How to Survive Bedrest During Pregnancy

Congratulations, if you are pregnant! However, if you are reading this then you may have been told by your physician to stay on bedrest. This may range from full bedrest, and not being allowed to get up, or a modified bedrest. A modified bedrest may be simple activity restrictions such as no heavy lifting, or no walking or standing for long periods of time. Or you may have been told to spend a lot of time on the couch and stay home from work for a few weeks. Regardless of how strict your bedrest is, I have some tips for your survival during this time.

Of course it is great to sleep when you can. But when you are awake, let's check some activities you can pass the time with. First off, is books. Send your hubby to the library or bookstore to pick up a few good reads. Surf Amazon.com and check the bestseller list to see what everyone has been reading. Trust me, when the baby comes along there will be little time to read.

There is also movies. If you don't have a TV and DVD player in your bedroom, see if you can borrow someone's personal DVD player. Again, send your hubby out to pick up some movies you haven't seen. Or join Netflix, and get then sent to your door. You could also catch up with a lot of TV shows you have missed by getting an entire season on DVD. Don't forget that you don't always have to be alone... invite the hubby or a few girlfriends to watch some flicks with a bowl of popcorn.

Something I did while on bedrest was take up a hobby. I learned how to knit. A few months earlier I had picked up some yarn, needles, and an instructional book. I dusted them off and knitted away. I knitted a few baby hats, a blanket, scarves as Christmas gifts, and some cell phone holders for myself and friends. You could send hubby out to the local crafts store to pick up some pastel yarns, needles, and an instructional book. A finished baby blanket made by your own hands is a sweet accomplishment.

Another hobby you could try to get done is scrapbooking. Is there a special vacation, or honeymoon where you took a lot of pictures? Is someone's wedding coming up and you would like to make them a special gift? Gather your photos, and again send your hubby to the craft store. With the help of some cropping tools, acid-free paper, some stickers, and a photo-safe album you are on your way. Once you start cropping and making your pages you will see hours have gone by while you have made an awesome scrapbook full of memories.

Regardless of how long your bedrest lasts, or how strict your doctor's orders are, remember this is all temporary. Your precious baby will be here before you know it! After that, there will be very little time for anything else but mothering. Enjoy this time and take advantage of some quiet time to reflect.