Only these women are advised by doctors to take ‘bed rest’ during pregnancy

what does bed rest mean

Bed rest involves complete rest for some time. You are only allowed to get up to go to the bathroom inside the house. The woman cannot lift any heavy items or do any very difficult or tiring work.

Sometimes complete bed rest is recommended in high-risk pregnancies. The doctor may also ask for hospitalization. In some cases, bed rest improves blood flow to the placenta, increases energy and prevents complications in pregnancy.

pregnancy bleeding

Sometimes mild bleeding or spotting occurs in early pregnancy which is due to placental abruption, cervical rupture or uterine tear. The doctor may ask for bed rest until the spotting stops. Sometimes if bleeding or spotting occurs in the second and third trimester, the doctor may ask for bed rest throughout the pregnancy.

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what does the study say

According to a study conducted by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 17.8% of the 2307 women reported bleeding during the first trimester. This was directly associated with a drop in fetal weight depending on the intensity of the bleeding. The study showed that women who bled for more than a day had babies weighing 68 to 107 grams less than women who did not bleed or bled for less than a day.

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Overactive lifestyle

If you have an overly active lifestyle and do not pay attention to your health and nutrition, then in this situation you may be asked to take bed rest. Taking a balanced diet and staying relaxed helps in the healthy development of the baby, does not cause any problems to the mother or the child and also reduces the chances of having to take bed rest.

What are the benefits of bed rest

By taking bed rest, blood flow in the uterus improves and oxygen and nutrition reach the fetus. This does not put any pressure on the cervix, placenta and uterus. Blood flow in the entire body improves and swelling also reduces.