Healthy Pregnancy Centre

Archive for September 26th, 2009

The Benefits of Bed Rest during Pregnancy

September 26th, 2009 |

Author: admin

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Bed rest is something many pregnant women don’t really think about until they are informed it will be necessary by their doctor. About 1 in 5 women have their doctors recommend bed rest during pregnancy. While it may sound boring, inconvenient and frightening, there are some bed rest benefits. Bed rest is usually recommended for high risk pregnancies or multiple births. There don’t seem to be any general rules as to when it is needed. Most doctors will evaluate the necessity on a case by case basis.

While you may worry about bed rest during pregnancy, because it implies you may be at a higher risk than most women, keep in mind that the vast majority of women who have observed bed rest during their pregnancy deliver healthy babies. It is usually a precaution taken by doctors when they feel that too much activity will put undue stress on your body.

You may not relish the prospect of spending the last months of your pregnancy as immobilized as possible, but fortunately, there are some bed rest benefits. Many women who are unhappy with the idea at first come to realize that it forces them to take a break from what is often a hectic and stressful life. When you have to spend your days on the couch or in bed, you will find it much easier than you thought to stop worrying about a lot of things that previously seemed very important to you.

Another benefit of bed rest during pregnancy is that it gives other family members a chance to help you out. Many husbands and older children want to help in any way they can. If they haven’t done chores in the past because you always picked up the slack, they will now get to see just how much you do for them every day. If you are normally a critical perfectionist, you will find that you just need to accept the work that the rest of the family is doing, and appreciate their efforts, even if the result isn’t exactly how you would have done it.

Some more bed rest benefits are that you are forced to rest, and may finally get caught up on some much-needed sleep. Keep in mind that it will be a long time before you will get a chance to get that much rest again. This is especially true while your baby is still small. You will also have time for hobbies that you may have neglected for a while. It’s a great chance to get caught up on some reading as well.

Bed rest during pregnancy also means that unlike most women, having the baby will mean that you will become more, not less mobile. Other women will expect to slow down for some time after delivering, while you will be getting back to your regular pace. While it may be frustrating, appreciating the bed rest benefits will make this time go by more quickly and you may very well find that you are more relaxed than you’ve been in years.

You can find helpful information about <a rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank” href=”““>http://www.ahababy.com/subject/bed-rest”> Bed rest benefits and everything you need to know about Bed rest during pregnancy at Aha! Baby.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/the-benefits-of-bed-rest-during-pregnancy-1270189.html

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How Bed Rest Can Help Your Pregnancy

September 26th, 2009 |

Author: admin

While the vast majority of pregnant women experience no complications, a sizable minority does. Typically, about one in five pregnancies are high risk enough to warrant a doctor prescribing bed rest for part or all of the duration of a pregnancy. A pregnancy bed rest is often recommended if the woman has a history of pregnancy problem, or if she is expecting multiples. Bed rest helps pregnancy if you are facing problems like high blood pressure, vaginal bleeding, or premature labor.

Depending on the severity of your condition, your doctor might prescribe bed rest for as little as a few days, or as much as the bulk of your pregnancy. In most cases, a pregnancy bed rest can be done at your home, but in a few more serious cases, you might spend it at a hospital so you can be monitored more closely. While unlimited rest may sound wonderful to many busy, overstressed women, most find that after just a few days of bed rest, they are feeling bored and uncomfortable.

You might be prescribed partial bed rest, which means you need to stay at home, but can participate in some limited activity, like taking a shower, having dinner with your family, or making lunch for yourself. Since bed rest helps pregnancy, especially if there might be serious complications, you might be instructed to do 24-hour bed rest, which means that you must stay in bed all of the time. Depending on the situation, you might be able to get up and use the bathroom, although some women are instructed to use a bed pan.

If you’ve been instructed to do a pregnancy bed rest, you will most likely be instructed to lie on your side. Since this can become uncomfortable over time, you can alleviate some of this simply by changing sides every now and then. This has the added benefit of improving your circulation.

Even though most doctors believe that bed rest helps pregnancy, there is not much good research to show just how effective it can be for various conditions. Unfortunately, the research that has been done has sometimes been quite contradictory. While some research suggests that bed rest can help prevent premature labor, some actually claims the opposite; pregnancy bed rest might actually increase the chances of premature birth.

With such conflicting information, it can be hard to decide what to do. Even a lot of health care practitioners disagree on just how much bed rest helps pregnancy. Your best option is to be honest with your doctor if you have any concerns. Make sure you understand exactly why this method is being prescribed, and be sure to get specific information on exactly what you can and can’t do.

More and more practitioners are moving away from complete confinement to a modified approach, in which you combine rest with carefully chosen and regulated activity. Keep in mind that your doctor wants to do everything possible so you have an easier pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby.

You can find helpful information about <a rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank” href=”““>http://www.ahababy.com/subject/bed-rest”> Bed rest helps pregnancy and everything you need to know about pregnancy bed rest at Aha! Baby.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/how-bed-rest-can-help-your-pregnancy-1270195.html

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How Can Bedrest during Pregnancy Help?

September 26th, 2009 |

Author: admin

If you are one of the many women whose doctor has prescribed bedrest during pregnancy, you might be wondering why you need to do this, and if it will actually help you deliver a healthy baby. While there is some disagreement on exactly how much good bedrest can do, many practitioners believe that the benefits of bedrest outweigh some of the potential drawbacks.

If you have been prescribed bedrest during pregnancy, it’s probably because you have a medical condition that places you at a higher risk, your family history or past pregnancies indicate a higher risk factor, or you might be carrying multiples. In most of these situations, the benefits of bedrest hinge on the body’s ability to normalize after being under stress, and creating a more manageable environment in which you and your baby can stay safe and healthy.

If you are going to spend most of your time in bed, it’s very important that you discuss with your doctor which position is best for you. For most pregnant women, lying on their side, with a pillow between their knees is recommended. You may also wish to look into a body bolster specifically designed for pregnant women.

Unfortunately, there are drawbacks as well as the benefits of bedrest. Long periods of bedrest will cause your muscles to lose tone, cause aching joints and increase the risk of blood clots due to poor circulation. The best way to combat these problems is through exercise, but be sure to check with your doctor before starting any program, no matter how light. If you are on bedrest during pregnancy, some exercises you might consider are: tightening your arm and shoulder muscles, squeezing stress balls, turning your arms and feet in circles, and pressing your hands and feet against the bed. Just be sure to avoid using your abdominal muscles. It may not seem like much, but you will be surprised at what a difference it makes if you are otherwise almost completely inactive.

If your doctor intends to put you on prolonged bedrest during pregnancy, you may wish to ask about getting some additional support. An occupational or physical therapist can work with you to come up with an exercise plan, and can also advise you on how to make your bed more comfortable. You may also want to consider seeing a therapist if you worry about the strain that prolonged bedrest may put on your spouse and children.

The benefits of bedrest can be considerable if you are in a high-risk pregnancy. It’s especially important that you relax and take good care of yourself if you have high blood pressure. Additionally, if you have any physical problems, like a weakened cervix, bedrest can help prevent putting any additional strain on the affected area. If it looks like you will be on bedrest for an extended period, be sure to find out exactly what you can and can’t do. If you have any concerns about bedrest and how to make it more comfortable and less frustrating, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor.

You can find helpful information about <a rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank” href=”““>http://www.ahababy.com/subject/bed-rest”> bedrest during pregnancy and everything you need to know about benefits of bedrest at Aha! Baby.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/how-can-bedrest-during-pregnancy-help-1270196.html

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