just as pregnancy is different for each woman so is the experience of bed rest. some women know that because of problems with past pregnancies they will need to go on bed rest at some point; for others a prescription for bed rest comes as a surprise. some women are prescribed bed rest early in their pregnancies; others must spend their entire pregnancies resting in bed. sometimes doctors recommend modified bed rest. this means you should spend most of your time lying or sitting up on the couch or bed but you should not exercise lift or have sexual intercourse. at other times doctors may restrict almost all activity telling a patient to sit up only for meals or stand for quick showers. sometimes doctors prescribe bed rest with close monitoring in the hospital. it's important to know how much -- and what -- you should or should not do during bed rest. following are some questions you should ask your doctor: can i get up to use the bathroom? how long is bed rest required? must i stay in bed all the time or can i move around the house if necessary? is it ok to work from home? is it ok to do light chores? can i take baths or showers? should i lie on one side or stay in a certain position? is sexual activity ok? if so what kinds and how much?
what should i expect while i am on bed rest during my pregnancy?