Bed rest during pregnancy

Bed rest is commonly prescribed during pregnancy to help relieve certain pregnancy complications. Some women know this is due to their medical history, while others are surprised during a routine checkup. Bed rest is common, so don't worry.

Bed rest is different for different women and can vary from simple periodic rest at home to full bed rest under supervision in a hospital. Some women find that their doctor puts them to bed for a short period to help stabilize the complication, while other women may be placed in bed for most of their pregnancy if they have what is called a high-risk pregnancy.

What are the common reasons for bed rest?

Your doctor may order bed rest for a number of reasons, but in all cases, it increases the chances that you will have a healthy pregnancy.

Here is a list of complications that bed rest can lead to:

High blood pressure, such as preeclampsia or eclampsia
Cervical changes, such as the incompetent cervix or cervical effacement
Vaginal bleeding
Premature labor
Multiples
History of pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or premature birth
Poor fetal development
Gestational diabetes
Placenta complications, such as placental abruption, placenta previa, and placenta accreta

How will bed rest help you?

In most cases, bed rest is used to give the body a chance to normalize. Bed rest will be used in women who have conditions associated with high blood pressure to reduce stress and lower blood pressure. Labor, activity, heavy lifting, or exercise can aggravate or trigger certain conditions, so bed rest may be prescribed to reduce vaginal bleeding or reduce the risk of preterm labor. Bed rest may also be needed to increase blood flow to the placenta.

What is the best position for bed rest?

The best position for bed rest will depend on your situation and the complication your doctor is trying to treat or prevent. In most cases, your doctor will ask you to sleep and rest on your side, usually with your knees or hips bent and possibly with a pillow between your knees.

You may be asked to lie on your back with pillows or lie on your back with your hips or legs raised above your shoulders. Learn more about sleeping positions during pregnancy.

How can I manage the discomfort associated with bed rest?

Bed rest causes your muscles to lose tone and damage your joints. Prolonged lying down can also reduce blood circulation. Switching from side to side will help stimulate your muscles and relieve pressure.

Exercise is important for circulation, but be sure to check with your doctor before starting any kind of exercise.

The following are common exercises that can be used:

Squeezing stress balls
Pressing your hands and feet against the bed
Turning your arms and feet in circles
Tensing or tightening your arm and leg muscles

Try not to strain your abdominal muscles when stretching or exercising. Again, check with your doctor to find out which exercises are best for your situation.

Do's and don'ts while on bed rest:

Do's and don'ts in bed vary from woman to woman, depending on your situation and the reasons your doctor ordered bed rest. It is important to understand what is allowed during bed rest.

In most cases, bed rest requires you to avoid heavy lifting, exercise, or any strenuous activity.

Here is a list of activities to discuss with your doctor:

Cooking
Light chores
Walking
Bath or shower
Driving
Exercise
Sexual intercourse

If you are in bed for a long time, it is important to discuss what exercises or activities you are allowed to do to keep your circulation going.

How to get the most out of bed rest?

Bed rest may seem like fun, but for most women, it is usually difficult, especially if it lasts longer.

There are a number of things you can do to make bed rest more positive:

Start journaling: Putting your thoughts on paper can be therapeutic and imagine one day sharing your thoughts and experiences with your son or daughter. Whether you share with them or keep a diary, these days and weeks will fly by faster than you think. It can be fun to look back and remember how far you've come.
Create a visualization board and set life goals: I'm sure you've heard of the power of attraction. Whether you believe it or not, it's always a good idea to set goals so that you can achieve them. Everything is possible. Why not aim for the stars? Set achievable short-term goals that align with outstanding long-term goals. The visualization board is perfect for creating the way you want your life to be. Choose how much you want to earn, what you want to do in your career, what kind of car you want to drive, and how you want your home to look. Here are some examples. In fact, you can have anything on your wish board, look at it every day and imagine what it's like when you already have these things. Be happy and positive. Focus and see how many things you think about come true.
Become a Pinterest master: If you don't already have a free Pinterest account, do it! You can create pictures like baby room, recipes, dream houses, DIY projects or interior design ideas. To name a few, it's really up to you what you create and anchor.
Start a blog: The blog should reflect your interests so you never run out of articles to write. Who knows, maybe you will start your own business or join the big world of highly paid mom bloggers.
Join the pregnancy community: Let's face it, no one knows what you're going through like other moms who have been there or moms-to-be. Eventually, you will find other moms to share experience, advice, and hope with. You can even make friends. Who else really stays up all night googling about pregnancy and kids?
Establish a routine: Bed rest can get you out of control. Set a mode that will help you better control the situation. Put on comfortable clothes and make a schedule for the day.
Simple organization: You're stuck in bed, but it's a great opportunity to organize your photo albums, make changes to your address books, update recipes, or work on other projects that need attention.
Give Google a break: Googling all day and night can be stressful that you should avoid.
Chat with friends: After having a baby, you will be busy, so it may be difficult for you to visit friends. Use this time to call your friends.
Preparing for the baby: Bed rest gives you the opportunity to organize yourself and plan for the baby. You can start planning for baby names, baby registration, new will, custody, insurance, birth announcements, thank you letters, and financial matters. You can also use this time to order baby care products online or over the phone.
Medications: Bed rest will also give you time to research and plan treatment for complications. You can log in or read books to learn how you can prepare for preterm labor or other complications.
Let friends and family help you: Your family and friends care about you and want to help you. Don't be afraid to ask for help with food, chores, or errands. You may even find people calling to ask how they can help. Make it easier for yourself by having a to-do list with you.
Become a parenting expert: Bed rest gives you the perfect opportunity to surf the internet, read books and browse magazines for kids and parents looking for information about parenting.
Love those around you: Bed rest will force those around you to devote more time to tasks and activities that you could normally handle. Take time to express your appreciation, such as making a card, writing a letter, or ordering a special gift.
Be Organized: Just because you're bedridden doesn't mean you can't be productive, whether it's for your family, at home, or just for yourself.