“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 labor. 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 labor. 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.
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