I was placed on bed rest for a week, then told to take it easy, after experiencing Preterm contractions due to dehydration and "over doing it." The contrctions have eased a bit while on Procardia, but now I can't distinguish baby movements from contractions from Braxton Hicks contractions. My water didn't break and I have had no discharge or bleeding. I think I just have a mental block about the whole issue.
My husband is very supportive and wants me to only get up for food and going to the rest room, "Bed Rest." I did that for the prescribed week of bed rest. For the "take it easy," I say it means to relax and don't do anything strenuous.
My employer is very supportive and is allowing me to work from home when I can and to take leave or use STD when I can't.
Any feedback on what Bed Rest meant for you or how your doctor prescribed bed rest?
Thank you so much for all of the wonderful information about your "bed Rest" rules. The day that I posted the question, I went to the Dr and she told me I could go back to normal activity.
Of course, after this scare, I realize that normal for me as a pregnant woman is not the same as normal for me without child. So I worked from home last week and went into the office today. I felt okay today and plan to go in the office tomorrow.
If I ever am put on bed rest again, God forbid, I will get a clear order.
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!!
As an L&D nurse, bedrest means bedrest; you get up to go to the bathroom & get yourself something to eat. You'd be surprised how many people think walking around the super Wal-mart counts as bedrest because it's not anything "strenuous". Can you sit up, read, play a board game, watch a movie, get up for a quick shower? Yes, but you're not standing for prolonged periods of time, preparing a meal for your extended family, etc.
Talk to your doctor at your next appointment if you need more specific information. You should have received specific guidelines about what constitutes pre-term labor and what to really watch for. If you did not, then ask. If you don't have an appointment soon, call and have the nurse or someone in your doctor's office educate you over the phone. That's what they are supposed to do; you are NOT bothering them. (Just don't call with a question at 3:00 a.m. :) Call whenever if you truly have a concern.
Good luck!
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
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.
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,
I feel for you! My son came early (34 weeks) and when he was 21 months old, I was put on "bed rest" 28 weeks into my second pregnancy! Basically what I was told was to take it easy and not do anything that wouldn't absolutely wreck my life. That meant no heavy lifting (including my son -- dealing with him was the hardest thing but I had several supportive friends and my mom-in-law to help me with child care), no heavy-duty strenuous housework (I did light cleaning, but my hubby did the vacuuming and scrubbed the bathtubs), and not a lot of walking (no walking the dogs, or trips to town where I would have to walk a lot). Oh yeah, and no sex. I was up and around some during the day to cook, feed the dogs, keep up with laundry, and that sort of thing, but I also spent a lot of time sitting around with my feet up reading or catching up on my e-mail. I made it to term with my daughter. (I resumed normal activity at 36 weeks, but my daughter was born only five days before her due date).
Anyway, bottom line for me was that "bed rest" did not mean stay in bed, but it did mean severely limiting my activity. The definition might be different for you, depending on how far along you are, how your baby is doing, whether or not you are starting to efface, things like that. If you aren't sure, ask your doctor to elaborate on what "bed rest" means to him/her. And send me a message if you need a pep talk or just want to tell someone how bored you are "just sitting and waiting. ..."
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
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!
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.
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!!
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!
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.
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 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 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.
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 it is scary to hear the word "pre-term labor." I was put on "modified" bedrest for 10 weeks when I was 27 weeks pregnant. For me, that meant no outside errands except for weekly Dr's appts., quick showers and trips to the bathroom, limiting going up and down stairs, no sexual contact, and limiting all other household chores to less than 15 minutes of standing time. I probably played it safer than my Dr. recommended, perhaps b/c he was rather "vague" about describing bedrest. I didn't do any cooking and stayed in bed most of the time...I was lucky to have a very supportive husband who would bring most of what I needed for the day before he left for work and would sometimes come home at lunch to serve me in bed. I also had to take terbutaline several times a day to prevent contractions. It was a very challenging time, despite the support I had, but well worth it. I have a healthy 17 month old daughter who was not born until 38 weeks...what a blessing she is.
Like I mentioned, my Dr. was somewhat vague about what "modified bedrest" meant. We looked up suggestions for "modified bedrest" on the internet to see what this meant...there is also "light bedrest" and "strict bedrest," with "modified" being in between. I also found a list on Sidelines.org that helped me ask my Dr. questions at the next appt. about what I could and couldn't do. I believe that BabyCenter.com also has such a list of activities that you can go over with your OB. Sidelines.org is a wonderful resource for women on bedrest or having difficult pregnancies. They have info. on their site, but they also can match you up with an e-mail or phone volunteer who has been through a similar pregnancy experience as you...I did this, and I found it very helpful to e-mail with someone who had also been on bedrest. I now volunteer for Sidelines.org when needed.
Being on bedrest and experiencing pre-term labor really changed my whole perspective on a lot of things, and I like to be as helpful as possible to anyone going through the same experience. I wish the best for you and your baby and for a full-term delivery. Please feel free to respond back directly to me, and I can give you my e-mail if you like.
WHen I had to do the bed rest thing it was up for showers and bathroom. I slept on the couch in the living room and raised my then 2 year old from there. I folded laundry and he put it up. Bed rest about killed me though because my children's father wouldn't cook or clean. If I got up to even wash a dish I went to labor. Bed rest means just that stay in bed except for bathroom runs. Taking it easy is cutting down the time you're on your feet.Just remember it's for a good cause. You're almost to the finish line!!Good luck!
