Friday 9 September 2011

Bed Rest during Pregnancy

Every pregnancy is unique, just as each woman and each baby is unique. Some women breeze through their pregnancy without feeling a thing while others are forced to take a leave off work for some time during pregnancy. If you have just learned you are pregnant, you might be worrying if you would wind up like the former, who can continue with just about any task that any non-pregnant colleague can do, including heavy tasks, or if you would have to stay out of commission for several months. This might be a very difficult thing to imagine for someone who has led an active lifestyle, although of course, no price is too high to pay for keeping the baby safe. 

Before you jump to conclusions, though, what are the factors that result in a lady’s being required to undergo bed rest during any trimester of pregnancy? 

1. The trimester of pregnancy that a lady is in has a lot to do with the possibility of being required bed rest. Doctors will tell you that the most crucial time is the first trimester, when miscarriage is most possible. The second trimester is considered the most stable, and this is the time that most women who may even have undergone bed rest during the first three months, are allowed to get up on their feet again. Meanwhile, the last trimester, should there be any high risk detected by doctors, are watched carefully in order to prevent the possibility of premature birth.

2. Some women have symptoms so severe that they feel confined to bed even without the doctor’s orders. For example, extreme nausea might keep a lady in bed for most of the day. This typically occurs during the first trimester, but is usually no cause for alarm. As each lady is unique, her reaction to hormones will be entirely different from her friend. If you happen to experience severe nausea or dizziness and are worried if anything is wrong, feel free to consult your obstetrician. Typically, though, as long as there is no spotting or bleeding, it should be fine.


3. Meanwhile, bleeding is the most visible symptom that calls doctors to require bed rest. This may manifest in spotting that ranges from light to heavy. Light spotting typically does not require strict bed rest, although the obstetrician would likely prescribe medication. Some ladies experience spotting that resembles their period, but if the pregnancy test says they are pregnant, they need to have themselves checked by the doctor immediately. If the spotting continues or increases, she will likely prescribe bed rest. An ultrasound may reveal the location of the bleeding, too, and the closer it is to the implanted fetus, the higher the risk involved, and the greater the chances that the doctor will require bed rest.


4. Lifestyle may be part of what determines whether the doctor will implement bed rest. For example, if the lady mainly stays at home and does not necessarily undergo heavy activities during the day, the doctor might not be too worried as to specify bed rest. But if the woman happens to be physically active in terms of her job or overall lifestyle, the doctor might feel it necessary to require strict bed rest.

Overall, being required to undergo bed rest during pregnancy might feel like a bad thing, but in reality, it may be viewed positively. For example, instead of worrying about the risk of losing the baby that required the bed rest, perhaps you can view it as a time when you can take a rest from your busy life and reflect on things. It might also be a good time to catch up on things you might never have had the chance to do, such as reading a good book or watching a favourite movie. For some, it is also a good time to bond with the unborn baby, as the mommy-to-be gets to talk to him or her as they are left at home all alone.

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