Well, you have been relegated to bed rest. You could consider this a prison sentence of sorts – how long were you sentenced for? Or you could think about it as some spare time you have to mentally prepare yourself for your new baby’s arrival. Think about it as time to yourself getting ready for what will be a very exciting, busy, and exhausting time in your life.
Some bed rest patients stress themselves out, thinking of all the things that need to be done and how they can’t do anything because they are stuck in bed or on the couch. Others feel guilty because they must rely on their significant others, family members, and friends to handle the day-to-day tasks and chores like doing laundry, running to the grocery store, or making meals.
But there are a number of things that you can do from your bed that can boost your mood while also being helpful around the house. Just because your doctor has told you that you need to stay off your feet, doesn’t mean that you should feel helpless or bored.
The most important thing for you to remember is that bed rest benefits two people – your baby and you! Sure, it may be a royal pain to have to stay confined to your bed, but by doing so, you are giving your baby a better start at life outside of the womb. And lying down may also reduce issues for you like stress.
Since bed rest can be tough to deal with, here are some suggestions for what you can do to pass the time quickly.
Read Any Good Books Lately?
So, the last time you picked up a book was in the Clinton Administration. If you haven’t been as well-read as you would like, there is no time like the present to dive into that latest novel on the bestseller list, one of the classics from Mark Twain, or a trashy paperback usually reserved for lazy August days on the beach. You have plenty of time to devote to your reading so now might be a great time to snag a copy of War and Peace or Gone with the Wind.
But maybe you aren’t interested in making that big of a commitment to a book. Choose whatever subject piques your interest – think home repairs, cooking and cuisine, or even starting up an online business. Just because you can’t get out there and hang wallpaper at the moment doesn’t mean you can’t learn how to properly do it now and mentally save the information for later.
Now is also a good time to brush up on your preparation for when the baby arrives. Grab those breastfeeding, preparation for childbirth, and caring for newborn books and keep them by your bed so that you can read about such topics as the football hold, how long you can wait before you demand an epidural, and the proper way to cradle your little one’s head. Think of this as not just a time for reading but a time for learning and preparation.
Also, if you haven’t yet chosen a name for that soon-to-be little bundle of joy, now’s the time to get down to business. Read through a few baby name books and make a list of your favorites along with their meanings. If you have already selected a name, you can find lots of alternative spellings and choose the one that you love best. For example, you may adore the name Brian, but have you thought about making it Bryan or Bryon or opting for a similar alternative like Byron?
Movie Madness
You always meant to catch Casablanca when it was on in reruns on AMC, but you just never got around to it. Now, you have time to sit (or lie down) for hours and watch all of those great films you have missed over the years. Ask a friend to raid her own personal film library for some of her own favorites and have her drop them off so that you can borrow them to pass a long day at home, or ask your significant other to drive by the video store and pick up some of the latest releases for you to view. Another option is to join a home rental service and movies will be delivered right to your mailbox every day.
Get creative with this and make up themed movie days for yourself. In the mood for something that is in the realm of chick flicks and may require a few tissues? Have your best gal pal bring over Steel Magnolias, Places in the Heart, Terms of Endearment, Beaches, and Pretty Woman. If you have the urge to laugh, watch The Full Monty, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, and Meet the Parents. Maybe you’ve always wanted to see the old classics that your parents talked about. If that’s the case, opt for Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Casablanca, and the African Queen.
There’s no end to your themed movie days. You might choose movies based on a strong female character (think Gone with the Wind) or want to relive your childhood with those favorites that you enjoyed back when you were younger (The Wizard of Oz, Bedknobs and Broomsticks).
Girls’ Night In
Being propped up on those pillows might be comfy but you can get a little lonely when your only companions throughout the day are your cat and a couple of dust bunnies. Don’t feel depressed or bummed. Get on the phone and invite your friends over for a little party. That’s right! Just because you are lying down doesn’t mean you aren’t up for some laughs and conversation.
Invite your girlfriends over and explain that you would love to see everyone and are dying for conversation, but can only play hostess from your bed. Chances are the ladies will happily oblige. And it isn’t too much to ask to have each person bring something yummy and healthy to nosh on. That doesn’t mean it has to be exotic – fruit kebobs and a yogurt dip will do. If you are so inclined, tell the girls to bring over a few local takeout menus and you can all order in club sandwiches to snack on while you talk and catch up.
Get to Those Chores
Okay, so you can’t drag the laundry downstairs or scrub the kitchen floor, but how about getting a few chores done from the privacy of your bedroom? You can make up the household grocery shopping list and clip and organize coupons. Have your significant other bring you the bills, checkbook, stamps, and address labels, and make payments. Rectify the checkbook with your bank statements.
Reach for the phone and call several local pediatrician offices. Explain to the receptionist that you would like to interview the doctor over the phone and set up a time. Then, jot down any questions that you may have for the pediatrician so that you can ask when he or she calls you. You can find a great doctor for your new baby while lying in bed.
Welcome to the World
You are at home and you probably are really tired of looking at the same walls day in and day out. Make the most of an hour or two in bed by writing a letter to your unborn child. Tell him or her that you are on bed rest and while it is frustrating and boring at times, you know that it will bring a wonderful outcome soon. Tell your child about the world today, what is going on in the news, what things matter to you, what things you miss most from being absent from the everyday world, how you cannot wait for him or her to arrive, and what hopes and dreams you have for him or her. Describe your feelings when you found out you are pregnant, what emotions you experienced when you first felt the baby move, and how you are feeling right at this moment – happy, sad, anxious, excited.
