please remember to vote for my guide after you are finished reading it!I have been on bedrest my self for 9 weeks now. I am writing this guide to help you understand ways to cope and stay sane. First off congratulations of making it to the club! Better then saying I am sorry to hear your on bed rest! If your reading this on bed rest i assume you have a laptop in bed with you. There are a few sites you should check out to meet other mommy's like you. babycenter.ge has a bed rest board. and sidelines.org has a system to set you up with someone to connect with that has been on bedrest for the same situation you are in. So I would check those out, trust me its great to know your not the only one out there going through it. When I first was on bedrest I was in the hospital. when I finally came home i felt some relief, but then thought NOW WHAT!!?? The one thing I can not live with out if my laptop and wireless internet. if you don't havelaptop you can rent one form rent a center or something like that. Here is a list of what is in my room that helps me function:
Nightstand
lamp
I have a shoe box on top of my stand with my things I have to have, tums notebook pen tissues tylenol ect
I have another box on the bottom with magazines phone book ect.
I also have a table that tilts something like a hospital table, I got it form a friend who got it from a carol wright catalog on sale for 20.00. its nice not sturdy but it works.
TV is a must have
And phone
Ask everyone you know to save all thier catalogs and magazines for you. Catalogs are fun to just look at even if your not going to buy anything. but ask them to ask thier friends cause on bedrest you can look at about 10 a day very fast. You can also ask you doctors office to save you old magazines. I know most even give pregnane women pregnancy magazines and parenting one. I go home with about 6 a week.
Subscribe to your local newspaper, its something to read and pass the time, also it will help you keep up on whats going on.
If you belong to a church or some churches will help if your not a member. Ask to be put on a prayer list and tell them why. Also ask if the women group wouldn't mind helping out. Alot of the older members understand and they might offer to cook diner or clean.
You have to remember if help is offered TAKE IT!!!!!!! At first it will feel weird but if they didn't want to help they wouldn't offer!
Its fall right now alot of sales going on, start christmas shopping online. Even if you just buy one gift a week you will be ahead of yourself.
Search for recipes! Even though you can't cook right now its a good time to get your recipes in order, you can also look up things for the crock pot you can have your helper make or hubby.
Keeping the house tidy is a big worry alot of us have. I know if I make a list my hubby will do it, it might take a few days but he gets it done and my house has stayed clean. I also clean in spurts. Like when I get out of the shower I might clean the toilet, then the next time the sink. One tiny job at a time. Like if I gee out to the kitchen to get water, I might wipe off the stove. DON"T be sweepingfloors and washing clothes!
The big problem on bedrest is when nesting kicks in! BUT you can organize while on bed rest. Have some one bring you a drawer from the kitchen or dresser in bed and go through it. I now have my daughters room done. Soon I will start on the kitchen. Also when its time to get the baby stuff washed ect. lay in bed a sort it. i have mine in bags to the sizes. I will give hubby 1 bag to wash dry and bring to me in bed to fold or hang.
Don't forget your local library! many have a online system you can place books on hold. Mine even have movies and tv seasons. If you don't have a card ask hubby or your helper to get one and place it on hold in thier name,since they will be the ones picking them up anyways. If they don't have a online system then call they usually have some service to help the home bound.
Ok tips if you have kids.
I have PBS sprout so I am safe when my little girl gees in my room to watch tv. But if you don't have a dvd or tape in the vcr at all times you can just pop it on. Its fun to watch my daughter jump and dance on the bed to barney, and it brightens my day.
If you have older kids remind them mommy won't be in bed forever. and tell them you love them everyday.
Keep craft supplies by your bedside. you can get one of those shoe organizer to hang next to you bed and keep crayons pens markets ect in each pocket. get craft paper. Even your local store like walmart ect has a nice selection of kids crafts in a box in the craft section. I am sure you can find something simple and easy to do in bed with your child.
make a movie night! order pizza and watch a movie with the kids in bed. don't forget about online movie clubs like blockbuster and netflix.
There are so many tips I can give but this is the basics. Just try to relax, the first few weeks are VERY hard, after 1 week at home I felt like a pro and now its going very fast.
Thanks for checking out my guide and I hope it helped you get some ideas. Please remember to vote so people will know if I was helpful or not
ADDED 10-13-06 I spent 12 weeks on bedrest. It was awful but well worth it. My baby came early still but she is doing really well!
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