Bed Rest is Heaven????

I can't say, I think that's accurate, but I can't speak for the world, I guess.
Anyone on bed rest has probably experienced the family member or friend who says she or he wishes they'd be banished to bed rest for some relaxation. It's mind blowingly strange to say that given the circumstances which normally sends someone to bed rest, but people make mistakes sometimes.

But, I was surprised the other day when a mom told me that bed rest was the best time she ever had in life. People catered to her, brought her meals, visited only when she wanted them to, made her stuff, bought her stuff, and after fifteen years of busting ass in the workforce, having someone order her to quit felt remarkably good, freeing, even.

Well, I suppose this all could be filed under individual differences. From the way someone is able to occupy her mind, keep busy while existing in six square feet of space for months, look at her circumstances optimistically, view the future as impossibly great to the way their body feels while "resting," we all handle bed rest differently.

How have you found your attitude toward bed rest? Have you reeled between extremes of dispair and glee or hovered somewhere in between?

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.

Labor Day Has Passed

Well, labor day has passed and with it, for all of you on bed rest, the jokes related to delivering on that day. I hope everyone had a good stream of visitors over the weekend and also some time to relax.

My son just started kindergarten last week and it's forced me to think about transistions and revisit the idea of routines and what it means to us as human beings.

I nearly passed out when Jake disappeared into the enormous school and though I'd been looking forward to this day for him and me for so long, I was struck by instant emotion.

The kind that my mind doesn't always follow as I asked myself what the problem was. My mind thought "nothing, no problem, this is awesome." But my body did other wise and cued the tears.

It didn't make any sense and once I got myself together then next thing that came to mind was the birth of Jake--nine weeks early.

Nine weeks is a walk in the park these days, according to doctors, but having been shocked by the early birth, it sure didn't feel that way. Even with relatively small issues and the optimistic reassurances of doctors in the NICU, I couldn't stop crying, wondering if Jake would fall into the tiny proportion of babies who didn't progress so well.

But, the experience brought to mind how difficult transitions can be and how important it is to have people who support you in that strange time of bed rest.

How are you dealing with the way intellectual information plays on your emotions? Is it easy (for some people it is) or now has it been hard for you?