| 26 | Be Proactive - Clear Communication

http://pinterest.com/pin/47795809/

Clear communication between you and your healthcare provider(s) is so important.  I have not had a good experience/communication with my healthcare providers throughout my bed rest and think that things could be a little bit easier if that were not true.  

The day I was "prescribed" bed rest, I was told "well we want you on bed rest, hope you have short term disability, if not looks like your husband will need to get a second job, see you next week, if anything happens you can not blame yourself".  No joke. If I knew then, what I know now...

You must discuss with your doctor, in detail, what activities she/he will allow you to do. Sidelines has a bedrest checklist that is designed to help you know what questions to ask. These questions can help make communication clearer for you, your family, and your doctor. It helps to be clear on what activities are and are not allowed! Use the checklist or a journal to write down questions and take notes. This requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. To download the free reader click here.

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"It may not be easy, but it is possible."

| 25 | Being On Bed Rest: Boredom, Guilt And Lots Of Online Shopping

photo: thedreamygiraffe via ETSY

Here is an article/blog entry via NPR (National Public Radio).  You know that we bed rest mommies enjoy reading other bed rest stories to see the similarities in our challenges, feelings, doings, etc. Check it out.






Click Here > Being On Bed Rest: Boredom, Guilt And Lots Of Online Shopping

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"It may not be easy, but it is possible."

| 24 | Some Normalcy - The Nursery!

While I am about 85% done with Baby Josie's nursery, I sure still love looking at ideas online.  


My three favorite places for nursery inspiration are:

1. Lay Baby Lay (Mommy Blog)
2. Pinterest (just type "nursery" in the search box)
3. Project Nursery

This is a distracting and fun time passer which I have spent hours looking at.  


Enjoy Mama's!

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"It may not be easy, but it is possible."

| 23 | The Belly Diaries

So, the Belly Diaries.  Approaching my third month of bed rest (now able to be up for about an hour or two a day), I find myself taking lots of pictures of my belly.  I take pictures out of boredom, excitement, to share with others and for memories. So come on ladies, if you are not already going crazy taking belly shots, start to now... you will not regret it!  Hint: Another Time Passer ;  )

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"It may not be easy, but it is possible."

| 22 | Thinking Consumes the Bed Rest Mama

photos: 1scrappinmom via ETSY

| 21 | Your Birth Plan

photo: adriamoynihan via ETSY

I know, with being on bed rest, you feel like "THE DAY" is never going to get here. I sure feel that way! But the day baby comes will be here and soon. 


Have you ever thought of doing a birth plan? Well, whether you have or you have not, I have come across a great template via www.thebump.com which is simple and to the point. A big part of me feels that why do a birth plan?  So much in my pregnancy has been out of my control and surprises seem to pop up often. Just let what ever happens, happen. But then I feel that there should be stuff in writing with what I prefer.  So my plan is to complete this birth plan via www.thebump.com and have it with me a the hospital as a form of communication to the medical staff. And be sure to include your partner in completing your birth plan as well.  


And remember, this is something else to pass your time away!


Birth Plan via www.thebump.com


Another week down and it is almost JULY!

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| 20 | Bed Rest & Groceries

photo: ieatstars via ETSY

Did you know that there are many online grocery websites that deliver groceries right to your home?! I came across a list of about 50 online grocery websites, and while I am fortunate to have family who has time to do my grocery shopping (my husband and my Mom), I am sure that this can be a challenge in many lives of bed rest mommies. Also, in regards to cost, it seems to me that the price for delivery is very minimal on some of these websites.  I have not checked them all out, however.  So, if you have found that getting groceries in a timely manner is difficult, you want to check this out.  Remember, you are eating for more then one nowadays and adequate nutrition is very, very important.

List of 50+ Online Grocery Delivery Services

I hope that you find this helpful ;  )

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| 19 | Trying Not to Worry...

source: http://handmaidliset.blogspot.com/2011/04/mantra.html

| 18 | INSPIRATION - A Focused Bed Rest Mommy

photo: happysigns via ETSY

Here is the story of a fellow bed rest momma, Michelle, who gets by day-to-day through finding inspiration and staying focused.  

"After two miscarriages and one healthy son, now three years old, I was fairly sure that the 12 week mark in any pregnancy was the sure-fire, magic number. Reach that goal and everything would be smooth sailing! 

So this past March, at my 20 week ultrasound for my current pregnancy, the one where we were just supposed to find out if it was a girl or a boy, my husband and I were taken back when we got more than we had bargained for. Not only were we told we were having another boy (good news!) but we were also informed that I had an incompetent cervix and that I’d be in surgery for an emergency cerclage the next day. I could barely remember what my cervix was and never had heard of a cerclage. 

