Concerned for your baby's health, your doctor may put you on bedrest. This may sound wonderful at first ...

Ahhh ... bedrest. It's all the rage these days. Julia Roberts did it. Debra Messing? She did it, too. Lying around in comfy pajamas day after day. Catching up on the soaps, and reading all the books on the best-seller list. Having an excuse to be waited on. It sounds wonderful, doesn't it?

Shirley Kawa-Jump thought so, until she spent several months of her pregnancy confined to bed. "At first, I thought it would be great," she recalls. "I was tired anyway and was grateful for an excuse to slow down." Unfortunately, it didn't take long for the novelty to wear off. "I was worried sick about my baby's health," she says. "Plus, within a few days, I was bored out of my mind, crazy from thinking about how messy my house was getting and ready to be up on my feet."

She's not alone. An estimated 700,000 mothers-to-be each year spend some time on bedrest. And most find that bedrest doesn't live up to its image of a relaxing break from everyday life.

There are lots of reasons why bedrest may be prescribed during pregnancy, according to Adelaide Nardone, M.D., Ob/Gyn and medical advisor. They include preterm labor, incompetent cervix, placenta previa, placental abruption, preeclampsia, diabetes and multiple babies. "Any abnormal vaginal bleeding will also warrant some degree of bedrest," advises Nardone, "as will any chronic, severe or significant medical problem that may result in placental insufficiency."

No matter what the cause, bedrest isn't easy. But since it's a part of so many pregnancies, all expectant moms should be prepared. Here's what you need to know if you're sent to bed. In the Beginning when you receive your bedrest prescription, you will probably have lots of questions. Ask every single one of them. Get the specifics about your condition and your limitations. And keep asking as the days, weeks or even months go by. "Each week when I talked with my doctor, I asked him exactly what I could do," says new mom Kim Schillace. "Could I get up and go to a couch in another room? How often could I take a shower? Could I sit at a table for dinner?"

After talking to your doctor, you will need to contact your employer and fill her in on your situation. Decide if you will use sick days, vacation days, disability leave or unpaid leave, and complete any necessary paperwork as quickly as possible. Also, be sure to call your health insurance company and ask what expenses are covered and which ones are not. Remember that if handling these important, but unnerving, details stresses you out, delegate the forms and phone calls. You need to remain as calm as possible.

Get Comfy

Decide where you will serve your time. Do you have to stay in bed or can you spend a few hours on the family room couch? Does a spare bedroom offer more sunlight, a nicer outside view or closer bathroom proximity?

Wherever you set up camp, make things convenient. Have everything you might need or want at your fingertips. Fill a basket with things like books, magazines, a journal and pen, craft projects, hand lotion and lip balm, and keep it by your bed. Make sure you have the phone and the remote control handy. Put a cooler or a dorm-size refrigerator within reach, and stock it with plenty of snacks and drinks.

Help!

When you're confined to bed, there are lots of things you can't do. Don't be shy about asking for help. Keep a running list of jobs that need to be done, and another list of friends, relatives, neighbors, co-workers and others who are willing to pitch in. If you haven't bought any diapers yet, mention to prospective helpers that you're feeling unprepared for your bundle of joy.

If the laundry pile has become a mountain, point someone toward the washing machine. Give your neighbor a list, and ask her to pick up your groceries the next time she shops. "You'll find that most people will be eager to help if you tell them how," says Amy E. Tracy, author of The Pregnancy Bed Rest Book (International Thomson Publishing) and founder of pregnancybedrest.com.

Beating the Boredom Blues

Remember all those things you always said you'd like to do if only you had the time? Well, you have lots of it now! Yes, your activities are limited, but there is a lot more to do than stare at the walls or watch hours of TV. "Keep yourself stimulated mentally," advises Nardone.

Get all those photos into albums. Rent or borrow a laptop. Arrange for in-home childbirth classes. Address envelopes for your baby announcements. Call or write to old friends. Learn something new. "I learned to crochet a baby blanket," says Diana Smith, a former bedrester. "I didn't even know how to hold the crochet hook when I started!"

Add comment