Bedrest

Why would a doctor prescribe bedrest?

Bedrest During Pregnancy
Bedrest is a common practice during pregnancy to help control or prevent some pregnancy complications. Bedrest can differ from woman to woman. Some conditions require longer bedrest than others. The amount of bedrest may range from simple resting at home to full bedrest and monitoring in a hospital. Occasionally, doctors will recommend bedrest for the duration of a woman's pregnancy. It is hard to be excited when you need to be getting things ready for the new baby and can't because of bedrest. Bedrest may prevent you from going to work or taking care of daily tasks at home. It is normal and common to be worried about your health and your baby's health. With careful monitoring and doctor supervision, your bedrest should help prevent any possible complications.

Try to greet each day with a smile, follow a routine and make the best of your time. The day can seem lengthy and boring if you do not have anything to keep you occupied. Here are some ideas to help you get through the day:

Take a brief shower or bath-ask your doctor first
If possible, put on regular clothes
Eat three balanced meals and two snacks
Engage in activities
Take a short nap

You need to keep a few things near you during the day. Bedrest will lose its benefit if you continuously have to get up to get needed items. If you need something that you do not have, ask for help:

a few comfortable clothes or robes/gowns
bras and underwear
slippers
telephone and phone numbers
paper, pencils, and address book.
any necessary medications
watch or clockdeodorant, shampoo, makeup, etc.
brush,comb and mirror
magazines, books, puzzles, calendar, and craft projects
laptop computer, if possible

Things To Do While On Bedrest:

Small craft items. If you are in the hospital, they may have an activities therapist that can visit you. If your hospital does not offer this service, ask family members of friends to bring you something that interests you.
Read. Most hospitals have libraries that you can borrow books from. Use your time in the hospital to finish up a book that you have been wanting to read. Have friends or family bring you parenting and baby magazines, or other magazines that you like.
Mail. Use this time to write to friends and family that you have not talked to in awhile. Put your cards and letters up in your room. Encourage friends and family to use an email service if your hospital offers it.
Keep a journal. More than likely, you will forget details of your pregnancy. Write down your feelings, thoughts and anything special that occurs. Work in the baby's book.
Music/movies: Many hospitals have a patient library that you can borrow from. Ask if the patient library has cassette tapes, videos and VCR's to reserve. Your nurse may be able to provide you with educational videos about birth, pregnancy and premature babies.
Learn: Ask your nurse for information about being on bedrest. If there is a particular reason for your bedrest, ask to see literature on that subject.
Crosswords puzzles and other brain teasers: These can be a fun, challenging way of passing away the hours.
Organize photo albums, recipe books, update address books, etc..

Family And Friends Can Help:

Calling your room throughout the week to see how you are and if you need anything.
Helping in the house with chores, cooking, paying bills, and childcare.
Visitation is an important way that friends or family can help you. You won't feel so lonely if you have visitors from time to time.

Your Other Children:

As long as your children are not sick, they should visit you as often as possible. When they can not visit, talk to them on the phone.
Keep pictures of your children near your bed. You may want to post pictures they have drawn for you also.
Encourage your children to talk about how they feel. It is hard having mom out of the picture for awhile.
If on bedrest at home, you should have someone that can help out with the children and household duties.

It is important that you help the nurses and doctors help you. They will probably want you to keep track of baby's movements, contractions and any changes in how you physically feel. You should be recording how much you drink and eat. If you are not catheterized, you should also keep track of your urine output. Watch for signs of illness and notify your nurse or doctor if you are not feeling well.

Your doctor may prescribe bed est for any number of reasons. Normally he or she has found a complication that bedrest will help with. It is in the best interest of you and your growing baby to cooperate with the doctor's decision and rest to ensure a healthy pregnancy. If you are experiencing high blood pressure, vaginal bleeding, premature labor, poor fetal movement or have gestational diabetes you may be a candidate for bedrest. Bedrest may also help you if you are having multiples or have a history of pregnancy loss, stillbirth or premature birth. An incompetent cervix, early dilation and any type of placenta problem may also require bedrest.

In most cases, you will be asked to sleep or rest on your side, preferably the left side, with your knees or hips bent. The best position for bedrest will depend on your situation and what complication your healthcare provider is trying to address or prevent. You may be asked to lie on your back while being propped up with pillows or lying on your back with your hips or legs elevated higher than your shoulders.

Bedrest Discomforts
Even though you are resting in the bed, you will probably experiene some discomforts. Because you are going to be lying down for long periods of time, bedrest will likely cause your muscles to loose tone and make some of your joints ache. Changing from side to side will help stimulate your muscles and relieve pressure. Your blood circulation will also be poor and if your doctor agrees, mild exercise would ensure better circulation. Turning your feet and arms in circles, pressing your hands and feet against the bed, tensing or tightening your arms and leg muscles and massages can help relieve some discomfort. If your doctor allows, a nice bath may do the trick as well.

