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I Wish Someone Had
Told Me What I Needed
to Know About Bed Rest

By Kendeyl Johansen

Most pregnant women enjoy busy schedules and the ability to move about freely. It can seem devastating when a physician prescribes bed rest for days, weeks or even months at a time. Unfortunately, not every pregnancy is uneventful. Many women are put on bed rest, especially with the current rise in complex pregnancies involving twins and higher-order multiples.

We asked women who have been stuck in bed what they wish someone had told them prior to going on bed rest. Let these women save you from bed rest pitfalls and assist you with their helpful tips.

"Bed rest isn't easy! Especially for a busy mom with small children. The key to successful bed rest is preparation! Arrange for extra help, above all else. Bed rest means just that: no getting out of bed to show somebody how to do something, or to oversee a project, or even for yourself until the physician gives the all clear! In the hospital, bed rest patients do not get out of bed to go to the bathroom. That's what bedpans were invented for, and the nurse gets it for you, you don't get it yourself. Arrange for help!"


Shirley Sunderland, LPN, Altoona, Penn.

"I wish someone could have convinced me that a messy house wasn't something to get upset about, that my little baby wouldn't mind one bit (or even notice!) if his nursery walls weren't yet painted upon his arrival, and that the time spent as a forced lady of leisure would be riddled with emotion-and that's A-Okay."


Alisa Ikeda, Marin County, Calif.

"No one told me how much work it would be to stay in bed! You picture women on bed rest as lounging around all day in their satin jammies, catching up on their favorite soaps, and eating bon bons, but let me tell you, when you're put in that position, the only thing you really want to do is go out for a good hard run! And I hate running."


Carrie Myers Smith, Landaff, NH

"I wish I had paced myself. I did most of what I had planned to keep myself busy during the first two days. After that, I was racking my brain trying to find new things to do or something to keep my mind off the fact that I was stuck in bed."


Carma Shoemaker, Chester, Va.

The first thing that surprised me about bed rest was how little rest I actually got. It was a very stressful experience. I could not relax because I kept thinking (worrying) about all the things that needed to be done (housework, etc.). Women on bed rest really need to ask people for help. Since I didn't have any help, I violated the bed rest orders frequently to chase after my toddler."


Bobbi Dempsey, Hazle Township, Penn.

"I wish someone had told me not to lean on one elbow when reading in bed. I developed bad bursitis in one elbow/arm due to many hours spent reading and doing crossword puzzles propped on one elbow. My doctor told me this happens to lots of people who read in bed! Get hold of interesting audio tapes, and a good mattress with support for your shoulders and back."


Jonette Stabbert, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

"Bed rest left me really weak and tired at the end rather than just rested. I gained a lot of weight with the second baby. He was born big, too, nearly 10 pounds. Recovering from that pregnancy and the bed rest was 100 times harder than it had been with my first pregnancy."


Shirley Kawa-Jump, Fort Wayne, Ind.

"Take bed rest seriously. My doctor said he wanted me on bed rest at home. I said, 'Okay.' He said, 'No, I think I'll admit you to the hospital straight from here and someone can bring your things in a bag.' In alarm I said, 'But I'm not finished with my Christmas shopping yet.' He laughed, saying he knew darn well I wouldn't do as I was told. Busy moms often think they'll start bed rest as soon as whatever they need to do gets done. This was my attitude and it's a bad one. I was lucky I had a doctor who knew me well."


"While on bed rest you have to develop the right state of mind. Be peaceful and calm and know life will be okay without you for a little while."


Sherry French, Ontario, Canada

"I wish I'd known exactly why I was going on bed rest, what benefit it had for me (I only got a vague idea), and exactly how sedentary I had to remain on 'modified' bed rest."


Pam Kock, Cincinnati, Ohio

"No one warned me how weak my muscles would feel and how light-headed I would feel after bed rest. It took me a while just to get up without feeling like I was going to fall right back down. They kept me in the hospital for an extra day because of it. If someone had warned me, perhaps I could have done something to stay in better shape."


Irene Connery, Connecticut

"I don't think people realize bed rest is just that: bed rest. Don't get up, don't have sex, don't, don't, don't. Lie on your back as much as humanly possible -- bathe or shower as little as possible (yuck!). Have friends and family get your mail and lots of magazines for you to read, but stay caput!"


Candi Peterson, Park City, Utah

"Skip anything with the word 'cookie' in it and eat healthy foods only. I bonded in more ways than one with Pepperidge Farm -- just ask my thighs."


Leanne Ely, C.N.C., Rutherfordton, NC

"I wish someone had told me how to prepare for the boredom of bed rest and to enjoy this time because it was going to be the last 'me' time for a while."


Serena Gordon, Croton on Hudson, NY

"I wish I had known more about what could happen if I didn't adhere to strict bedrest when given the opportunity at home. I still did little things, took care of my toddler and otherwise 'cheated' on bedrest. I'll always wonder if that led to my 6 weeks of hospitalized bedrest. I wish I had known that in the hospital, I would be on an IV, get painful shots and regular blood draws, have a catheter, be on tons of medication and use a bedpan and commode rather than a toilet. If you have the chance to rest at home -- do it seriously. Maybe you'll avoid what I went through. But believe me when I say, it was worth it for my healthy twin girls!"


Elisa Ast All, Evanston, Ill.



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About the Author: Kendeyl Johansen lives in Utah with her Norwegian husband. When not chasing her three sons, she's skiing on water or snow.

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