Bed rest varies between expectant mothers and can include staying in bed at the start of your pregnancy for a few weeks or being confined to the bed for most of the nine months. However, if your doctor recommends you go on bed rest, you need to heed their advice.
Here are 7 ways to keep busy, even if you can’t leave your bed:
Make a list
Make a list of everything you need to do before baby arrives. This includes any decorating, baby related items you need to buy including cots, clothes, nappies etc., last minute hospital items or even what to put in your hospital bag. What you can’t buy online, either wait until you are well enough or get someone else to buy it. Writing the list is often the hardest.
Start a baby book
There is only so much TV that you can watch so why not start your baby book while you are lying there. Fill it with baby scans, how you are feeling right now, scraps from the paper or anything else you can think of. You can even put your family tree at the start of the book and leave a space for your baby’s name. This is the kind of thing that often gets put to the back of the to-do list.
Take some time out
If you are on bed rest it means you need to relax, so make sure you do. Read books and magazines, watch some daytime telly and enjoy movie marathons. There is no point worrying about the fact that you can’t do anything strenuous, it might even make the situation worse.
Exercise your legs
When on bed rest, it is important you exercise your legs to keep the blood circulating and prevent blood clots. Your doctor will probably recommend certain exercises suitable for you, so make sure you do them.
Stock up on groceries
Depending on how long your into your pregnancy and how long you've been confined to bed rest, you will still need to stock up on groceries, so that you are prepared for when the baby arrives. You can easily do this online and you can take your time searching for bargains and special offers.
Catch up with friends and family
To break up the day, ask friends and family to call around if they can. While you may not be able to get up and make them tea, the company will help to make the day go that much faster. You also won’t get much of a chance for tea and chats after your baby arrives.
Your doctor put you on bed rest for a reason and the least you can do is enjoy it. When baby arrives you will probably long for the days you were told to do nothing.
