“So what gives you the
right to pontificate about bed rest?” you’re thinking. Ok, probably you’re not,
but I’ll tell you anyway, because I’d like to introduce myself.
I've been pregnant 6
times and I have 3 children. It hasn't been an easy ride. I struggled for
almost 4 years to have my first, James, who is now 8. My first baby died in
utero at 8 weeks. When I finally got pregnant with James, I had placenta previa
and an irritable uterus, which meant that, although intermittent, I spent about
6 months of my pregnancy in bed.
Thirteen months after James
was born, I got pregnant. Because of my history, I was advised to go to bed. I
did, for a few days, but I got up within a few days, unsure of the benefit of
bed rest. I lost that baby at 11 weeks. Another pregnancy a few months later, this
time spent in bed, also ended too soon.
My pregnancy with Hannah
was almost textbook. I managed to get to 32.6 weeks with her when I tripped and
fell and went into labour. The rest of the pregnancy, such as it was, was spent
in bed. Exactly a week after being sent to bed, I gave birth to her, 6 weeks
before she was due to arrive.
Three years later, I
got pregnant with Jonah. I was cautious this time, because I started feeling
Braxton Hicks contractions very early on. At 30 weeks, I went into labour. It
was brought under control until 32 weeks, when my doctor sent me to bed. Like
Hannah, Jonah was also born 6 weeks premature.
So if we're talking
bed rest, you can be sure that I've been there, done that and washed the
t-shirt.
This is why I'm over
the moon about being given the opportunity to write on this topic. I feel for
moms-to-be who have been consigned to their beds, all the time wondering what
good it'll do. I know there are only so many ways of occupying your mind when
you're confined to bed. I know that this is a scary time and you're wondering
whether your baby will make it. Maybe you're wondering whether you'll stay
sane. I'm also aware that not all doctors prescribe bed rest as easily as mine
did, while others would have been even more cautious than mine was.
So join me as, weekly,
I begin to explore bed rest and all its related topics. Send me a message if
you agree or disagree with something I've said. And if there's something in
particular you'd like me to write about, let me know.
Wow, you are athority on bedrest.
While pregnant with my twin boys, I was put on bedrest at week 25 due to pre-term contractions.
At 36 weeks, I was taken off of bedrest, and the contractions stopped. I ended up being induced at 37 weeks. Go figure.
I'm looking forward to reading your posts.
You sure have been through it with bed rest! I was put on bed rest for 2.5 months with the twins, and it was a really trying time. I'm so glad to have your expertise here to help other moms enduring bed rest!
