Nursing researchers rethink bed rest recommendations for moms-
to-be. For moms-to-be facing complicated pregnancies, a
prescription to get some rest might be just what the doctor
ordered—but it might not be the healthiest practice for pregnant
women and their babies. According to Judith Maloni, a professor
at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western
Reserve University, bed rest carries physical and psychological
risks of its own. Doctors recommend bed rest for nearly 1
million pregnant women every year for complications that range
from early contractions to high blood pressure to bleeding.
Recommendations also vary, from simply taking it easy to
actually being confined to a bed or couch for all or most of the
day. Studies have shown that remaining in a resting position can
lead to bone loss and muscle atrophy, according to Maloni. She
also says the strictest bed rest guidelines—where an expectant
mother is confined to bed for nearly 24 hours a day—cause more
severe side effects and can lead t