So, you're on bed rest for half your pregnancy...

One reader named Deborah emailed to say she's sixteen days into what could be a twenty week bed rest.

Wow, that's sobering and chilling and wonderful that she was able to have a plan of action come to light before things got out of hand and put her or the baby in danger of any sort.

My bed rest was very short, though intense and led to a premature birth so I don't know at all how Deborah must feel right now.

I do know that part of this long process for her will be her everchanging outlook and forever swinging emotions.

According to friends of mine--Susan and Kayla--the first segment of such a long bed rest was unsettling and they resisted it mentally. They followed doctors orders and nestled into their nest, but in their minds they couldn't be there. Their minds went to their older, though still small children, the work they left for someone else--both at home and at the office, the friends they didn't feel ike seeing and those they were dying to. Nothing seemed to sit right even though sitting was all they had to do all day and night.

Then, at about 26 weeks--five weeks into things--they calmed down about the baby. Because the fetus was now past the age of viability, they focused on each day with baby inside as a day he or she matured, a day for celebration. Everything looked different, a little better, a little easier to believe that one day they would remember bed rest but it wouldn't have the suffocating force it did until that point.

Then, by the time they were in the 33rd week or so, they ants came back and they could barely stand some days. Now, it wasn't as nerve=wracking as before because they were pretty sure an early delivery would mean delayed homecoming for baby, but a good prognoisis overall. At 33 weeks, they were just stir crazy and ready to deliver as any mother would be.

Part of why we designed the website Bedrestishell.com is to help ease other people through those segments of bed rest. None of it is easy and me telling you how two women rode the bed rest roller coaster in vague, optimistic terms isn't that helpful. But we think, some of the suggestions we've offered will help you as you eek out that difficult, though miraculous time of baby gestation.

We'd love to hear some of what you all have found to help you through bed rest--even if you're on it for a shorter time. And, thanks so much to Deborah for sharing your situation and for stopping by.