Many people believe that nothing will go wrong during pregnancy because people have gone through this stage for thousands of years.
Unfortunately, not every mom-to-be is lucky enough to have an easy pregnancy without any kinds of health issues or complications cropping up and causing them (and their doctor) to fret.
What To Expect writes that depending on both the doctor and the health condition that the mother has, their ob-gyn might prescribe “bed rest,” even if it is just as a last resort.
Bed rest is an umbrella term that can range from limiting the amount of activities a mom-to-be does around the house or at work per day to being admitted to a hospital so that their doctor can monitor them around the clock for any signs that the health issue is acting up and causing more problems.
With the first version of bed rest, many mothers are asked to shorten the amount of time they spend at work and set reminders on their smartphones to take time out to relax and unwind in bed or on the sofa.
Learn more about what pregnancy issues can cause a mom to spend most of her time in bed all day in the article below.
20. THE PLACENTA’S COVERING A VITAL SPOT
One health condition that can pop up during pregnancy is an issue known as “placenta previa.” WebMD writes that when a woman is diagnosed with placenta previa, this is a fancy term that means that the placenta is covering a vital spot on her cervix. In some cases, it is partially covered but in others, the area is covered entirely by the fetus’s placenta.
Aside from making sure that moms-to-be that have been diagnosed with placenta previa get plenty of rest, doctors also usually recommend that they don’t use certain feminine hygiene products or take too many brisk walks.
19. MOM NOTICES SOME SPOTTING ON HER UNDERWEAR
WebMD points out that it is perfectly normal for pregnant women to develop some light spotting, but if they wind up constantly staining good underwear and start feeling cramps in their abdominal region, then it is time to go to the doctor to make sure that everything is fine.
Usually, a doctor will perform tests such as an ultrasound and do a physical examination to make sure that both mom and baby are okay. They also tend to advise that moms-to-be take it very easy and relax in bed more often than usual because after all, it is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to pregnancy.
18. YOUR UTERUS IS FEELING A BIT TOO TENDER FOR YOUR DOCTOR’S COMFORT
Healthline writes that some women have the great misfortune to be stuck with an irritable uterus that is far more tender than other ones inside moms-to-be and starts contractions, although unlike “true” contractions during labor, the false ones from an irritated organ don’t produce any changes inside of the womb.
Even though science still hasn’t figured out why some women get stuck with a really ticked-off uterus that acts up and there’s no evidence that this irritation can be detrimental to the little one, many doctors will advise women to stay off their feet as much as possible just to play it safe.
17. PREECLAMPSIA IS ANNOYING TO DEAL WITH
According to Am. Pregnancy, preeclampsia is a condition that can occur during pregnancy and it causes protein to gather in a woman’s bladder as well as making her circulation system skyrocket.
If mom-to-be has hypertension during her pregnancy or if she tells her ob-gyn that a close relative in her family (such as her mother, aunt or sister) had preeclampsia during their own pregnancies, the doctor might very well order her to take it easy in an attempt to ward off the condition. If she has already developed preeclampsia, then bed rest will give mom’s body a chance to heal a bit.
16. YOUR DOCTOR SEES THAT YOU HAVE HIGH BP
Am. Pregnancy writes that moms-to-be that already has a pre-existing condition such as hypertension need to be doubly careful and monitor their body for any signs of flare-ups which could aggravate the fetus and cause potential health concerns.
If your doctor feels that your hypertension is acting up or you are concerned that this condition is making you feel ill and you have noticed some worrying signs, then there’s a good chance that you’re going to be ordered by your doctor to take it easy until the bun in the oven is ready to make his or her grand debut in the world.
15. PRETERM LABOR IS KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR
According to Am. Pregnancy, another reason why mothers-to-be are often confined to their bed is due to the fact that their doctor is worried about preterm labor kicking in before the baby is supposed to make their appearance.
The reason why some women go into premature labor is due to the fact that the contractions that start the entire process start a bit too early (usually somewhere before week 37) and by taking it easy lounging around in bed all day, doctors hope that they can convince the mom’s body to stop and wait for just a few more weeks.
