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Your Complete Guide to Bed Rest
When Wendy Zang started bleeding heavily at 31 weeks, she spent four days in the hospital and the next three weeks on bed rest. Zang went on to deliver a full-term, healthy baby boy and doesn't regret spending one minute cooped up. "I had no doubt it was medically necessary," says Zang, of Sewickley, Pennsylvania. "I was so freaked out by the bleeding episode that I was afraid to do anything."
Sharyn Frankel was assigned hospitalized bed rest after contractions started 30 weeks into her pregnancy. She delivered a healthy boy via c-section just short of 34 weeks. She, too, believes in the value of bed rest: "I think it helped me to make it further in my pregnancy to where it was safe to deliver," says the Millbury, Massachusetts, mom.
But did bed rest really stop their preterm labor? Studies would say no. In fact, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) advises that bed rest "does not appear to improve the rate of preterm birth, and should not be routinely recommended." Active contractions, bleeding, ruptured membranes, and placenta previa are the most common reasons that doctors call for bed rest in as many as one in five of their patients. But the treatment's popularity has not stopped the rate of preterm births from rising, accounting for 11 percent of all pregnancies in 2005, up from 9.7 percent in 1990.
The Bed Rest ControversyBecause ACOG does not have a firm recommendation, doctors have to make the call. Some, like Robin de Regt, MD, medical director of Evergreen Hospital Maternal-Fetal Medicine Program, in Kirkland, Washington, believe bed rest helps. "Patients who are on limited activity contract less, so they feel better," she says. And it can reduce a woman's anxiety about her pregnancy and in some cases stop or slow cervical dilation.
But other physicians, like Laura Riley, MD, medical director of labor and delivery at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Boston, prescribe bed rest reluctantly. "I'm fully honest with patients," she says. "I say, 'Get off your feet, and let's see if that will make any difference [in reducing your symptoms], but I don't really believe that it will.'"
Dr. Riley is well aware of the downsides to bed rest: "You've lost work. You lose all of your muscle tone if you sit around long enough, and you increase your risk of getting a blood clot in your leg or your lung, which can be pretty significant." And that's why she may try to steer her patients toward alternative measures.
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i have been in bed for 11 weeks and still have 10 more to go...wish me luck
8/27/2011 08:16:02 PM Report AbuseI am 30 weeks pregnant with my first baby. I was put on bedrest at 28 weeks due to preclampsia. I had to drop out of school but was allowed to finish online. I graduate on the May 17th and the doctor is allowing me to walk but must go straight home. It's not very fun but I want my son to grow and develop as much as possible so I've gotta do what I gotta do!
5/7/2011 11:49:12 AM Report AbuseI went into pre-term at 29, 28, and 27 weeks with my 3 kids. Bed rest and meds helped me deliver at 34, 36, and 38. Bed rest helps. I don't know what ACOG is talking about. With my first, I was told I could start moving around at 34 weeks, and of course, my water broke. I stayed in bed until 36 with my 2nd and delivered the day I got up. Good luck for those on bed rest. It really does go by quickly, in hindsight, and is so worth it. Better in bed than sitting in the NICU.
1/20/2011 08:50:04 PM Report Abusethis is my 4th pregnancy and was admitted to the hospital on 12-10-10 for ruputured membranes. i'm on bedrest (can only get up to use the bathroom). I will be in the hospital until the baby is born, they are tryn to get me to 34 weeks, bedrest is no fun especially in the hospital over the holidays and with 3 other children at home! but im doing whats best for the baby and doing what the doctors tell me to!!
12/26/2010 09:21:50 PM Report Abusei am 31 weeks now about to be 32 weeks thursday, and when i was 30 weeks i started contracting and having a lot of pelvic pressure & i got put on bed rest and pelvic rest. well i am still on bed rest but no longer on pelvic rest (thank goodness) but like i am always told its better to be safe than sorry and id rather be on red rest til i deliver than to have my son come way to early and him have possible health and physical problems later in life.
12/18/2010 07:07:24 PM Report AbuseSorry Had to put it in sections...
12/15/2010 10:53:08 AM Report Abuse4th so as u can tell its hard for me being on bed rest I am hoping that this doesnt last long I dont like laying in bed all day so I sit in my recliner in my living room. They had also checked me at the doctors office and checked for a heart beat which we had thanks to God above... she had also said that my cervix r still firm and closed so I am hoping for the best.. Keep me in Yalls thoughts and prayers I greatly appreciate it.. God Bless U All.
12/15/2010 10:52:47 AM Report Abuseup walked over by my window and I had blood gushing out of me.. this started sunday and im still bleeding but they said that I could have a hemerage or a blod clot behind the placenta she said that there is nothing they can do I am on my restrictions until the bleeding stops the doctor said that it will improve with time... keep in mind I have 3 other children 7,5,and 2 this is my
12/15/2010 10:52:42 AM Report AbuseHello, I am 15 weeks I am currently on restrictions no intercourse for the rest of my pregnancy no lifting and to stay kinda like bed rest and not move.. Let me inform u on what happened my husband and I literally had sex for the first time since we found out I was pregnant no sooner then we were done I got
12/15/2010 10:51:46 AM Report AbuseI have a history of preterm labor and delivery x4. Me and my husband decided to have our fifth child and at 22 weeks I had dilated 1cm with visible membranes showing. They did an emergency rescue cerclage and discharged me from the hospital on strict bedrest. I am now 26 weeks praying, and taking it one day at a time with the help of good family and friends. My email is anangel4me@live.com
12/10/2010 04:56:50 PM Report AbuseJust got put on bed rest due to incompetent cervix..I am 30 weeks pregnant. It sucks but I want to keep this baby in for as long as possible so I'll do whatever it takes.
9/11/2010 11:31:46 PM Report Abuse29 wks on bed rest due to lupus flare/preclampsia. Its very hard when you're an active person as I am, but at the same time I know that I have to do it. Was in the hospital for 2 weeks being monitored. May still have 2 go bk due to the blood pressure still being elevated and stay there until I deliver. I will keep u all in my prayers. Stay strong and know that what you're going through will result in a beautiful baby and a healthy mommy <3
9/1/2010 04:12:13 PM Report AbuseI have incompetent cervix, and had a cerclage put in (cervix was sown shut) and have been on modified bedrest for six weeks. I am now 22 weeks 4 days, previously I went into labor at 20 and 21 weeks and my babys did not survive. If anyone wants to talk or email send me an email at h.perez@lycos.com it will be nice to talk to someone whos currently going through this.
8/25/2010 01:09:37 PM Report AbuseI am only 24 weeks and in best rest the fetal fibrousness test came back positive anybody out there that went to bed rest this early
7/14/2010 02:00:19 PM Report Abusei have been on bed rest since april, i went into preterm labor on june 12, the doctors put me on nifedipine every four hours since then i have been back to the hospital 2 times. im now 34 weeks and 5 days. At 35 weeks they are taking me off the medicine. :[ but anyways it takes time to build up in you body for the meds tto work..
7/6/2010 04:23:29 PM Report AbuseAt 30 weeks I started contracting, My doctor put me on terbutaline 2 times a day and bed rest until Im 35 weeks. Currently I am 32 weeks. Bed rest really doesnt seem to be helping with the contracting. Is that normal?
4/26/2010 06:43:56 PM Report Abuse