But here I am, 83 days later, 83 long days of laying on my left side either at home or at the hospital, keeping my newest son cooking! While bed rest has been an enormous sacrifice, one that is filled with difficulty and doubt, I have had a lot of time to reflect and learn. Part of what has kept me afloat is focusing on inspiration for things I would like to accomplish once I am back on my feet. 

As a 7th grade Language Arts teacher when not on bed rest (and mom to a fore mentioned toddler and 15 year old stepdaughter), I rarely have the leisure to browse the web and hunt for inspiration. I have taken full advantage of the time I’ve been given to do so while living horizontally!"

My favorite site for cataloging inspiration is Pinterest:

pinterest.com/michellemn/

My favorite site for sharing my own inspiration as well as finding unique gifts and goods is Etsy.

My shops on Etsy:

www.etsy.com/shop/happysigns

www.etsy.com/shop/littlered75

Some of my favorite shops for baby/kid goods:

www.etsy.com/shop/johnwgolden

www.etsy.com/shop/sarahjanestudios

www.etsy.com/shop/Toxicguineapigs

www.etsy.com/shop/majalin

www.etsy.com/shop/khamm75

www.etsy.com/shop/crochetvalley

www.etsy.com/shop/rkdsign88

www.etsy.com/shop/bopeepbaby

Best wishes to those of you on bed rest! May your days be filled with as much patience as possible. Keep ‘em cooking! 

- Michelle

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"It may not be easy, but it is possible."

| 17 | Food, Comfort & Laughter

photo: riverst via ETSY

Here I have for you some quick tips/resources for our everyday challenges of eating and comfort.  Also, I thought I would leave with you some cute humor... we need laughter when we can get it ;  )

FOOD for BED REST MOMMAS-TO-BE

Create a Refrigerator Food Station | Click Here |

Super Mini Fridge | Click Here |

COMFORT for BED REST MOMMAS-TO-BE

Massaging Bed Rest Pillow 

| Click Here |

Multiway Pillow Wedge 

| Click Here |

LAUGHTER for BED REST MOMMAS-TO-BE

Pregnancy Merit Badge | Click Here | This badge is for creating, growing and protecting life inside your own body. For enduring strangers that rub on you, invasive doctor's visits, horribly personal questions from everyone you come in contact with, and being treated like helpless child, you are ready to wear this badge. If you have swelled, stretched, vomited, peed yourself or watched your body transform into something barely recognizable, you have earned this.

Must See this Funny Sign | Click Here | 

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| 16 | Bed Rest During Pregnancy: Anything But Relaxing

photo: project3designs via ETSY

Hello Bed Rest Mommies!  

Please take the time to read this article that was published this past week via the Huffington Post. Also, please share it with others.  

"Bed Rest During Pregnancy: Anything But Relaxing"

Do you have Facebook? Post the link for others to read. Being a bed rest mommy-to-be for the past 3 months, without a doubt I have noticed the misconceptions of bed rest. "Oh well at least you get to relax.", or "You are so lucky you don't have to go to work and you can be waited on.". While I get frustrated with these remarks, I also have to understand that "others" have not been in my situation. Educate others and pass this along.  

Happy Weekend and another week down, another week closer!

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| 15 | Today's Time Passer, Tomorrow's Treasure

photo: aboundingtreasures via ETSY

I have mentioned, briefly, in one of my first blog entries, how I am creating a "Journey to Baby Josie" book. Even though I'm on bed rest, and this has been a roller coaster ride, I do want to remember my pregnancy through pictures and words. I can not tell you how enjoyable it is to be making this book.  


I have been taking pictures since I found out I was pregnant. Those go into the book. Also, anything from inspirational quotes, my Facebook status update, verses from children's books, how I am feeling when a particular picture was taken, go in to the book. And of course Josie's many ultrasound pictures. I can spend hours working on this, hence the "today's time passer, tomorrow's treasure.".


So how am I making this book? I am using www.blurb.com and I love it. I also made my wedding guest book from this website. You create a free account and software downloads onto your computer. It is like scrap booking, but electronically. Approaching my 8th month this weekend, I have about 50 pages complete in this "Journey to Baby Josie" book. What a book this will be. Oh, while creating an account is free, there is a fee for printing this professional bound treasure... well worth it!


I am so excited to read to our princess when she gets here. I do have some of your typical baby books waiting for her, but I was thinking that I would love to make a few books. Now I am talking simple picture books with a few words, for I am not poet or writer. So, I think I am going to make a "Josie's Family" book. Collect pictures of everyone in our family and make a book.  Something simple like having a photo of a family member and listing their name (Mom, Dad, Oma, Uncle Steve, Aunt Katherine, etc.). Now when reading parenting articles, "they" say that babies love faces. So what better way to create a learning treasure that baby will love then creating your very own photo book of family faces.


