Ideas for Bedrest Activities

Hi! I actually was on bedrest at 32 weeks with preeclampsia also! I only made it two weeks for delivering my healthy baby girl at 34 weeks. We did have some NICU time, but you are at a GREAT place at 35 weeks! Congratulations! I am also a teacher, so I did a lot of "big idea" lessons for when I went back. I did a TON of reading, and you have been given some other GREAT suggestions. If you have a computer nearby, their is an AWESOME preeclampsia website: preeclampsia.org that has awesome forums and information from people who have been through the same thing. Good luck!:)

Here are some ideas:
*Folding clothes (have hubby bring the basket in to you before he leaves for work) - not exciting, but helps you feel that you're 'doing' something
*addressing birth announcements (many places will ship the envelopes to you beforehand - it will save you from fitting that in after your baby arrives and let you focus on her and your healing after!)
*catch up on your emails, writing notes, write out the next few months worth of birthday cards for family members, etc.
*start your online Christmas shopping. :)
*premake scrapbook pages for after baby arrives, so you just have to insert the photo
*create menus for dinner for after baby arrives - shopping list so your house is stocked
*crossword puzzles and sudoku puzzles
*enjoy watching 'a baby story' on tv in anticipation of your own
*catch up on reading the newspaper/magazines
*plan a spring/summer party (so it's all set for you to just shop for and do when the time is here!)
*research your next vacation destination
*continue reading baby books - even read ahead in the 'what to expect' books to learn more about what the baby will be doing and when (after all, when the baby arrives, you don't really think about reading that much!)
*enjoy a good book
*invite friends to visit with you
*take up cross-stitching or another 'light' activity...make something for your new baby!

Be sure to ask your doctor about what exercises you can do / what would be safe. As difficult as it is to be on bedrest, it's for your safety and that of your baby. It'll be over soon and it's all for a good cause!! Congratulations!

Hi J. - Congratulations! I was on bedrest before our son was born for 13 weeks, so I do have some experience with activities! Be sure you understand what the doctor expects from you activity-wise. I had to be in bed, on my left side most of the time (but not all)allowed up to use the bathroom and every other day for a shower. The time went by and now I am so grateful for our son...who is 19!! He was born at 35 weeks with no problems. The doctor was set to let me go home on a Wed, but he arrived on that Monday. 35 weeks is pretty well cooked for a baby! All the best to you!

I wrote letters, read books, did puzzles on a flannel covered board, did needlepoint, colored in detailed coloring books, talked on the phone. I did not have the internet back then, but a laptop (as if you can find your lap!) would be great, too. Learn all about something you've wondered about for years....write to that Aunt who always was nice to you when you were little....scope infant activities in your area...The doctor's office may have some ideas of exercises you can do that are acceptable to them, but check with them first for sure. Don't skip any appointments and be sure to pay attention to what your body is telling you about how you feel. Your situation is one they watch pretty closely, so stay tuned to what's up. All the very best to you. Soon these weeks will be a distant memory and you'll be saying - "Oh, those weeks were no big deal. Look what we got out of it!!"

Hi J.,
I was on bed rest for my first pregancy because she wanted to come early. It was hard but I only had to do it for 2 weeks, but it felt more like 2 months. Likly when I was a child my grandmother and showed my how to sew, so I did some needle point, made a tun of stuff. When I was pregnant with my twins and had to "lay low" towards the end I thought myself how to cross stich. I made some cute little things for them and hung them on the walls in the nursery. It's hard to find things to do when you are laid up, but good luck. I'm sure you can google some exercises to do to make your muscles feel better. Good Luck with your bedrest.

I had bedrest too.. and honestly.. if you can.. ENJOY watching TV, reading.. journaling... you won't get to again for a LONG time!!

I had friend's come over and visit me.. some even brought food.

Hi J. -
1st off - CONGRATS on the upcoming addition to your family! I have an almost 5yr old (on 4/2 next week). I was not put on best rest but I do have a horrible little irriatating restless legs when I sit or lay for 2 long. When I read activities the first thing I thought of was a small exercise ball(also great for the birth, helped ease contractions when I would rock on it)
Anyway, I use mine now to exercise the ab's that disappeared and to loosen/stretch my leg muscles when they start to feel tight and irriated. 1- lay on my back and put the ball under my heels and roll it out then pull it back in. It seems simple enough, but that little bit of movement helps to circulate the blood. 2-You can also do the one legg roll by moving the ball from one side to the center then switching leggs to take it to the other side. 3 - if you are brave and balanced put your calves on the ball and slowly lift your hips off the bed. 4 - and of course there is always the can lift. A couple of soup cans will get your arms moving.

