Modified Bed Rest 101

Me cuddled up in my sheets during bed rest

     This week will mark 15 weeks since I gave birth to my boys. I'll start by saying that birthing twins is automatically considered to be "high risk" due to the added variables of having two babies growing in me. Because of this I had to get ultrasounds every week. It was during one of these weekly visits that the images showed that I had a shortened cervix. This was very shocking to me and what frightened me most was that I had only carried the boys to 23 weeks at this point. The doctors were concerned that this cervical issue could lead to premature labour and admitted me that evening. I was scared and upset because the worse thoughts popped into my head. The next day I was released from hospital but was told to go on a modified bed rest. Many women who are pregnant with twins are put on a bed rest program so this was considered very common but those pregnant with singletons can also be put on it for a variety of reasons. 

     Bed rest was a very challenging time as I was in the program for 11 long weeks. How I got through it I don't even know but I do have some tips that you might find helpful. Netflix was a saviour. I watched a lot of shows and I found BBC's "Call the Midwife" particularly good because I felt the issues and the plot-lines very topical for me. 

     My husband and I were connected with an OBGYN at Sunnybrook Hospital who specialized on twin pregnancies. On one of our checkup visits, we were told about a prenatal class being offered at the hospital to first time parents providing tips for before and after birth. Because one of the recommendations of my bed rest was not to be upright for an extended period of time, we made the request to have these classes in the comfort of our own home. Graciously, the course coordinator obliged and gave us a course specific to twin pregnancy. These courses come highly recommended and this blog strongly suggests it especially for first time mothers and fathers. During one of these classes our teacher told us that knitting was an excellent way to keep my mind occupied while on bed rest. As you can well imagine, being stuck in your house for 11 weeks would drive most sane people crazy. However I chose activities to keep my mind free of any worries because there were inherently concerns with my shortened cervix. 

     Many of you are thinking maybe you don't know how to knit but let me tell you: it's very simple. There are many YouTube videos that you can watch to help you get started. I started off knitting a baby blanket with some nice soft yarn. Make sure it's yarn you can wash because you're going to want to wash the blankets often when your baby starts using them! Check out the pattern I attached below to get started on your own blanket! Yes bed rest was very challenging but on the upside it was very rewarding in the end because keeping relatively immobile for this period allowed my babies to stay in until 37 weeks gestation. At the time we found out I'd be bedridden until I gave birth I didn't see the end result but it was amazing what a little bit for rest can do for your body. I had a ton of time to do research on things I thought we'd need for when the babies came as well as thoroughly look through reviews to weed out the bad stuff from the good. What I found greatly beneficial was reading about what other people bought and whether it fit their particular situation. Another example of #ChooseLemonade! 

     Another thing that was a bit challenging while I was on bed rest was I wanted to get a lot of stuff ready but wasn't physically capable of due to my cervix. Things like getting the nursery ready or washing clothes or even getting my bag packed for the big day was difficult and I couldn't do most of it until my husband got home from work or my mother was over. This phenomenon was called nesting and being on bed rest turned out to make it very difficult! 

     Going to appointments was that much harder while being on modified bed rest too since every appointment I needed someone to come with me so they could drop me off at the front door while they parked the car. This was all the more important because this all took place in icy and snowy conditions during our deep winter freeze in Toronto. I felt very helpless at the time. It was a new sensation being on bed rest but I did learn a lot about myself and about pregnancy in general. One of the tips I really found helpful was that even though you're going to be at home all day during your bed rest, go wash your face and get changed! Don't stay in the pajamas you wore that night all day. While it might feel comfy it has adverse psychological effects since it just makes you feel worse. Even if you just get into a pair of clean pajamas or sweatpants it can leave you feeling much better about yourself. 

     Now showering is a whole other story when you're on bed rest. I was allowed to shower twice a week and I needed quite a bit a help getting in and out. We have a clawfoot tub with a shower head so I had to get my husband to help me climb in and out of the tub while also helping me wash my legs and feet because I couldn't bend over. I mean you have to laugh at these little things and take it lightly because it's not the greatest time... but keep strong, you can do it and remember to #ChooseLemonade!

** (Twin) Tip **
If you do find yourself on bed rest, be sure to find a pair of compression socks! They help promote circulation in your legs and feet which are common body parts for blood to collect. These socks are easily found at your local drug store and will go a long way to provide comfort when you're on bed rest, or when you're pregnant at work too.

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Easy Knit Baby Afgan

Knitting Needle Size11 or 8 mm, Circular Knitting NeedlesYarn Weight(6) Super Bulky/Super Chunky
Gauge7 sts and 14 rows = 4" [10 cm] in stocking st (knit every row)
Finished SizeApprox 33" x 35" [84 x 89 cm]

 Materials List

• Super chunky yarn  (10.5 oz/300 g; 258 yds/234 m)... (I used Lion Brand Yarns' Homespun Thick and Quick, I added a picture of what it looked like above)

• Knitting needles   

Cast on 57 stitches and knit every row until 35” long (89cm) and cast off and tie in ends