Let this letter be the basis for a wonderful gift for your child. Each year on or around your child’s birthday, plan to write a letter. Each note can detail the amazing milestones your baby achieved in that past year, who his or her friends are, and other exciting memories like vacations, holidays, and the like. Then, you can buy a beautiful box or use a simple shoebox that you decorate yourself to put all of these handwritten treasures. Choose a special date or time when you’d like to give these letters to your child – the 21st birthday, wedding day, or the day when your own child’s first baby is born.
Puzzle Me
You can’t move your body much when you are ordered to bed by your obstetrician, but teasing your brain is another story altogether. Marathon running is definitely out but marathon brain power is certainly in. If crossword puzzles suit your fancy, break out your pencils and start filling in those little squares. Maybe word search puzzles excite you, so start looking for the words in that list.
Even if you don’t have a stockpile of game books handy, you can go online and play a variety of free games without leaving your chair or bed. To pass the hours, visit Yahoo! for a listing of different games to try out and find a few that spark your interest.
Call Me Sometime
It’s hard to stay in touch with your relatives and friends when you have the everyday hassles of life: work, family, chores, and commitments. But this is an ideal time to fill in your favorite people on what is happening in your life. Call your friends and family members to talk and catch up. You’ll be able to reconnect with that best bud you had in high school, Aunt Helen out in Tacoma, and that creepy kid you used to babysit when you were 18.
Staying in touch with friends and loved ones is good for you. It keeps you connected to the outside world and may bring you closer to those people who have been in your life. Who knows? Maybe all of these people you are getting back in touch with will stop by to change a diaper, bring you dinner, or empty your dishwasher once the baby arrives.
The good thing about staying in touch now is that you won’t feel so guilty when the baby comes and you have no time to pick up a phone let alone call your best friend or your sister!
Go Artsy
Do you have an artistic side that is just screaming to get out? Do you enjoy painting, drawing, or writing? You may not want to have a set of oil paints next to your bed but you surely can tap into your creative side while you are resting up for the arrival of your baby.
Okay, so painting might not go hand in hand with bed rest, but you can try out another creative activity like drawing or writing poetry. Not sure what you can draw since you are stuck lying down? No problem! How about the beautiful Tiffany lamp on your nightstand, that fabulous picture of the beach hanging on the wall, or the bureau with the candles on it? Draw what you see. Or else look outside the window and draw the house across the street or the tree in the backyard.
If you have a creative flair but drawing and writing aren’t your thing, how about a coloring book? No, you don’t have to subject yourself to Mickey Mouse and Sesame Street books complete with crayons. Arts and crafts stores sell beautiful coloring books that interest adults with subject matter including garden flowers, beach scenes, fairies and gnomes, and the like. An adult friendly book and a set of new coloring pencils are all you need to add a splash of color to your world.
Pamper Me
Every woman loves to go to the spa or salon to have her hair done, get a facial, and feel pampered. The spa is off limits for you now, but it doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a little pampering. Ask your best friend, sister, aunt, or mom to stop by and give you a little TLC. Chances are, she would be happy to oblige.
Let your female companion give you a manicure, complete with a hand massage, and nail polish. She can do the same for your tootsies, but skip the foot massage as that can actually start labor contractions. Other wonderful ways to help you relax include a facial and a neck and shoulder massage.
Haven’t had your hair done in awhile? Call your favorite stylist and see if she would make a trip to your home and cut and style your hair for you. Some hair dressers are happy to do so. If you can sit up in bed or in a comfy chair and it is okay with your doctor, you can feel pampered by your own stylist without having to step foot into a salon.
Don’t Bother Me – I’m Meditating
If you have never experienced meditation and relaxation techniques, now is the perfect time to become a pro. Not only can these mental exercises help alleviate stress and encourage better sleep patterns, but the techniques can be applied during childbirth to aid in the discomfort. Some women have used both meditation and relaxation to reduce and actually eliminate the need for pain medication during labor and delivery.
There are a number of books that can teach you basic relaxation and meditation in preparation for childbirth. You might want to read one to get in depth information on how to do these exercises.
Here are two simple methods to get started with. First, close your eyes and become aware of your breathing. Take a deep breath and mentally count to yourself how long it takes you to inhale. It might be three or four counts. Next, exhale to the same number of counts. Do this exercise over and over for a minute to become more in tuned with your breathing. Keep your mind focused only on the counts of each inhale and exhale.
After performing the above breath exercise, keep your eyes closed and imagine a beautiful white candle glowing brightly. Examine it closely and then watch both the candle and the flame change to a brilliant red color. While you are mentally studying the red candle, it turns to a vivid orange color. Next it becomes a bright and sunny shade of yellow. Follow this exercise through the colors green, blue, and purple until you have imagined the candle in every color of the rainbow.
Both of these mental exercises are designed to keep your attention focused on one thing. If you continue to do these activities regularly, you will learn to block out other noises and stay alert to the exercise that you are doing. These exercises can help you during childbirth too, enabling you to concentrate on your breathing and shifting your attention away from the pain and discomfort – even if it is just for a minute or two.
A Final Thought
So while you may imagine bed rest as a dull time when you will spend countless hours with nothing to do, you can make the most of it and try and enjoy the last weeks before your little one arrives. Make the time in bed count and remember that your sacrifice will provide maximum benefits for your new little one.
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