Rest Well

getting through pregnancy on bed rest

For every 100 moms-to-be reading this, 18 of you are while you’re laid up, you have on bed rest—or will be. The most common reasons options. Relatives and friends are include symptoms of pre-term delivery, high blood pressure and placenta conditions. Bed rest may be prime sources of support; there are also doulas and assistants who can handle everything from prescribed for home or the hospital, and it could last for days laundry to nursery decorating. or months. Wherever and however long you’re off your feet, here’s how to get through it. CONSIDER THE EFFECTS ON YOUR BODY. Bed rest has physical ramifications as well.

CONSIDER THE EFFECTS ON schedule. “Wake up at a normal Research shows that muscle

YOUR MIND. Sure, an extended time and plan out ways to spend deterioration begins within six rest sounds kind of nice. But bed your day,” says Miltenberger. “If hours of starting bed rest, acrest can really do a number on a you just lie there, that’s when the cording to Stevenson-Gargiulo. mom, even after a brief period. worry can really take over.” With prolonged bed rest, women

If you’re on bed rest, you’re While your bed rest schedule can have massive muscle loss and probably already experiencing may not be filled with your experience difficulty walking afsome anxiety. And then there’s typical activities, you can use the ter it’s over. When patients are in depression. “For a lot of women, time for things that you’ve althe hospital, a physical therapist the stress of the pregnancy ways wished you could do: learn will often come by and help them complication combined with a new language, sort old phowith appropriate exercises. relative isolation and lack of tographs, take an online class. For women at home, normal activities can affect their Miltenberger also recommends Stevenson-Gargiulo says muscle mental health,” explains Paula that women incorporate mindloss is typically not as much of an

Miltenberger, Ph.D., founder of fulness. “Apps like Headspace issue. That form of bed rest isn’t

Women’s Mental Wellness and a and Calm can help you meditate as strictly regulated, and women psychologist who regularly proand relax.” move around more than hospitalvides therapy to patients on bed Normalcy is also helpized patients. If you’re at home rest at Medical City Dallas. ful. There are mobile beauty and truly not getting out of bed,

Moms are providers and services, and you may be able you may consider a physical caretakers by nature, so getting to complete some work from therapy consultation. Stevensonthose roles taken away, to some bed if your doctor approves. Gargiulo says your doctor may extent, is hard. “Bed rest can TV and movies are also a good recommend blood thinners or be a huge burden on families. way to pass time—but if you lie compression devices that help

If patients are working, many in bed all day, hitting “yes” each prevent blood clots. times, they end up not having a time Netflix asks if you’re still job to go back to when they’ve watching, you’ll probably end up KNOW THE FACTS. “We don’t taken that much time off,” feeling not so great. “The idea know exactly what causes preexplains Dr. Elizabeth Stevensonof a schedule is giving yourself term labor. We don’t have any

Gargiulo, who practices with structure, a sense of productivity great medications to stop it,”

Baylor Scott & White Park Lane and control—in a situation that is says Stevenson-Gargiulo. “The

OB/GYN Associates. She adds largely out of your control,” says reality is that even with bed that bed rest can be an added Miltenberger. rest, so much of what is going to weight on spouses taking care of Many therapy practices happen is just going to happen.” the home and other kids. offer tele-appointments. And The point? Try to be calm, talk

Miltenberger says the best if you’re worried about all the to your doctor and seek support mental health defense is a things that aren’t getting done when you need it. ●