Have you just been advised to go on bed rest and you are wondering what to do when you are on bed rest during pregnancy? After over 16 weeks of bed rest, I do have a few ideas.
My last pregnancy was high-risk after I suffered from cervical insufficiency which left me at risk of going into very preterm labor. I started with modified bed rest but had to go on complete bed rest at 23 weeks (you can read my high-risk pregnancy story here)
In total, I was on bed rest for about 4 months.
At first, I thought it was really cool to be asked to lay in bed all day and do nothing but then it dawned on me pretty quickly how boring and frustrating it can get.
In order to deal with my frustrations, I came up with a list of things to do while on bed rest and spent my time focusing on them. That way, I was distracted and stopped whining about all the things I wanted to do but couldn’t.
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How to stay sane while on bed rest during pregnancy
As soon as you find out that you are going to be on bed rest, there are things you can do that will make your life a lot easier.
4 tips to help you stay sane while on bed rest:
- Establish a routine – being on bed rest comes with so many restrictions that make you feel like you have lost control. Establishing a routine will give structure to your days and help you feel like you have control over some aspects of your life. A routine helped me to stop feeling lost and to be honest that’s how I stayed sane.
- Keep items you need close to you – Figure out what you are going to need and keep it on your bedside table so that you have what you need when you need it. These could include, a journal and a pen, your laptop/iPad/ phone plugged in, a water bottle, snacks, and whatever else you may want to have nearby. Use a small organization basket like this one to keep all the things you need together
- Ask for and accept help from friends and family – I was honestly surprised by how much my friends came through for me but if there was one single most important decision that helped during my bed rest, it was allowing my friends to help me. It was a very humbling experience but it made it so much easier for my husband to take care of me while at the same time handling his job efficiently. Ask them to bring you food, help with the laundry, or even babysit your older children. It will go a long way.
- Have a second room set up where you can move to for a change of scenery – it can be extremely boring looking at the same four walls all the time. I used our living room as my secondary room when I got bored in the bedroom. Our IKEA sectional sleeper came in very handy because I could lie down and binge-watch my favorite programs on TV and then move back to my bedroom later in the day.
With these done, now all you need are activity ideas that can keep you engaged, and I got you.
11 Things To Do When You Are On Bed Rest
Depending on the activity levels you are comfortable with, you can do most of these things while on bed rest. These are the activities I did to stay sane and productive.
1. Books:
I love reading books so it was the first thing I thought about when I knew I would have some time in my hands. While I was still at the hospital after my cerclage, I ordered The Gifts of Imperfection because I thought it sounded like a book that could help me find positivity in a dark season. Thankfully, it did more than that and taught me a lot about living wholeheartedly. It’s not pregnancy-related but I would highly recommend it.
Some pregnancy and baby-related books that I can recommend:
Because I did not want to spend a lot of money buying hard copy books, I downloaded the Blinkist app and also read more books on Kindle where I got a number of books free with my Prime membership. You can get a 30-day free trial using this link
If you would rather listen, Audible is definitely worth checking out. You can use this link to get a 30-day audible free trial and you receive two audiobooks free.
2. Journal
Keeping a journal is a great practice to record your thoughts and keep memories of your pregnancy. Personally, I kept a gratitude journal where I recorded the things that I was grateful for each week of pregnancy. It really helped me to stay positive and push through tough days.
You can also get a pregnancy journal and record all your thoughts and hopes about your baby. You can even write letters to your unborn baby and read them to your baby once they are born. It can hold very treasured memories.
3. Crafts
Is there a hobby you have been wanting to pursue but had no time for it? As long as you can do it in bed, this is a good time to start. It could be making crafts, knitting, drawing, sewing.
Hop onto Pinterest for some awesome craft ideas that can be very therapeutic. Be sure to follow me while you are there 🙂
If you love coloring here are some coloring books you could use:
4. Sleep/ Rest
Yes really, it is actually possible to be on bed rest and not be well-rested. Sometimes we try so hard to feel productive that we forget that resting is very productive too.
With a new baby on the way, you are going to have a lot on your plate very soon so take this opportunity to just relax and rest before then.
5. Start a blog
A blog is a great platform to share your thoughts on topics that you are passionate about. Start a blog like this one on an area of interest to you and help other people online. You could even make money in the process.
If you need help with starting a blog, this is a really good place to start.
6. Watch your favorite movies
I spent a lot of my time watching movies and catching up on shows on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix which we were already subscribed to. If you don’t already, getting a subscription on a streaming site could be a good idea. Others that you can try are Hulu, Starz, HBO, Showmax, or even Youtube TV and catch up on your favorite shows and movies. Guilt-free.
7. Call / Skype your family and friends
Calling friends was a good way for me to stay in touch with the world outside my house. Take this time to keep in touch with the friends and family that you have been meaning to call but did not have the time to. Also, call that sister can listen and encourage you when you are feeling worried or frustrated.
8. Create your baby registry
With the many options available for baby registry sites online, this is a perfect opportunity for you to choose the best baby registry site for you. Choosing and adding baby registry items can be therapeutic and a wonderful way to feel like your little one is going to be here soon. I enjoyed it so much that I created 2 registries, one on Amazon and the other in Target.
9. Join a pregnancy community
I like pregnancy communities online because they help you to realize that you are not alone.
Websites like Whattoexpect and Babycenter have awesome communities where you can meet and interact with other moms who are going through the same thing as you. I enjoyed reading the experiences of other moms on bed rest and learning some tips from them.
10. Enroll in an online course
If there is a skill you have been planning to gain, enrolling in an online course could be a really good idea. I enrolled in a course on Udemy. You can take a breastfeeding or delivery prep course. Whatever you are interested in, you can find a course to pursue online. It is a great way to gain useful skills before the baby arrives.
11. Online shopping
Since going to a physical store could be out of the question, you can start shopping online. Buy items you will need for baby postpartum and for your hospital bag for labor and delivery.
I did 90% of our baby shopping online and it was awesome checking for coupons and finding great deals on stuff. This is my favorite coupon site. (you get $10 for signing up through this link)
The other option is to set up your groceries for curbside pickup. That way, your hubby doesn’t have to go into the store. A little help goes a long way.
Your Turn
What’s your favorite thing to do when on bed rest? Share with a fellow mom on bed rest in the comments.
