Though it seems like a great mini-vacay before the baby arrives, bed rest is actually harder than you would expect. I spent three weeks on bed rest before my son was born in March 2012. This meant I had to be lying down for most, if not all, of the day. For someone like me, who is used to being independent and doing just about everything for myself, having to rely on other people was a chore in itself. Lord bless my husband for having the smarts to call me from the grocery store to make sure he got the exact orange juice I wanted, and for making me eggs every morning for breakfast before he left for work. Take your bed rest one day at a time and you will get through it, too!
Now, this is really a guide for your first child, as I have yet to experience bed rest with an older child also in the home. But some of these tips should work in theory, even with other children at home.
1. Ask for help!
I cannot stress this one enough! Depending on the level of bed rest you are on, you may still be able to do some light chores; or you may only be allowed to get up to use the bathroom. But no matter what kind of bed rest you are on, you need to actually rest, and that means some things will have to go undone — by you, at least.
If you are a control freak like I am, take the time to write out exact instructions on how you like your laundry done, how you like your towels and clothes folded, or the exact brand and size of your favorite groceries. That way, when your husband, mother or friend does these chores for you, they will be done correctly and not drive you crazy as you lie there and have to look at it being wrong — or worse, as you try to fix it.
2. Gather everything you need for the day.
When you get up in the morning, decide whether you are going to stay in bed or move to the couch (I would recommend switching back for the evening if you can). On the other side of the bed or coffee table, go ahead and stack any books or magazines you might want to glance through, your laptop or tablet, snacks for the day, and anything else you think you might need. Yes, you will still have to get up to use the bathroom and probably to get your bigger meals, but at least you will save yourself some steps if you don’t have to find something to combat your boredom every time you get up.
3. Buy a foam egg crate mattress topper.
My mother actually suggested this, because she used the same thing when she was on bed rest when she was pregnant with me! (Sometimes old tricks really are the best.) Lying around all day and night will make your hips and sides sore, no matter how comfortable your mattress or couch is. Fold the foam up and place it under whatever body part is sore. It’s not going to get rid of all your soreness, but it will at least help. A twin size will work perfectly because you can fold it several times and it won’t get too bulky.
4. Catch up on your prenatal and baby reading.
Never got around to reading What to Expect When You’re Expecting or those stacks of Parents magazines? Well, now is your chance! This is really your last opportunity to find out any information about birth or the first couple of years, because the last thing you will want to do during middle-of-the-night feedings is finally finish the chapter on what to expect for the first month or the latest craft that you are going to feel guilty over not ever getting around to doing with your child.
Make sure you are reading reputable sources (I like anything by Ina May Gaskin), and try not to intentionally look up something that will freak you out. Bed rest is not the best time to look up worst-case scenarios for you and your baby. If you haven’t already worked yourself into a panicked state over the what-ifs of pregnancy, don’t start now! Read things that will be helpful, not harmful, to your mental state.
5. Read anything not related to babies!
On the other hand … take a break from everything baby-related! Read a fashion magazine, something about a hobby, those Russian classics you never got around to reading in college, or even a favorite childhood book. Just give your brain a break from worrying about your baby and get immersed in another world! Be careful not to pick anything too stressful (i.e. murder, death of a child, etc.) because the whole point of bed rest is to relax!
6. Catch up on your Netflix or Amazon Prime queue!
If you’re like me, your Netflix queue is over 300 titles long and still growing as new titles are added every month. Now is the time to clear some of those movies and TV series out while you are lying on your couch for hours.
I will caution you, this is probably not the time to catch up on anything described as “drama” or “horror.” Again, relax! I made the mistake of catching up with Grey’s Anatomy. One of the seasons I had missed was season 7 — you know, the one where a pregnant Dr. Callie Torres is in a car accident, leading to the premature birth of her baby and weeks in the NICU. Yeah, not the best idea when your biggest fear is a premature birth.
Keep it light! Watch The Office from start to finish. Amazon currently has seasons 1-12 of American’s Next Top Model on Prime. And any British mystery that your grandmother would enjoy is a safe bet.
7. Learn a new hobby.
This is a great time to learn how to knit or crochet, or really to try any hobby that you can do while lying down. The internet is a great source for learning new things; with the right search terms, you can find instructional videos on just about anything. Use your last gasp of freedom to discover something new that you will enjoy and can pick back up again when you have the energy.
Did you find anything that worked to pass the time while you were on bed rest? We’d love to hear your tips!