14. THERE’S A RIPPED SECTION INSIDE THE WOMB
According to MomJunction, some women are unlucky enough to have quite a few rips and tears in their womb, which can potentially lead to the infant-to-be slipping off from the area in the cervix and cause health issues for both the fetus and the mom-to-be.
If the ob-gyn discovers that his or her patient has cervical insufficiency due to one area or more having rips inside of the womb, then they will often prescribe bed rest in the hopes that it will help keep the pressure from concentrating in the cervix and causing any more health problems or risks from forming.
13. NOT ENOUGH AMNIOTIC FLUID FOR YOUR BABY
MomJunction writes that there is a condition known as oligohydramnios that can lead to a doctor ordering their patient in no uncertain terms to keep off their feet as much as possible and to take this time to catch up on all of the movies and television shows they missed in the past few months.
With oligohydramnios, a woman’s body does not have enough amniotic fluid for the little one. Since this can lead to plenty of health issues for both mom and baby, most ob-gyns will recommend that moms either admit themselves into the hospital or stay in bed most of the day to avoid any activity levels that might aggravate the situation even more.
12. NAUSEA KEEPS FOLLOWING YOU AROUND LIKE A LOST PUPPY
Every mother-to-be knows that morning sickness is just one of the pitfalls of pregnancy, but it usually tends to dissipate by the time the second trimester rolls around. Unfortunately, the National Health Institutes writes that some mothers have the not-so-fortunate chance to be diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum, which is basically a fancy way to describe nausea that would knock Drogon the dragon from Game of Thrones on his side.
Since this gnarly type of nausea can last well into the third trimester and can also cause a mom-to-be to feel faint, taking it easy and trying to limit the number of activities she does per day can help ease the symptoms a bit.
11. THERE ARE MULTIPLE BUNS IN THE OVEN
Let’s face it, pregnancy is really tough on the mother. Not only does she have to struggle against morning sickness and constantly making friends with her toilet due to the oh-so-delightful nausea, but she also has to contend with feeling tired all of the time and having no energy to do even the most basic of tasks.
Am. Pregnancy writes that this level of difficulty gets multiplied when a mother is pregnant with multiple children because her body has to support and nourish more than one fetus. This can deplete her body’s reserves and cause her ob-gyn to make sure she relaxes more often.
10. ISSUES WITH THE SYSTEM’S SUGARS WHILE PREGNANT
According to Am. Pregnancy, moms-to-be are usually tested for any issues with their body’s insulin levels due to the fact that pregnancy can throw it out of whack. If the mother-to-be is over the age of 35 or if she has close relatives that are diabetic, then her ob-gyn might opt to test her at an earlier stage in her pregnancy and continue to repeat the tests, just so that they don’t miss any potential red flags.
The downside of pregnancy causing a woman’s body to not be able to produce as much insulin is that she’ll have to stay in bed more often, lest she run the risk of having her baby-to-be be born sooner than she anticipated.
9. THE BUN IN THE OVEN’S TAKING THEIR SWEET TIME HITTING DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES
Am. Pregnancy adds that if an ob-gyn runs some tests and feels that a mom-to-be’s little one isn’t hitting the usual developmental milestones that most fetuses pass, then there is a good chance that she’ll be confined to her bed and told to avoid strenuous activities, heavy lifting and things of that sort.
The reason why doctors tell mothers whose fetuses need an extra bit of time to hit the required developmental stages to relax in bed is due to the fact that it allows both mother and baby’s body to normalize as well as helping to increase the flow of nutrients and improving the circulation in the placenta.
8. YOUR PREVIOUS CHILD WAS BORN EARLIER THAN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN
Slate writes that if moms-to-be have had prior children that were born premature or if there is a family history of premature births, then it is likely that they will be confined to their bed and spending most of their time surrounded by fluffy pillows as they catch up on the latest episodes of their favorite television show.
