Advice Needed on How to Handle Bed Rest While Raising a 1 Year Old Son

I am 8 weeks pregnant and have an almost 8 month old. I will be in exactly your position. A one year old and about 35 weeks pregnant. I am a bit scared for what is ahead with the pregnancy. Did you take it easy the first few months? Any advoce would be helpful. Try to get as much help as possible. Maybe you can place your 1 year old in daycare a few days a week a few hours per day. Or hire a live in for a few weeks. It sounds like you really need the rest. My best to you.

You get help. Hire a kid on summer break to come in and help with the one-year old. Put him in daycare if you can. Accept any help friends and family offer. Have grandma come and stay with you or send him to grandma's house for the next two weeks. You DO NOT want to go into early labor. Even if you have to put everything else on a credit card, stay in bed and get help.

Take Care!
N.

My doctor put me on bed rest at 16 weeks when my son was only 7 months old. With a lot of planning, help from family and friends, and a shifting of priorities, the experience actually brought me closer to my son. A few suggestions that worked for me: do some of your rest with cushions and a body pillow on the floor of his room or playroom. Go to a local medical supply store and rent a wheel chair so that you can go on walks and be active outside the house. And don't worry about the dirty dishes, toys everywhere, and the laundry piling up! That's what friends are for. Finally, the only thing that surprised me about bed rest was the loss of control - it was a very strange experience. The good thing is, though, it will all be a distant memory once the baby comes! Best wishes!

I agree with Natalie's advice. You get help. It's the only way. I spent several weeks on moderate bedrest while home with my 18 month old. By 33 weeks, I had to go to the hospital because I needed more strict bedrest and it wasn't possible with such a young child at home. I firmly believe that my twins made it to 35 weeks because I was on bedrest and not chasing my other child. Otherwise, I think they would have been even earlier. I wish you the best.