For most pregnant women, being told that you are to go home and stay in bed and rest is the hardest thing they will be told to do. We live such busy lives and to be told that you are opting out of normal life for days, maybe weeks and for some months is totally unnatural for you. But if you have trouble lying in bed thinking of all the things you should be doing, remember the reason you are there and that you are doing a very important job. For the short or long term, your baby needs all the help you can give it and if that means total bedrest, don’t fight the idea, accept it as a must do and get on with it.

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The most important thing to remember when you are on bed rest is you are doing a very important job. It is probably the hardest job you will ever do. While you may get frustrated and feel you are inadequate, remember the job of nurturing your baby and giving him the best chance for life should be your only priority.

Some hints

• Make yourself comfortable

• Use Pillows for support

• Ask your doctor if you can do some light exercise – point your toes, roll your head, open and close your hands rotate your wrists.

• Make sure the things you are going to need are close by – Telephone, Books, Paper, pens, TV remote, water and maybe

• Some food. Put them all on a table near your bed in easy reach so you don’t have to constantly ask for things

• Have photos of family and friends around you

• If you have had an ultrasound and received baby’s first photo – keep it nearby so you can concentrate on what the goal is

• Think of things you can do from Bed – online shopping, make lists of things you will need, sourcing baby needs by phone, start looking at what you are going to do with your baby’s photos (prepare scrapbook pages you can slip photo’s into)

• Start a diary talking about what is happening and your feelings about it all

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Be prepared that things might not get done or if they are done they may not be to your usual standard. It is a known fact that men and women have different standards of clean. For now, it is OK to lower your standards
Try to talk to someone who has bed rest during her pregnancy

Understand that you, your partner, your children and your family and friends will have to work at getting through this time.

Join an online group for support Two are:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bedrestbookbuddies/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HighRiskPregnancy/

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The primary aim of PIPA is to provide practical and emotional support to the parents and families of premature infants. However we do not offer professional advice. We are parents of preterm baby’s and not medical staff. We do offer understanding, support, encouragement and friendship.