When you find out your pregnancy is considered high risk, immediately we panic about what this means for us and our unborn children. Your doctor may even advise you to be on strict bed rest for the remainder of your pregnancy. Of course, for the health of you and your unborn child, you will oblige but that does not stop you from wondering what exactly you are going to do for hours and hours on end without going completely mad. I know that I had a hard time focusing on just being able to stay in bed, and not get up and clean the whole house!
Reasons
There are many reasons why bed rest might be ordered by your doctor during your pregnancy. Possible causes for bed rest may be if you are experiencing unexplained bleeding, if you are pregnant with multiples, low amniotic fluid measured by ultrasound, the onset of preterm labor, hypertension or high blood pressure, preeclampsia, an incompetent cervix where it is prematurely dilating or shortening, gestational diabetes, placenta previa, or if your membranes rupture too early. Bed rest is not something busy bodies especially like to be a part of, but it is sometimes essential for you to continue your pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby. It can even help prevent many complications that you may be prone to, if you have not experienced any of the above complications already.
Your doctor has put you on strict bed rest, now what? Whether it be for a week or two or the remainder of your pregnancy, there are many ways to keep you occupied and sane for the time being.
Reading is a great way to escape reality and the boredom you are facing. It will help you take your mind off the complications you are dealing with, and transport you to a different place entirely. Even if you are not typically a book reader, you should invest in a book that appeals to you just in case you are bored of all your other options.
You might find it easier to cope with being on bed rest if you connect with other moms to be who are experiencing the same thing. Online you can search for forums for everything, including mothers who are experiencing bed rest. There are plenty of websites designed specifically for pregnant women and mothers. Find one and connect with others in your situation, or even other mothers who share your due date.
Shopping is a great way to pass the time. While it may not be through stores, the best part is you do not even have to spend any money while trolling through online shops. Whether it be for you, your home, or the new addition to your family, shopping online is a great way to take your mind off of why you are on bed rest. Plus, many stores offer items exclusively online that you may not be able to find in stores. Plus you can even shop for groceries to be delivered to your door. Don’t forget to hunt for coupons online while you are at it.
Watching movies is something you can do to keep sane while on bed rest. There are many services like Netflix who offer live streaming from your computer, tablet, or television. Netflix even offers options for getting DVDs mailed to your house. If renting movies is something you want to do, this is especially ideal for you. You do not even have to leave your house, and you will get new movies delivered to your door when you send the others back.
Start a pregnancy blog. Blogging about your problems or what you are going through may help you deal with the details a bit more, and who knows, you may help another mom along the way who is experiencing the same thing. If this is something you continue to do, you can even change it to a parenting blog or a keepsake for you as your new baby grows.
Try a new type of puzzle book. Word searches and crosswords are a thing of the past, but if that is what you are into, do not hesitate to stock up on these. Other options for different puzzle books you can invest in are fill-ins and sudoku. Many companies offer their past dated issues at low prices in bulk, and if you are unfortunate enough to be on bed rest for months this is extremely great news for you.
Take up a new hobby. Even if you are not particularly crafty you can learn to knit, crochet, draw, etc. all from YouTube videos and from the comfort of your own bed! You can even experiment with beauty tutorials like makeup, hair and nails. Just use a portable mirror and have some fun.
Finish a project. All those recipes or photos you have floating around? Start a book or have someone scan them in and you can organize them into files on your computer.
There are so many different ways for you to cope with being on bed rest. Remember, the health of you and your baby is most important. Do not let the thought of boredom scare you and try to stay positive and you will get through your time on bed rest with no problems, I know these little tricks helped me to get through it!
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