Pregnancy Bed Rest

What is bed rest during pregnancy?

Bed rest means limiting your physical activity during pregnancy. In the past, pregnancy care providers would recommend bed rest when they were concerned about a health condition that could cause pregnancy complications. The thought was that staying in bed and resting would lower your risk of developing preterm labor, premature birth or preeclampsia. But this hasn’t been proven to help improve pregnancy or birth outcomes.

In fact, some studies point out that it can have risks like blood clots and loss of muscle and bone strength. For this reason, most pregnancy care providers don’t recommend bed rest as a routine treatment. Instead, they recommend reducing your usual activities instead of stopping your activities entirely.

There are some circumstances where bed rest is necessary, though. Your provider will let you know if they believe bed rest is appropriate for your situation.

Different types of pregnancy bed rest

While bed rest used to mean staying in bed for several hours a day (only getting up if necessary), the more favorable term now is “activity restriction” or reducing your typical activity level. If your pregnancy care provider recommends activity restriction, it’s OK to ask them to define it so you’re both on the same page.

Some forms of bed rest are:

• Strict or complete bed rest. This is the most extreme form of bed rest and involves staying in bed most of the day (either in the hospital or at home). This type is rare, and many providers believe the risk is greater than the benefit.
• Activity restriction. This means reducing your typical activities and avoiding standing or walking for long periods of time. It may involve restrictions on lifting objects or using stairs. The term is vague and can have many interpretations. Ask your provider what specific things you should avoid doing.

What are reasons for bed rest during pregnancy?

Pregnancy care providers recommend activity restriction (or bed rest) during pregnancy on a case-by-case basis. This means they consider the risks and benefits of their recommendation based on current research. Some reasons your provider may still recommend it are:

• Preeclampsia
• Premature labor
• Incompetent cervix
• Problems with the placenta

Remember, you can ask your healthcare provider for their reasons for prescribing bed rest and ask them to explain their recommendation.

How does bed rest help during pregnancy?

There’s no solid research that shows it helps. Some healthcare providers believe it’s worth trying if it could increase the chances of a successful pregnancy. For providers that support bed rest, they believe it:

• Helps decrease stress
• Reduces pressure on your cervix
• Helps reduce blood pressure

But other providers believe bed rest causes more harm without leading to better pregnancy outcomes.

What are the risks of being on bed rest during pregnancy?

Some studies show bed rest can be unsafe. Some of the negative side effects of bed rest are:

• Bone density loss
• Blood clots
• Muscle atrophy
• Depression and anxiety

What am I allowed and not allowed to do if I am on bed rest during pregnancy?

Your healthcare provider will give you specific information about your activity level. This will depend on the reasons they recommend resting.

Examples of activities that are usually allowed are:

• Walking for up to 30 minutes at a time
• Exercising in a way that’s healthy for your condition
• Standing for up to 30 minutes at a time
• Climbing stairs

Examples of activities that may not be allowed or may need to be modified on a case-by-case basis are:

• Activity that lasts more than 30 minutes standing or walking at a time
• Lifting anything heavier than 20 pounds
• Exercising strenuously
• Placing anything in your vagina or having sex
• Flying in an airplane, especially long distances
• Working a job that requires being on your feet for most of the day

Everyone is different. It’s best to talk to your provider about what your specific activity level should be.

What can I do while on bed rest during pregnancy?

Activity restriction can be challenging, so it’s important to establish a new daily routine or find different or exciting things to do. For example, if you usually lift weights, your provider may recommend brisk walking for exercise instead. If you’re on your feet all day, your provider may recommend relaxing in the evening instead of continuing to be on your feet. They may suggest compression stockings or talking to your employer about taking breaks to sit. When it becomes hard to sit still, remind yourself that getting rest and relaxation is good for you.