What Does Bed Rest Really Mean?

T.,
Bed Rest is very important! You must stay down. Calm and relaxed! Please wait... before you skip to the next one...
I was on Bed Rest when I was pg with my third child. I hated being told to stay in the bed or on the couch! I did get up to go to the bathroom & ate in a recliner with my feet up.
Keep your feet elevated if you just must sit up a while.
Listen to your doctors and your husband!!! Call in the reinforcements..call Mom,Aunt's Sisters, neighbors, your church family, co-workers and girl friends! Call in those brownie points you have earned by helping so many other people....RELAX!!!!!Invite them to bring lots of GOOD things to eat, as they work/(Oh,Visit) You!HA!
Let them cook, clean, do laundry,dishes, you can supervise from the couch or from the bed! Don't worry about a thing...enjoy this time, you've got much to do VERY SOON!!!!
My rest was exactly what I did need. My blood pressure was up. I will be praying for you to be able to find the balance; being wife, career woman, and Mom.....It will take some time...so just slow down and enjoy this time. LaDonna

1 mom found this helpful

Hi,
I was on complete bed rest for 10 weeks. It meant that I could only get out of bed to shower and go to the rest room. Since I could not do stairs I had to stay with my parents. I was 25 weeks and this was my first child also. My doctor wanted me to get to 37 weeks but I still had the baby 2 weeks early. Since I was not at home I had not prepared the nursery, no baby shopping or anything. My husband was very supportive too. I did all the shopping from bed through catalogs and he prepared the nursery which I didn't see it until I brought the baby home.
I was on terbutilin (a mini iv in my leg that I had to switch legs every 5 days) and on a monitor where I had to phone in my contractions 4 times a day. I was supposed to lay on my left side at all times. Needless to say it was not much fun but worth every minute because it allowed me to have a healthy baby girl who is 13 today.
Hang in there
J.

1 mom found this helpful

talk to your ob-gyn and have him clarify. he can tell you exactly what he thinks is best for you and baby. ask a lot of questions, like can you go to work if you put your feet up, can you work a half day, can you go to the grocery, do you need to stay in bed or on the sofa all day with your feet up? there are so many types of resting when you are pregnant only your doctor can tell you what he prefers you to do.

Well.. Bed Rest does mean to "take it easy..not over doing it". Basically, you can still do daily things; just in "small doses".

Good luck!!

I was put on bedrest at the 20 week mark because of the same thing... I wanted to tell you a trick about feeling your baby move. I was freaking out cause I couldnt tell -- then the doctor told me to get a flashlight and put it on my belly while laying on my back. This will make the little one move :)

I can tell that you have gotten plenty of advice (reading some of the post) but maybe this will help you relax more. Hang in there it will be over before you know it :)

I had some spotting early in my pregnancy and I was told to go home and rest. Bed rest to me means just that, rest, stay off your feet as much as possible. But not just lying in bed, maybe on the sofa, an easy chair. LOL

i was put on total bed rest for 2 weeks with my 1st pregnancy which my ob said was bed, potty, couch and back again. that was it. after that, i couldn't go to work but i could get out of bed and do some light housework and go shopping. i couldn't lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk and if i did go shopping, i couldn't walk in the store...i had to be pushed in a wheel chair or ride the motor cart. it can have many definitions so you need to get your doc to be more secific as to what "take it easy" and "bed rest" means for them.

T.,

I was put on bed rest with my first and now we have three. I went into preterm labor due to a bladder infection. It was pretty serious.
It would be a good idea to have your doctor really spell out for you what he does and does not want you to do.

When I was on bed rest my doctor wanted me to lay on my side all day (gravity in not good for contractions). He told me NOT to stand and make a salad for lunch-put the lunch in the microwave lay down and then go back and get it and eat while on my side. He did not want me sitting up straight or standing.

Have a chat with your doctor to clarify what he wants. I was on bed rest for a month.
You will make it!! Good luck and happy resting!!

Stay in bed or in rest position as much as possible. Depending on who you talk to, some from the old school would say only get out of bed to go to the bathroom. Others may say you may do some light cleaning (emphasis on light). I say ask for help around the house or accept the help offered around the house and sit down. Things may not be how you would have them to be with cooking, cleaning, and preparing for the baby but, what would happen if you were not there?

Get your rest and prop you feet and indulge in a healthy treat.

talk to your doctor it sounds liek you are getting different kinds of advice here I was on "strict bed rest" bathroom shower only in the hospital. i was on bed rest with my first meaning the same thing only i could spend a bit more time out of bed cooking sitting up ect... so just talk to your doc good luck!

bed rest means exactly that, but if youve done the wk and now u r just "taking it easy" then basically no lifting ANYTHING, no going for walks, ur dr is telling u not to go into labor yet because the baby is not fully developed and he/she is concerned about the lungs? you should really heed his/her warnings. I know sometimes its hard for us women to just let someone else take care of us, but now u should learn to do that so that you dont jeapordize the babies well being...hope all goes well for you and baby

Hey! I was put on bed rest after going into preterm labor with my son at 33 weeks. My situation was a little diffrent form yours, I was actually in labor and dialating. I was hospitialized for a week & on magnesium to stop labor. I was sent home on strict bed rest until 37 weeks. During that time it was only up and down to go to the bathroom, etc.

At 37 weeks I was told to "take it easy" as well. My doctor described this as nothing strenuous, such as house cleaning, grocery shopping, taking walks, etc. I really just tried to use my best judgement & spend more time off my feet than on them. I honestly think the level of "rest" depends on how concerned your doctor is about your baby coming too early.

As far as telling the difference between braxton hicks, baby movement & real contractions, I PROMISE you will know when the real contractions start coming!

Good luck & in the end, when you see your baby's sweet face, all of this drama will be worth it!

I was put on bed rest for almost my whole pregancy with my firs son! It drove me nuts not being able to really get out and do stuff. I too slept on the couch most nights and just got up to eat and us the bathroom. It was harder when my husband had to be out in the field weeks on end. (military) and we had well still do have a german shepherd mix that just loves to be played with. All she would do was wine and cry!! My son was still born about two months early but it was worth in in the end to have him and he ended up now having to be in the NICU more then two days. Good luck and get some reading done and all that rest will be great too. You wont get much after your baby comes. :o)

I know a lot of moms on bed rest hire help if no family member is available. They only get up to go to the rest room. Some one usually brings them their meals.
I had to get my own meals because I could not hire help. But I was laid up and bored out of my mind. Get a good book. Have your husband rent you some good movies and relax your mind. Once your mind is relaxed them you can get in touch with your body, but if you are trying too hard it makes it more difficult.

Good luck and God bless,