When Bed Rest Is Best

Protecting Baby

The thought of lounging in bed all day watching Seinfeld reruns or reading probably sounds like a dream come true: no laundry to wash, no errands to run, no job hassles to think about. But what if you were stuck in that bed for six to eight weeks on doctor's orders? If you're one of the thousands of women put on bed rest every year due to pregnancy complications, staying in the prone position day after day isn't a luxury -- it's a necessity.

"A doctor wants to do everything possible to help a woman deliver a healthy, full-term baby," explains Bruce Flamm, M.D., an ob-gyn in Riverside, California, and a Parents adviser. "If complications arise during pregnancyand we think having the patient spend a few weeks off her feet will help the condition, we'll try it." For women suffering from abnormal bleeding, preterm labor, or incompetent cervix (in which the cervix becomes prematurely dilated), it's simply a matter of gravity: By remaining horizontal as much as possible, you're limiting pressure on the cervix. For those with preeclampsia (pregnancy-induced high blood pressure), lack of exertion can help stabilize the condition. Bed rest may also be prescribed if you've had a previous miscarriage or premature delivery, if you're carrying multiples, or if you have a high-risk condition such as placenta previa (in which the placenta covers the cervical opening).

Putting Your Feet Up

How long you'll be laid up can vary from one week to a few months, and the need for rest can arise at any time. "Most often, the need increases as the due date gets closer," Dr. Flamm explains. "But for some conditions, such as an incompetent cervix, a woman is at greatest risk for complications during her second trimester. Once she reaches the third trimester, the risk is reduced, and she may be able to go back to her normal life."

If your doctor does suggest bed rest, don't automatically assume it means constantly staying flat on your back. "There are different levels of rest -- it's up to a woman and her doctor to determine what's right for her," Dr. Flamm says. Though some women must remain completely in bed, most patients are told simply to stay off their feet as much as possible and not to carry heavy loads or climb too many stairs. "It's vital to find out what your bed rest entails," says Candace Hurley, cofounder and executive director of Sidelines, a national support group that connects women on bed rest with phone or e-mail buddies. "Can you drive? Cook a meal? Walk to the mailbox? Get specific answers."