How Do I Cope With Bed Rest During Pregnancy?How Do I Cope With Bed Rest During Pregnancy?

No two words are more devastating during pregnancy than “bed rest.” For some women however, bed rest may mean the difference between life and death during pregnancy.

Who Needs Bed Rest During Pregnancy?
Your doctor may prescribe bed rest for various reasons. Some doctors recommend bed rest for mothers who are at risk for complications from carrying multiple babies. Other reasons for bedrest during pregnancy may include:

  •  To help alleviate pregnancy complications including high blood pressure or preeclampsia.
  •  As a temporary measure to help reduce a woman’s risk of preterm labor or early miscarriage.
  •  To help alleviate vaginal bleeding or other troublesome symptoms.
  •  To reduce risks associated with placental disorders during pregnancy.

Many doctors prescribe bed rest because they believe it helps stabilize a potentially volatile pregnancy. Bedrest may also help reduce stress on the mother’s body and internal organs and may help increase the blood flow delivered to her unborn baby.

Types of Bed Rest
Bed rest comes in many forms. Some women may be allowed to remain on bed rest at home. This may involve occasional resting during the day or complete limitation of activity. At other times a doctor may require their patient be admitted to the hospital for monitoring and to ensure complete bedrest.

Coping With Bedrest
Coping with bedrest is difficult. Many women are overwhelmed when they discover they have to spend a part or majority of their pregnancy on bed rest. While bed rest may be difficult, it is important to remember bedrest may help save the life of you or your baby.

There are many ways of coping with bedrest. Here are some strategies you can adopt to help cope with bedrest during pregnancy:

  •  Make arrangements with friends or family members so they can help you care for other children or handle your normal responsibilities while on bedrest.
  •  Gather a supply of books, magazines and other literature to keep you occupied while on bed rest.
  •  Be sure you have access to things you need to get through the day without having to rely on someone else to get them for you. You may for example, want a toothbrush handy, some bottled water and some snacks so you don’t always have to call on someone when you need something.
  •  Consider starting a new series or renting a few DVD’s you’ve been meaning to watch for some time.
  •  Try logging on and finding some online support systems. There are thousands of other women coping with bed rest you can communicate with every day on the Web. All you need is a computer and an ISP.
  •  Take time out of every day to get dressed and brush your hair. You will feel better about yourself.
  •  Remain positive. Rather than worrying about your baby or focusing on how bored you are, think about how much you are doing for your baby. Focus on the good aspects of your pregnancy and remind yourself what a good mother you will be.
  •  Catch up on your parenting reading.
     Pamper yourself on occasion. You may consider having a massage therapist come to the house for example. Have someone give you a pedicure.
  •  Invite people over. Have a tea party in your bedroom. There is no reason you have to remain isolated simply because you are on bedrest. Be sure to ask for comfort and support from others during this time. This will help you feel normal and provide you an outlet for expressing your emotions, concerns and feelings during this crucial time of your pregnancy.

Remember, while you may feel like bedrest lasts a lifetime, in the grand scheme of things you will soon have your baby and look back on these days fondly as you realize how quickly your children grow and develop. Take some time to bond with your baby and enjoy your pregnancy while on bedrest, because in the blink of an eye it can all change!