Going Stircrazy on Bedrest

K.,
I feel your pain :o(. I was put on bedrest at 24 weeks and was on it until I delivered my son at 31 weeks. I was in the hospital for all but a week of it and not being able to leave the room was driving me insane!! My advice is to try and do something you normal wouldn't have the chance to...put photos in albums, search for yummy recipes, research something/ANYTHING to get your mind in a different place! My fear is being on bedrest a second time (if I was to get pregnant again) and having my son at home...I really feel for you but it will all be over soon!! Keep your head up...I even tried to learn how to knit, but could never get the hang of it!!!
Hope this helps!
~ B. (mom of a beautiful and perfect 16 month old - you would never know he was 3lbs 8oz when he was born)

You're able to type on the computer. Are you also able to talk on the phone? I can help you with a simple business proposition that would be great for your daughter, as well as the son-to-be. Take a look at www.toysofdiscovery.com and contact me so we can discuss.
B.

There's a great website for advice and support after being put on bedrest - here's one of their more specific articles to help with bedrest:
http://www.sidelines.org/articles/living-through-hospital...

Good luck -- you can make it and the beautiful baby at the end will be worth it!

Have you thought about getting crafty?? Maybe your 2 1/2 year old would be a little more understanding if you were sitting there, making something for HER. LOL

Good luck!! You're almost there...

Dear K.,

I was on bedrest for 5 weeks, so I feel your pain! I didn't have an older child, though, so my situation was easier than yours. What I decided I had to do was teach myself a skill. I needed something with goals I could complete. My original plan -- write that novel I've always wanted to write -- just wasn't going to happen; I was too restless and anxious. I settled for a much more modest goal -- teaching myself calligraphy -- and by the end I'd gotten pretty good. I even hand-addressed all my brother's wedding invitations. If there's anything you've ever wanted to make with your hands, this is a great time to do it. It really focuses your mind and changes your relationship with time.

With your daughter, you might just look for a long-term absorbing crafts project you can do together, on your bed. Can you, say, build, paint, and populate a big fairy princess castle or something? You might wind up with paint stains on the bed, but under the circumstances, it might be worth it. I also recommend reaching out to friends, family, anyone else in your network, who can help out with shopping, childcare, etc., to lighten your husband's load a bit.

Finally, as others have said, I really missed my bedrest when it was over. Now that I have an active preschooler, a part-time job, and an education to pursue, I keep wishing someone would come along and confine me to my bed for a couple of months. That's probably not what you want to hear now, but you might try to think of this as a time to soak up all the rest that you're not going to get later.

Hope this helps,

Mira

Your husband response to helping out in the house you SHARE is disappointing when its a risk to your heath. Its one more month. Can u arrange a playdate for your girl thru moms at her school to pick her up and drop her off and keep her happy + distracted. And preferably keep it going thru first few months of baby's birth. Write a story u will share w the baby. Do something creative while u can!
A girl + a boy --what a lucky mom you are!!

That would make me crazy too! I was not on bed rest, but a very dear friend was and here's what she did:
- started (and finished) her Christmas cards and just needed to add the picture when the little one was born
- read books to the three-year-old as part of his bedtime routine (daycare during the day)
- you can probably do some simple crafts with your daughter while in bed... maybe some easy ornaments or picture frames for holiday gifts
- finished her holiday shopping online
- had her husband go to Hallmark and buy ALL birthday/anniversary/new baby etc cards for the next six months... wrote them, addressed them, stamped them and put them in her day planner on the day they needed to be mailed
- had a friend teacher her how to knit and did a bunch of blankets for the babies in the NICU
- this was her best idea, though...
She hired a babysitter to take her son for the night, asked the neighbor to come over and help her get the "table" set (breakfast trays), ordered Chinese food and a movie "on demand" and had a date-night with her husband. Seriously, they ate dinner in bed, watched a movie and spent some low-stress time together.

Good luck- one month left!

Hi K.,
I'm sorry you have to go through this. There is an organization at www.sidelines.org which will actually hook you up with a 'mentor' who has been in a similar situation. I hope this helps and wishing you a healthy baby!
Ayala

Dear K.,

Hang in there.....talk to your baby about what is going on as it too must be wondering why the movement of Mama has slowed down. Let the baby know about the c- section.
This may be a good time to learn to meditate....even though that won't fill your day....it may help ease your frustrations. You can do stretches in bed a bit as well.

You can talk it over with your 2&1/2 year old as well. Can she play in your room nearby you as a special treat?

Can you hire a high school student or college student to help out for the next few weeks so your daughter has another person to play with and your husband feels less pressured?

There are a host of nannies listed at Families First Center in Cobble Hill as well.

While I was not on bedrest in a pregnancy, I did have to recover from major abdominal surgery for 5-6 weeks last Fall and I know look back at that rest time very fondly wishing for that kind of break once again sans surgery! Try to see it as an opportunity.

Good Luck,

ES

Hi K. K
Congrats on a lovely family.
You don't mention friends stopping by; they were my saving grace when I went down to bed rest at 19 weeks. Each day a different friend stopped by. I was tried after and therefore slept, but I also prayed, crocheted, knitted, and like you read books, and watched tv.
My other children were older, or I would have been hospitalized all that time had I had a 2-3 yo. My husband and 14 yo son were completely helpful wanting the babies to be healthy, but a 2 yo would not understand. Have the OB talk to your husband it worked marvelously for me, I knew mine would not listen to me saying what OB told me, but the OB knew just how to talk to him and he did it out of my earshot.
As for your daughter read to her. Have games next to you to play, and what about coloring and writing, or getting a school age kid to come after school.
My twins were born healthy at 38 weeks. Yup I was in the hospital for a week and then on bed rest for 19 more. If I can do it --- You can do it!!!
God bless you and keep you strong
K. H

Have four kids and was on bedrest from four months on
for three of them. They were a year apart. I just did
it. Sat on the couch, read books etc. They would climb
on me. Actuallly we enjoyed the time together. So
hang in and it will be over soon.