Let things that don’t matter… go!
(or get some pixie dust)
It is next to impossible to have
your house run as well as if you were not on bedrest… unless of course you have
a Fairy Godmother. But, in the absence of a magic wand or pixie dust,
lower your expectations on how clean or orderly your home will be at the
moment. Then you won’t stress about what is not done. In other words, cut
yourself a break when it comes to how you usually get things done. You
are giving yourself time off. Think of it as “forced relaxation.” Once
your baby is here, these moments will be few and far between.
Misery loves company and virtual
hugs
Log on to Share Your Story, the
March of Dimes’ online community. There is a thread specifically for pregnant
ladies on bedrest. Just “talking” with other women in the same situation will
be supportive and comforting. Get your virtual hugs on a daily basis here!
Hello out there!…Stay in touch
A laptop can be a lifesaver. Now is
a great time to try and stay in touch with friends whose friendships often fade
due to lack of correspondence. Contact every friend that you have who lives out
of state or out of the country. Once the baby arrives, keeping up with friends
will be harder to do, so getting a jump on it now could be helpful. Then take
the next step and put your address book on your computer to create labels for
when you mail invitations, baby announcements or holiday cards.
Learn mini moves
Muscles become weak and atrophy
(break down) when your body doesn’t move around. It happens very quickly. Ask
your doctor if you can have a physical therapist visit you at home and give you
some light exercises to do while you are in bed. No double leg lifts,
sit-ups or crunches please. Isometric exercises (where you tighten and release
your muscles) may be just what you need. These minimal movements will help to
keep some of your muscles from losing strength. Also, soft, gentle stretches
and ankle rolls (moving your toes around in circles) will help with leg
circulation and swelling. But, don’t take on any movements or exercises without
your doc’s nod of approval first. And, remember, once your baby is here, you
can gradually get back to your pre-pregnancy strength and body (after your doc
gives you the go-ahead).
Work on your recipe collection
If you cut and clip recipes from
magazines and have them stuffed into a drawer to organize “one day,” this may
be just the right time. You can create a file on your computer and then have
someone scan the recipes for you to upload. Then, organize your computer file
by food group so you can easily find a recipe when you want it.
Update the baby book
If you have other children and still
have not organized their baby books, this could provide you with the
disciplined time to get it done. Keep markers, scissors, glue, tape and stapler
on your night table and chip away at updating the book a little at a time.
You’ll be so glad to have this keepsake to remember every precious milestone
and moment.
Although research has not proved
that bedrest is effective, it is still a common method of treatment for
cervical insufficiency or other pregnancy problems. Many doctors recommend
bedrest for conditions like high blood pressure, bleeding or carrying multiples
that increase their risk of going into preterm labor. Whatever the reason for
your bedrest, hopefully, your bed will become your new command central and your
projects will help the time to fly by quickly.
What has worked for you? We’d
love to have you share your survival strategies.
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