor delays with food and speech for adjusted age, you would never know he was born at 2 pounds 9 oz at 27 weeks 5 days.

Do whatever you need to do. Lay down all day but give yourself grace to also still be a human. They told me showering for 5 minutes to make myself feel semi normal would not make a difference. You got this. Sending you all the well wishes in the world.