A lot of people ask me about what it’s like to be on bed rest. They have a sister/girlfriend/wife who has just been put on it, and they have no idea what to do. I'm now on my 14th week of bed rest with Baby East (roughly 3mo.s)
The spotting started when i was on my 2nd Tri i was "18weeks" it was only supposed to be for a few days, as a precaution. I was a bit worried about the pregnancy but since everything initially checked out okay I decided to enjoy not having to go out in the hot weather. Then, after a few weeks I was rushed in the hospital and got admitted at the High Risk Pregnancy Unit i got hospitalized for almost a week due to preterm labor i was put on temporary precautionary bed rest in the hospital.
When i got home I was put on full-time no-holds-barred bed rest. I was only allowed to get up to go to the bathroom. I was allowed a five minute shower but only if I sat down on a seat while I cleaned myself. I needed to lay on my side, preferably my left one, at all times. Never on my back, and I wasn’t ever supposed to sit up because that would stress my abdominal muscles. Gravity was a serious issue since I was constantly having continious spotting.
So many people told me, “enjoy the rest, because when the baby comes, you won’t get any.” Anyone who says that has never been on bed rest. While everyone obviously meant well, it did cheer me up. I tried to stay positive. Every little ache and pain was feared to be so much more.
Doctors shouldn’t call it bed “rest.” For me, there was nothing restful about it. I was constantly thinking about my condition. I did hours of research on the Internet about babies and mothers in our situation. I wanted to be prepared for anything (like ill be having a premee baby) there were so many things to prepare for that, it totally messed with my mind.
Pregnant women are a pretty paranoid bunch these days anyway, what with all the things not to eat, do, etc. Throw in a high risk pregnancy and I can guarantee mental breakdowns. I had a lot of them. Even though I had Erik and my family and friends (I was allowed to take visitors), I still felt like I was in solitary confinement. I started to wonder what I could have done differently. I shouldn’t have been outside over Christmas Sales etc.. When you have nothing to do but think? your mind plays terrible tricks on you.
The one thing I never expected was how totally draining bed rest would be. Because all I could do was lay there, I would sleep in small bursts. Thirty minutes here, 45 minutes there. No long stretches, ever, even at night. I became very knowledgeable on the morning/late night television schedule. I had trouble concentrating on everything. I could feel my muscles twitching. My hips and lower back are, I fear, still totally messed up from supporting all my weight in the same position for days on end. I have a pillow top mattress and a memory foam pad so i can sleep well.
I had some really low moments. Times I just wanted to give up. I felt like I was going to crack and I couldn’t do it anymore. It was so hard, the enormity so overwhelming, Thank goodness I have my husband. He never judged me when I was at my most selfish, crying because I was uncomfortable or because I wouldn’t be able to do something. He never threw anything in my face. I never could have made it without him.
Now that i have reached my final pregnancy month looking back from day one of my bed rest seems like a lifetime ago.
I would remind myself, even during my low points, that every day Im on bed rest im just thinking of a healthy and cute Baby East after this memorable journey. That is my biggest advice to all moms on bed rest – KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE. Every day is magical! Embrace every pain, because that's the beauty of being a Mother :')
2 more weeks to go and i cant wait to see my "ULTIMATE PRIZE"
Happy Holidays to Everyone! :)