Despite the fact that there is some evidence to the contrary that bed rest can actually help prevent premature birth, many doctors operate on the principle of “better to be safe than sorry” and will tell a mother to take it easy for the time being just to make sure that all goes well.
7. WATER WANTS TO BREAK TOO EARLY
Everybody knows that once a mother’s water breaks, it is a tell-tale sign that labor is about to begin and it won’t be long before the happy parents finally get a chance to meet their little one.
According to the UT Southwestern Medical Center, the bodies of some moms-to-be have clearly not gotten the memo that the water is supposed to break around week 40 and not too much before that. If a mother’s water happens to break early—especially around week 24—then there’s a good chance that her ob-gyn will put her on bed rest in the hospital to make sure that the little one isn’t born too early.
6. YOU ARE WAY TOO ACTIVE AND DON’T LISTEN TO YOUR DOCTOR
In the modern era, there is a lot of pressure for women to do it all—have a successful full-time job, be a loving and doting mother and a caring, affectionate significant other to their partner. Add in societal peer pressure to look a certain way and eat certain foods and you’ll find that plenty of women run themselves ragged trying to attain perfection.
MomJunction points out that if an ob-gyn feels that their patient is way too active and trying to juggle too many things at once when they are pregnant to the detriment of the bun in the oven, then they’ll recommend going on bed rest so their body has a chance to relax.
5. CERVIX IS CHANGING TOO MUCH
It is routine for an ob-gyn to check a mom-to-be’s cervix during an appointment so that they can track any changes, especially if she was born with one that was shaped slightly different than most, or if the length of the cervix starts to change when it is nowhere near time for the little one to enter the world.
What To Expect writes that some women’s cervix shortens way before it is supposed to and so doctors usually advise activity restriction at home and at work as well as recommending that the mom-to-be undergoes a procedure to close the area until it is the proper time for baby to enter the world.
4. YOUR BODY IS RETAINING FLUID LIKE IT’S GOING OUT OF STYLE
Most women are dismayed to find out that they retain a lot of fluid during their pregnancy, which makes their ankles look as if they are the exact same size as their knees and can make them feel uncomfortable, especially if they have been very active throughout the entire day.
Kid’s Health writes that if there is a lot of fluid retention in a mom’s ankles and feet, a doctor might tell them to relax more and prop their feet up when they are laying down during their bed rest because not only is this health issue incredibly uncomfortable and unsightly, but it can also be caused by preeclampsia and it is best to proceed with caution.
3. FEELING LIKE THE ROOM IS CONSTANTLY SPINNING
Parents writes that during pregnancy, moms need to have about 30 milligrams of iron per day and if their daily meals do not give their body enough of this all-important nutrient, then there is a good chance that they can become anemic during their pregnancy—usually around week 20.
Aside from making mom’s stomach feel like it is twisted in knots, anemia also causes bouts of dizziness that make it feel as if the room is spinning like a carousel. As a precaution, many doctors will prescribe both iron supplements to increase the nutrients in their body as well as bed rest.
2. MOM IS OVER THE AGE OF 35
According to WebMD, ob-gyns consider any mother over the age of 35 to be a “high-risk” pregnancy due to the fact that statistically speaking, they are far more likely to have certain health issues and complications pop up during the long nine months than someone that is pregnant but is in their mid 20s or early 30s.
In an attempt to either quell any potential complications or stave them off entirely, some ob-gyns will tell older moms-to-be that they should try to limit as much activity as they possibly can and stay in bed and rest so that they and their little one can stay healthy and strong.
1. THERE’S AN ISSUE WITH YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
Pregnancy is already pretty stressful on a mom-to-be’s immune system, but if she already has a preexisting autoimmune issue, then that level of stress is increased tenfold and can cause flare-ups that make the entire experience incredibly uncomfortable.
NYU Langone Health adds that even though there are some medications that can help ease the flare-ups (depending on the autoimmune issue, of course), many ob-gyns like to play it safe and order their patient to stay in bed because their body needs more time than other moms-to-be in order to heal and to allow the fetus to hit all of the necessary milestones before it is time for labor to begin.