I think one of the most worrying phrases you can hear when you’re pregnant is “you have to rest at home .” Such is the psychological burden you feel when you know that anything you do can put your baby’s life at risk, that that life change that you already know will come with motherhood, comes to you suddenly . But is it really necessary to carry it out? Is it really an effective measure to decrease the rate of preterm births?
What is relative rest and absolute rest?
Rest is an indication that doctors make to pregnant mothers who present intrauterine hematomas, risk of premature delivery (especially if it is a multiple pregnancy), due to causes such as placenta previa, short cervix, cervical insufficiency, fissure in the amniotic sac , pre-eclampsia or when the baby grows at a very slow rate.
This can be relative , in which the mother can get out of bed and sit for a while, can walk (including walks outside the home but very short), but cannot make any kind of physical effort, such as doing sports or lifting weights . It is also recommended to lie in bed to rest several times a day.
Absolute rest basically consists of being in bed all day, with the possibility of getting up just to take a short shower or to go to the bathroom and little else. In some cases, rest may need to be done in the hospital, depending on the severity of the situation and the risk to the baby.
Is it beneficial to rest in a risky pregnancy?
This has been a practice that has always been used when pregnancy is considered risky , due to the belief that in this case, physical effort can trigger premature labor and rest can decrease uterine activity.
Despite the fact that it is a common practice, there are meta-analyzes (a type of methodology that analyzes a large number of quality studies carried out on a topic), which state that absolute rest may be associated with other complications , such as the appearance of thrombi, muscle atrophy, cardiovascular decompensation, bone demineralization, constipation, constant headache, anxiety and even depression.
I experienced it in my first pregnancy when I was diagnosed with total occlusive placenta previa and practically during the 32 weeks it lasted, I lived between a routine in which only the doctor’s order changed to go from absolute to relative rest and vice versa. Despite what those studies say, I must say that in my case, I did notice a lot the relief both in the pressure I felt in the lower abdomen and in the intensity of the contractions I felt during the last month, when I did absolute rest. Personally, I think that generalizing on a topic as delicate as the treatment to follow in a high-risk pregnancy is a mistake , since each body is different and each pregnancy has its own peculiarities. When in doubt, I believe that the mother’s rest is never an option that should be ruled out from the outset.
How to cope with complete rest during pregnancy?
Rest (obviously more absolute), takes a toll on both a physical level, since not moving directly affects the weight that you will take during pregnancy, and especially on a psychological level, because we are all used to fending for ourselves, working, do the shopping, take care of our children in case we already have them or simply have a social life. Cutting with that in such an abrupt way is hard , (despite the fact that some people with zero empathy will tell you to enjoy those holidays), and above all, for feeling on your shoulders the full weight of responsibility that does not commit any mistake that could put the baby’s life at risk.
If the doctor has told you that you should rest, the first thing you should do is make yourself aware that it is the best thing you can do for your well-being and that of your child. Then, put yourself “in practical mode” and take advantage of that time to do those things that you have on your to-do list for a long time, or that you will not have time to do when your baby is born:
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Telework if you can: in my case being busy helped a lot, and although it obviously didn’t work the same, I was able to continue being a part of my day-to-day work.
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Talk to your partner : in this world full of social networks and busy people, sometimes we forget how important dialogue with the partner is and especially if we are facing a situation as stressful as a risk pregnancy and the arrival of a baby.
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Ask your partner for a massage : lying down for so long can cause fluid retention and cramps, so a massage on both the arms and legs can be very beneficial to prevent edema and improve circulation.
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Make a list of things that your baby will need : believe me, between buying the stroller and the crib, you will spend a lot of time looking at options and reading opinions.
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Design your baby’s room : there are several free apps in which you can make incredible designs, so it is a great option to invest time in something productive and also be clear about what you need before launching to buy.
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Study : that life stops suddenly does not mean that it will be a definitive state or much less, so you can invest the time preparing to continue with your projects when your baby is born.
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Lee : it is a drawer advice, but it was another of the activities that helped me the most.
- Receive visits : although precisely at this time and in the middle of a pandemic it is advice that cannot be carried out, or at least in person, we can make video calls, since keeping in touch with the people we love is one of the best things we can do to keep our spirits up .
The mother’s mental health has a direct impact on the baby’s well-being, so it is very important to have the support of family and friends to make the best of this time, which can be quite exhausting. You have to be patient and positive because if there is one thing that is clear, it is that you are already doing the best for your child.
In Babies and More | Not only the physical matters: taking care of mental health during pregnancy is beneficial for the baby