And then there is always the catch up on filing, folding, organizing, hand writing notes etc....

Best of luck-
Nicole

HI J.,
Boy I am almost jealous, but I know bedrest can be incredibly lonely and difficult. Here are some of my suggestions...

Catch up on anything you know you can't do once the baby comes, start a scrapbook for her, gather your materials, sonogram photo, write journal entries about how exciting you are to have her arrive you can paste into the book!

On a practical note, go through your files clear out what you don't need anymore, pack up college papers and start making room for baby...she will need a file for her birth items, hospital records, also think about finding a pediatrician.

Write letters to people that have had a positive impact on your life, what a surprise for them and it makes you feel good.

Call a girlfriend and have her come over and paint your toenails!

First, congrats on making it to 35 weeks, that is great. I spent several weeks on bed rest at home and another 5 in the hospital before delivering my son. Try sudoku, writing thank you's, and tolerate whatever tv you can. Thank God that you're still pregnant and know that the time will pass. You're laying there for the health of your baby and it's the best thing you can do for the little one right now. Possibly rent dvds. If you learn to knit (I never did!) you can even knit hats and donate them to the NICU at local hospitals. They have people donate the knit caps and small blankets for the incubators that go with holiday or seasonal themes.

I was on bedrest with all three pregnancies for atleast 6 weeks. I can relate. Excercises usually aren't a good idea, depending on the medical reasons that you are on bedrest. You could get some scrapbook supplies and get some pages done to where you can just insert pictures later. You could start a journal, writes letters to friends, find a good novel. Scrapbooking was my favorite, but if you aren't interested in that, find something to read or write. Good luck. You probably won't have too much longer to go.

Kegel- kegel- kegel. This is an exercise you can do anytime, anywhere and it is worth it!!! You want those muscles to bounce right back after birth.

God bless you on your new journey!
T. M.

I never had to do the bedrest thing, I had my twin boys at 32 weeks - 17 years ago. Take care of yourself, do what your doctor says, trust your gut. Just because you are on bedrest doesn't mean you can't move around. My co-worker had to be on bedrest. She still got up and cleaned house. She would be up for about 5 to 10 minutes an hour. She managed to keep the house up somewhat and also didn't cramp or fatigue. For a hobby (though it's sitting down), take up digital scrapbooking. You can get a good start over at Rakscraps with advice, tutorials and free supplies as well as a rocking community full of adventurous, crazy and kind people. I'm HollyAnn at Raks. I do want you to be careful with the medications the doctors give you to prevent premature labor. I have an in-law that was on it every day for a few weeks. Now her twins are sick, one has cancer. My boys came early and I'm glad they did, even though they were only 3 and a half pounds. They are very healthy today. Don't be afraid of having her early. Hold on as long as you can - naturally.

I was on bed rest with my first for a couple weeks, anything more than that is hard I'm sure!

I played my husband's Game boy! It was a blast, and now they have those Brain ones I'm sure you'd like it!

Word searches and crossword puzzles sure pass time. Also, you might want to go to the library and pickup some great books on tape or resourceful books on parenting, to help when the baby comes. Definitely, movies on disc and music are other avenues to utilize when bed ridden. Hope this helps.

J.,

I feel your pain! I too was ordered to bed rest when I was pregnant with my son. After 2 premature labors (the 2nd almost ended in birth), I wasn't allowed to get off the couch other than to eat, drink or go to the bathroom. My sister got me started on doing crosstich. That started me on an almost 20 year love of it! I have created many wonderful pictures and ornaments with it.

If you've never done it before, I suggest getting a small stamped kit for the first one. The design is already printed on the cloth so there is no counting involved in where the stitches go. You can try that or maybe you can paint some ceramic figurines to go in your daughter's room.

Hope this helps and best of luck!

L.