You should ask your doctor if you have any questions about what exactly bedrest means. Some women can do light activities, while others can not. Some activities that many women question are: cooking, light chores, walking, bathing, driving, exercise and sexual intercourse. It is very important that you not overdo your activities.

There are many support groups that you can be involved in even when you are on bedrest. If you belong to a church, see if they can arrange for a weekly prayer and communion visit. Take advantage of the many internet sites that offer support and advice for other women who are also on bedrest. If you are in the hospital, ask your nurse if there are any programs set up for women to gather and share their feelings and friendship with one another.

Comments: Bedrest

Comments 1 to 24 of about 199.
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roosa - 68 days ago.
Anyone know of some good chat rooms for people on bed rest?

kayandrysmom - 84 days ago.
I was on bedrest from 21-34 weeks last year. I had attacks of my heart racing and i just felt very odd. I had a nervous feeling. Im assuming its normal...My body got so out of shape that i think that is why it happened. But 13 weeks of bedrest gave me my healthy now 7 month old baby girl....I went on bedrest almost 1 year ago...its a distant memory now!

scabenedict - 84 days ago.
I was on bedrest in the hospital for 8 weeks... it sucked. i missed my sons 1st b day

cynthiamarie- - 104 days ago.
Hi ladies, I am 23 weeks been on bedrest since 18 weeks. I have had appointments every week to check cervical length. I thought bedrest was working for us my cervix went from 2.3 to 2.6. Then this week ( tues 4th) My length droped to 1.2 with funneling. I was sced for emergant cercalge the next morning. This whole thing has been so hard as my son is only 10 months old ( which is why they think i am having these problems) My question to you ladies that have been on bed rest did you ever experiance panic attacks? I get really restless then my heart speeds up, i start to feel like i cant breathe and like something bad is going to happen or the feeling if you have done something wrong and your about to get caught. Anyone experiance this?

jennllewis - 108 days ago.
Hi Ladies, I am sorry to hear that you all are on bedrest. I too was on bedrest for 3 weeks it sucked :) I did however find a great site to help pass the time. Check it out....http://cashcrate.com/1105198.

lourds - 121 days ago.
Hi there! Read an inspirational book, or any reading materials that you like. Watch TV, watch funny shows or soap opera shows, etc. Surf the net. Have a daily plan of your activities. Have a little stretching while lying. Listen to music. Count your blessings, hehehe! God bless...

joeysmom525 - 121 days ago.
Hi all! I'm new here, one of my girlfriends recommended this site cause i'm on my 3rd week of bedrest as of today 7/23/09. i was admitted to the hospital on 7/9/09 becuase my fFN came back positive and my cervix had shortened to 2.3, after a week on the magnesium i was allowed to come home. but i have to monitor myself 2x's a day for contractions and i have a terbutaline pump to stop me from contractiong. I hate it, i am allowed to get up for the bathroom and quickie showers and to get a meal but it has to basically be something thats premade, i can't cook because of the standing up. i have a four year old that i can't take care of so i'm staying at my grandparents for the help. Anyone have any ideas to overcome this boredom?

melissao - 162 days ago.
I gained 47lbs while on bedrest and had no junk food. I was on bedrest a little over 7months but most of it was water weight. I spent 6wks of it in the hospital and I still gained there is no avoiding it but don't worry about it its all for a good reason..

adriana03 - 199 days ago.
Anyone on here have a bicornuate uterus ?

sondramarie - 204 days ago.
I'm new here I'm 17 weeks just started bleeding today had cramping for a week I have only brown discharge now and still crampy I have a low lying placenta and I feel like no one is giving me answers

MCollinsRN - 205 days ago.
Hey! So went for my NST/AFI today. I failed my NST, had too many contractions still! The doc let me go home after checking me. Still no dialation, my cervix is soft though. He said he was fine with me continuing the Brethine (5mg every 4hours) and resting! Yeah!!!

julybaby09 - 206 days ago.
Hi guys, I am new and will be 30 weeks tomorrow and on modified bedrest due to Preeclampsia. I was on strict bedrest at 24 weeks for only one week but can appreciate the ability to get up here and there all the more now!! Just wanted to say hello!

babyetienne - 207 days ago.
I HAVE A QUESTION, I AM CONSTIPATED LATELY,THEN AWHILE AGO I POOPED SORRY TMI!THEN AFTER THAT I NOTICE A LITTLE PINK BLOOD STAIN IN MY DISCHARGE FROM MY THINGY(TMI),BUT JUST A LITTLE,IS THAT SOMETHING I HAVE TO BE ALRMED WITH??IS IT BECAUSE I WAS SITTING IN THE TOILET FOR TOO LONG?

