Bed Rest ... Yuck

I was put on bed rest at 31 weeks.

I loved having company! Friends would come over to visit and bring a meal to help out... it was really nice to have the support and someone to see/talk to for a while every day or so.

Your bed rest sentence won't be forever. I am sure your dr. will let you come off at 37 weeks....so really you don't have that much longer to go.

I know how you are feeling. I had to do total bedrest in the hospital in an inverted bed. It was not fun. I was 20 weeks when I went into preterm labor. The amniotic sac was protruding from the womb so they put me in a bed tilted back by 10 degrees to help get it back in which it did after about a week but I had to stay in bed for the rest of my pregnancy because they didn't know why my labor started in the first place and I had already had my first baby prematurely at 7 weeks early. I last for 4 weeks before I went into labor again. Anyways, here's how I filled my time. Chick flicks, bible study, word puzzle books, hand held games like solitaire, talking with visitors, cutting out paper flowers and whatnot to decorate my hosptial room wall, talking on the phone. You have the difficult position of having a 2 year old around. I would invite a friend over every day especially those that have young kids that can play with yours. Get some craft stuff and just play around with it with your son and make whatever your imagination can think of. Brainstorm with your friends on what else can be done to help you get through this with your sanity intact. God Bless.

I was on bed rest for the entire pregnancy for my last child, #7. I was 41 when he was born. Now he is a tall, handsome 15 years old. You must remember what you are doing, and how important it is. What is your son's life worth to you? I can take anything for 9 months but handicaps last a lifetime. Please think of what you are giving your son -- a body to last a lifetime. I know it's boring but you will recover and be able to do everything again. Try reading during TV. You can if the material is not too heavy. A novel or light how-to books are good. Good luck. We are pulling for you.

C., I've been on bed rest with all 5 of my pregnancies. I'm 13wks along with my 5th and supposed to be on bed rest, as much as possible, but I don't because that's just impossible with 4 kids. But you can do it. Remember that your doing this for your son. Right now you're the only one who can take care of him. If you're allowed to sit up then get yourself some Word Searches, Crossword Puzzels, and Sudocu books, they will help. Start reading a book series like Lord of the RIngs or Harry Potter, or even Junie B Jones First grader, they are really funny to read! Maybe teach yourself how to knit or to do embroidery or cross stitching. Start writing letters to family instead of sending emails. My biggest concern with you though would be lack of exercise. YOu will end up being weak after the baby's born, so see of you can use a thigh master or some stationary bike pedals (not the whole bike just the pedals) do leg lifts and use some small weights for your arms. This will keep your blood circulating well and keep your muscles in good shape. As for the t.v., try watching something else. PBS, DIsney, Discovery, Animal Planet or even movies, your 2 yr old should be flexible enough to watch something else and you both might learn something from another channel. I hope I've helped you figure out ways to pass the time. IT will be very boring but keep your baby in mind, maybe get a huge baby name dictionary to read through, and hopefully your time will pass quickly for you.

C.

I can't say that I have been in your shoes, but I work with people on bed rest and they pass the time with books, crafts, shooping on line for the baby. This is a wonderful time to get to know your other boys, do craft projects with them. Have your husband or a friends go to the craft store and get those foam crafts or paiting...anyhting the boys will enjoy and just play with them. I know it is hard, but stick with it. You want a healthy baby. At least you are not in the hospital!!!!

I was restricted from 2 weeks until my first was born (full term) and all there was to do was read or sleep. Keep in mind that doing it will help you to have a healthy child amking it all worth while in the end. Having someone to talk to would help, internet access might help too. Good luck

Just a reminder --- ask the doctor before exercising, the reason that you are on bed rest may make that a bad idea. When I was doing it I was on 1000 calories and not supposed to do much at all. It is for your child so before making a big change ask the doctor.

Oh man. I've been there and I feel for you. During my down time I went through boxes of all our pictures and tried to organize them. I also did some reading, sudoku and crosswords, and watched movies. I had a friend of mine hit the library for me to get magazines. You can check out 25 at a time. Everything from rolling stones to vogue. Good stuff. Also see if you can hire someone to come give you a pedicure. God knows I couldn't reach my own feet to polish them and the massage was awesome. I hope this helps! Good luck!

MY PRAYERSA ARE WITH YOU. IVE LEARNED HOW TO DO THOSE SUDOKU PUZZLES. I HAD MY HUSBAND GET ME A KIDS ONE. NOW I'M UP TO THE ADULT ONES AND WORKING ON THE EASY ONES. THEY ARE FUN AND DO KEEP YOU BUSY MENTALLY. I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO START OUT WITH KIDS ONES. JUST HAVE YOUR HUSBAND GET ONE THAT HAS EASY MEDIUM AND HARD. IT WILL GIVE YOU INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO DO THEM AND THERE IS ALSO A SUDOKU SIGHT I'LL GIVE YOU THAT GIVES YOU LESSONS UNLESS YOU WANT TO PURCHASE THE BOOK. It's ____@____.com. I hope its something you can get in to and help you pass the time. Have fun

Sorry to hear about that! I was on bedrest from 16 weeks ON with my second, of course he was born at 34-35 weeks but it was horrible. Luckily he was my first to make it (thanks to a stitch in my cervix and bedrest); I had two before at 20 & 21 weeks...
Anyway, I mostly watched the "Baby Story" as far as TV goes, but I also did a lot of reading and puzzles...couldn't do puzzles for a period of time that I was on strict (lay flat) bed rest. Do you have anyone who can help you out? I had a couple of friends who did not work away from home so once a week, twice if I was lucky, they would come visit, maybe bring a movie and some sherbet or something, and chat.
Good Luck!

I've been in your shoes and I did a lot of reading and crossword puzzles. Good luck!

you poor thing. I so remember being on bed rest with my first. I was only 3 1/2 months along and spent the next five in bed with strict orders to only be up 20 hrs a week. My husband used to bring wire home from constuction sites and I would sit there and strip it. lol It sounds so funny now but it helped me release my frustration and then I found out that copper is worth a lot of money so I would send him to change it in. I also did a lot of drawing and painting. Puzzles were huge with me. I also managed to crosstich a baby quilt and hook latch a few little rugs. I know it sounds mundane but the more projects I had the faster the time went by. I had been a full time Homecare nurse before I ws put on bed rest and so going from one thing to another was in my nature. Hope this helps you.

Hi C.,
I too went into labor at 32 weeks. However my water broke and I had to deliver. My daughters lungs werent finished and she had to live in a box, then when she got out of the box she had to live on oxygen and monitors. If I had been able to lay in bed so that she wouldnt have been born sick I would have taken that option in a heartbeat. Just think of having a healthy baby. Hopefully that can be your motivation. Read. Watch Movies. Cuddle your babies. Stimulate your brain. You are strong and can do it.
Good Luck to you and your Family.
J.

I was put on bedrest at 5 months and almost went crazy as well. I tried painting, reading books and scrapbooking. I am a very active person so I even got bored with this. In all honesty I just cleaned a lot and would start going into contractions again so I wish I could give you more creative ideas!
Best of luck,
L.