Using Vest while pregnant

[kross10911]

I am curious as to how long everyone was able to use their vest while pregnant. I know eventually the belly gets too big, and I havent asked the Dr. what I am going to do after that. I use the hillrom so I know I can probably always call and ask for a bigger vest to see if I can make it longer.
How long did you use your vest, and what methods did you use after it became too small?

 

[marisalynn]

I used my vest pretty much until I delivered my daughter at 37 & 1/2 weeks. I have a vest that the straps adjusted, so as my belly got bigger, I just adjusted the straps. The most annoying this was that the vest kind of rode-up when my belly got really big.
Just a funny anecdote: My first appointment with my CF doctor after I found I was pregnant, my husband asked the doctor if it was okay to continue to use the vest because he was afraid it would shake the baby too much. I had to try very hard not to laugh out loud!
After I had my daughter, I didn't use the vest (per my doctor's recommendation), and just used the accupella for a few weeks. I couldn't have imagined using the vest when my milk came in and in those first few weeks of breastfeeding. Although if I had been sick, I would have just had to deal with it.
Good luck! I hope everything goes well!

Marisa RN, 24 y/o with CF, mommy to a beautiful 6-month old baby girl!

 

[mamaScarlett]

The belly is never too big to use the Vest. You can get something called a chest vest that stops higher up on your torso, or you can loosen it a bit.
There is more the issue of it feeling uncomfortable. But its not hurting you and certainly not hurting the baby.
Towards the end of my pregnancies I lowered the settings alot, bc there way just way too much movement going on everywhere! But I never stopped doing my vest. Getting good chest pt in was a way for me to ensure I felt great through my deliveries and in the first awesome few days after birth where you are too tired, too sore, and too much in baby land to do chest pt.
Actually with my 2nd baby, I did a vest session during early labor. I had caught a nasty cold virus, and my labor was going on and on so I did lots of vesting to amp up myself to get ready for that delivery. I had already been in labor over 30 hrs, did a vest session at 8 pm with back to back albuterol!-drove to the hospital and had little guy in 3 hrs.
If I ever have another I'll definitely try to do some chest pt during labor again. Its a good distraction and gave me lots of oxygen to get through birth.

 

[triples15]

Congrats to you!!

I also used my vest right up to the end- during early labor. I wanted to get a treatment in right before heading to the hospital because I knew it could be a while until I got my next one! I'm glad I did because boy was labor a lot of work! I actively pushed for about 3 hours and nobody (including myself) could believe how well I handled it (breathing and lung-wise).

Earlier in my pregnancy I called Hill-rom and they sent me a disposable chest wrap vest. I ended up never using it. As others have said, I just loosened the straps and the vest rode up as I got bigger. Ended up not being an issue at all, which I was sure it would be. You could go ahead and call Hill-rom to get the wrap just in case. It was a super simple phone call and they send it no charge.

Marisa, that is too funny about your hubby! Mostly because my husband and I were worried about it as well. We asked my CF doc are you SURE it can't hurt the baby or cause shaken baby syndrome??

One thing no one warned me about was how badly it would hurt to cough afterward. In retrospect it seems like something I should have thought of! I was only worried about how hard it would be to cough/vest if I had to have a c-section but it never really crossed my mind for a vaginal delivery! It took a solid week before it didn't hurt terribly to cough. Sorry if TMI but I also needed stitches so I had to try to suppress my cough somewhat because in addition to hurting each time I did I felt like I was going to pull a stitch. Sorry, not trying to scare you, just saying make sure you are getting good treatments/CPT right up till the end because afterwards your treatments will be a little lacking for a while.

Good luck you and take care!

Autumn

 

[mamaScarlett]

Oh yes, ditto the ouchy coughing post-birth. Holding a pillow between your legs, and hugging it (if that makes sense) helps. Also using lots of the icey/ thick pads they give you to wear post-birth help. If you aren't sure what these are, don't worry, you'll find out!
I tore alot with my 2nd and got 10 stitches, which is more common than people realize. 4wks post partum 3 of the stiches tore during a bad coughing fit. It wasn't excrutiating, but more irritating than anything.

 

[LouLou]

just a side note did know vaginal reconstruction is one of the leading if not leading sectors of cosmetic surgery?!

I used the Hill Rom half or chest vest (not the wrap though) once it was too uncomfortable around the belly. I also did cardio exercise up until the week of delivery. You can see a video of my doing vest on this site under the videos. I also brought it with me to use during labor and used it to buy myself more time to keep the doctors and nurses away ("Oops it's time to do a treatment. You'll have to come back later.") My water broke and labor didn't start. 36 hrs later I delivered a healthy 7 lb, 10 oz baby boy at 39 wks 4 days. If it hadn't been for my cf, I would have had a c-section. I'm glad I had a a vaginal birth. It was the most amazing experience I've ever had. I had level two tearing no appexiatomy. Stitches healed fine no issue with coughing. Sounds like I dodged that bullet!