NicholasMom - 207 days ago.
KayandRy- that sounds like me! I fall asleep around 2 or 3 and wake up at like 11-11:30. And if I wake up in the middle of the night, it takes me another hour or so to fall back to sleep. I've been on bedrest for about 10 weeks now and still have a long ways to go. I'll be 24 weeks Friday so I'm happy about that. Goddess- I went to 36 weeks on bedrest with my previous son and my doctor never took the handcuffs off. If I can make it to 36 weeks without going into labor this time, maybe he'll let me loose! :) I would love to go pick out baby things! Good luck to you!

goddess27 - 207 days ago.
I have been on bedrest since I was 18 weeks due to an incompitent cervix. I am now 32 weeks pregnant and yesturday my dr. gave me some great news. I can now add some activity to my day! so for those of you still on complete bed rest this can be some motivation that you may get activity back. just last week I thought I would be confined to the bed foreve. I'm still on bed rest but atleast now I can get a little activity like going to dinner or shopping for my son which is what I was not able to do before. now I can actually enjoy my pregnancy

babyetienne - 208 days ago.
bedrest!runny nose!cough! argh!how are you mommies?

MCollinsRN - 208 days ago.
Since being put on bedrest last week, I have only stayed in bed one day! I feel so guilty, but I am so busy. This is finals week (I am in school for family nurse practitioner) and I cannot blow this whole semester. I snuck out to Target (I did use a motorized cart) and was busted by two labor and delivery nurses who know me and know I am on bedrest! Serves me right, I guess. Tomorrow is a new day--I am staying in bed--ALL day!!!

petite - 208 days ago.
Thank you RuthGrounded. I must not complain like that when so many woman are in bedrest so early than 25 weeks. I don't nap either during day but I still wake up often during night... I think it's just normal by the fact we rest all day long.

RuthGrounded - 209 days ago.
I hear you guys on the difficulty with sleeping! I do not allow myself to nap during the day either. Some nights are better than others but I think now it is due to being uncomfortable. My hips are killing me. And of course once I wake up I have nothing to do but start to let my mind worry about things. Ahhh... tick tock, tick tock!

RuthGrounded - 209 days ago.
Hi petite, welcome. I'm so sorry to hear you were put on bedrest. As I'm sure the other women on this forum would agree, hearing that news stops you dead in your tracks! It's great that you've made it to 27 weeks. I have been on bedrest for close to 9 weeks. I am 29w 5d preg. I found the first few weeks the most difficult because I felt angry and scared...why was this happening to me? What I tell myself every day is that I can do this and it is only temporary. This forum has comforted me many times when I felt like giving up. Hang in there and keep in touch!

petite - 209 days ago.
Hello! I'm a new user and a franco canadienne but I will try not to do too much mistake when I'm writing. I'm in bedrest too because my cervic length has decrease too rapidly. I'm now at 27 weeks and my cervic at 1.4cm. I was really active and I don't like to do nothing... so, it is really depress for me now. Stay in bed all the time, take quick shower and I worry a lot for my babies (twins). I know that I have to stay positive for them but it is really hard! What is hard to understand is that before my ob stop me, I was feeling great, in shape and happy... but now my body is shore, I'm sad... I'm sorry to write down that the first time but maybe I will feel better after and tomorrow will be a better day!

cheer9999 - 209 days ago.
Sleeping is the hardest part. My body aches (i'm 34 weeks) and i do not let myself nap during the day, but at night... I'm wide awake. My dr approved me to take tylenol pm every night since day 1, but now i find myself taking two tylenol pm around 11pm, falling asleep around 1am and then when i wake back up around 3am, I take one more and then i lay in bed sleeping off and on.

KayandRysMoM - 209 days ago.
Nicholasmom-I was on bedrest from 21-34 weeks and i had alot of trouble with sleeping. I wasnt comfortable and i just didnt feel tired. I would fall asleep around 2am and sleep til noon the next day. My schedule was all thrown off but it all gets better!

NicholasMom - 209 days ago.
Just wondering if any of you have trouble sleeping. I've been on bedrest for about 10 weeks now and can't fall asleep at night. I just can't get comfortable or don't feel tired. Too bad I couldn't take a jog to tire out my body!

RuthGrounded - 210 days ago.
Hi babyetienne - congrats on your 2 week milestone. Gaining weight is not hard to do when you are laying around. Blame it on the baby and the boobs! Mine just started to swell up which they hadn't at all since now. I started leaking too. It freaked me out at first. Thank goodness for your nexium, eh? The baby movements are pretty amazing and it makes me more and more anxious to meet this little one! Thanks for checking in. BTW - how's your friend and baby doing?