Now for this creation, I plan to use www.shutterfly.com. I feel Shutterfly is a better internet source for a more small and simple book. 


See Mommies, now these are literally today's time passers, tomorrow's treasures!

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"It may not be easy, but it is possible."

| 14 | YOU. ARE. STRONG.

| 13 | Never Ever Give Up

photo: theloveshop via ETSY

While most of my bed rest days are not bad and I am rather positive, I sure have had my handful of days where I just want to pinch myself and wake up.  These are the days that all of my usual positive bed rest time passing activities such as blogging, forums, Facebook, making Josie her book, taking pictures, etc. is so far from what I want to be doing.  There are days where I feel like this will never be over.  

Today I came across a quote, "It may seem impossible until it is over.", and my goodness that is my lightbulb moment quote to repeat to myself when I feel this will never be over.  I love quotes, like this one.  Quotes and inspirational words are some of the little things that can truly make a big difference and what can get me through my bad moments.  With that being said, I wanted to leave you with some of the great places to get some of words of wisdom:

DailyOm - Daily inspiration and also horoscopes.  I know, kind of cheesy, but these are not like the ones you find in the back of the newspaper or "Shape" magazine.

Quotable Cards - So many quotable cards, it can even be fun to look at all of them.  Perhaps buy one to hang up in your home!

ETSY - You know I love ETSY!  If you go to ETSY and type in "Inspirational Quotes" a whole bunch of handmade items with inspirational quotes come up.  Not only is it great to be inspired, but it is fun and kind of takes your mind away from the "moment" and lets you enjoy all of the pretty handmade things.

This may not seem that much of a resource or tip, like the ones I have provided previously, but I feel that sometimes it is the small things, like some simple words, that can get us through our bad times.  

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"It may not be easy, but it is possible."

| 12 | Birthing Classes & Bed Rest

photo: maiziejane vie ETSY

As a first time Mommy-To-Be, I had planned on taking a birthing class, like most first time Mommies & Daddies do. Just like everything else, once I found out I was had to be on bed rest, the plan of taking a birthing class, well, went out the window... so I thought. Just like everything else, we Bed Rest Mommies just have to adjust, think outside the box and more forward. 


Below I have for you some resources that enable you to bring a birthing class right into the comfort of your home. These resources are affordable as well. Compared to the $200+ for the at hospital classes.

The Best Birth | This super resource offers the class in three different forms; book, DVD and  online class.  Each option is under $40.  To learn more about The Best Birth, click here.

Laugh & Learn | This option also offers a birthing class in the form of a book, DVD and online class.  The Laugh & Learn is a series that also offers a class in breastfeeding and newborn baby care. You can purchase the series together as a set or individually. For more information, click here.  Also, for the cost of this resource, click here.

Now there are other resources but these are the two that I have heard a lot of great things about.  Both resources have some great feed back and testimonials on their websites, so be sure to check them out.

Lastly, don't hesitate to contact the hospital (or check with your doctor) which you are delivering your baby to see if they have any online birthing courses.  That is becoming more and more common.

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"It may not be easy, but it is possible."

| 11 | Bed Rest Books that Bring Comfort

photo: nestahome via ETSY

I have mentioned previously that I am not one for books to pass my time away, due to my lack of attention.  However, what I failed to mention is that I am all for books when they pertain to something that I can easily relate to.  Never mind when you are going through something that you just want to find some peace of mind, like books related to bed rest, I am all for ;  )

Here I have for you a list of some bed rest books that I think are good resources for us Bed Rest Mommies, and once again, reading is another time passer!  

By the way, it is Friday... another week down!!!

Days in Waiting: A Guide to Surviving Pregnancy Bedrest 
by Mary Ann McCann 
While there are no "quick fixes" for bedrest, there are some realistic and practical ideas that can help women and their families. This book is intended to help all bedresting women, their spouses, children, and families and friends.

The High-Risk Pregnancy Sourcebook
by Denise M. Chism
The High-Risk Pregnancy Sourcebook helps women understand the special circumstances of their pregnancies and the various methods of enhancing the chances of having a healthy, full-term baby. In addition to giving background on normal changes, the book includes complete information on the various disorders of pregnancy, including gestational diabetes, toxemia, and placenta disruption. 

The Bed Rest Survival Guide
by Barbara Edelston Peterson

Pregnancy Bedrest: A Journey of Love
by Wanda Hale 

Bed Rest
by Sarah Bilston
The fictional diary of "Q" who examines her life while she is on bed rest during her pregnancy. You can read more about the book at its dedicated web site here: http://www.bedrestdiary.com/ 

For additional books, including books for you to read to your younger children to understand your bed rest, please check out this wonderful website, Sidelines.

In addition to books, this online resource, Sidelines, is a national support network for high risk pregnancy.  Add this to your resources for sure!

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"It may not be easy, but it is possible."