Well, since you're a teacher I guess I don't have to mention books and Sudoku!! There's a great game you can play by yourself: it's called Rush Hour and it's about $15.00. As for exercises--stretches and maybe hand/ankle weights (1 lb.)--ask Dr. first. Good luck! K.

First of all, Congratulations! You are about to embark on the craziest adventure of all! Seriously!! I'm sorry to hear you are on bed rest, though I wasn't, our daughter was 9 days late (which felt like 90 days!) so I had some time to lay around (which is basically all you will want to do at this stage in the game bedrest or not!) I stretched ALOT, anything that felt good and I could do, I did! My back was sore so I would get on my hands and knees and stretch my back up and down (plus it felt good because my belly would rest on the floor taking pressure off). The other advice I have-read everything you can about breast feeding, immunizations, foods to help you get back in shape, postpartum depression etc. You will be sooooooooo overwhelmed when the munchkin comes that educating yourself now, while you have some time is your best bet. What suprised me the most was I never read anything about breast feeding, figuring how hard could it be...well, it is, and alot of components go into it! Also, though I never suffered from post partum depression, I can definately see how a woman could. Your emotions will be up and down those first few months but it will pass:) Good Luck! It all goes so fast, try to enjoy every minute!

Start scrap booking you need a card table and supplies of course but it is a great way to look back on memories and get your pictures in order becasue once that baby comes you will have a slew of new pictures and if like most parents you wait until their senior year to put together a book many good photos will get loss. The supplies are as easy as stickers and construction paper just remember everything needs to be acid free but it is so easy and every store has some little section for scrapping even dollar stores. It is fun and the time will pass very quickly. I have had to stop while I am in school but soon I will be able to get back to it. I am doing books for each one of my siblings as they turn 40 and that has been a hoot. I still have my weddings to do, a camping book and several vacations, but I still pick up supplies when I see them.

Dear J. and Jon N.,

There is a lady with an exercise show on the PBS station and she does exercises while sitting in a chair. Are you allowed to sit up in a chair? I don't have cable t.v. or satellite t.v. so I can't tell you anything else except that she is on the PBS channel. It is the free channel for public broadcasting in our area. I was quite surprised at how many good exercises you can do while sitting in a chair. Ask your doctor first, of course, since you are on complete bed rest.
That sweet baby will be worth all the weeks of bedrest. Trust me. Once you hold him/her in your arms, you will sort of forget all the weeks you could do so little and your love will shine.
I said a prayer for you that all goes well. Take care,

L. C.

I was on bedrest for almost 3 months with twins, and could only get up to use the bathroom. I followed my OB's orders to a T!!!! and had my twins at 35 weeks. They are now 9 and healthy so it was worth it all. I read a lot, watched TV and slept. It was very difficult at first but I kept picturing healthy kids and knew I had to do it. My religion is very important to me (Orthodox), and I did a lot of reading about its inception, theology, etc. It all changed my life; the best experience of my life. I would never had had the time to get into such reading. My priest would come and visit with me and we'd talk about it all.

The muscles--yes! I would turn and toss all night. I used pillows as a wedge. After the twins' birth, it hurt to even walk, so I worked out with weights to get my muscles back in shape. I was in better shape then than now, however! With three kids, I hardly have time to think about working out.

I had a great delivery, and was home the next day. Because i was on bedrest, I didn't have a lot post-pregnancy issues. My body wasn't taxed by the walking with extra pregnancy weight.

I also spent time catalog shopping.

Hope this helps. You will be very busy shortly, so really, just enjoy this time to do nothing, and try not to feel guilty!

Write lots of thank you's...you can even write a few ahead of time for baby gifts you might receive!! I also made my baby announcements and worked on invitations for the baptism. I made phone calls price checking food etc. for the baptism party and other random things like that.

Good Luck!!

I was very active till I was struck down with a brain aneurysm [basil tip] and also had a stroke on the operating table. I'm now classified as severely handicapped. I cannot walk, talk or handwrite. My daughter bought me a padded lap table, I have a lap top computer. If you choose you can be stationary or mobile. When the weather is nice my husband takes me out on the deck with it! Type in WEBMD and the on-line Dr. may be able to help.

check out www.Sheknows.com and www. sideliners.org-( I think this is the correct spelling-for the onlne support group for Bedrest moms. K..