| 9 | Please Read - Bed Rest & Exercise

photo: Cabin via ETSY

I am in week 10 of bed rest and approaching 30 weeks of pregnancy. I have lost muscle, gotten quite weak and have gained, well, pregnancy weight. Getting out of bed or off the couch, I find myself doing a form of Lamaze just to get up.  The cherry on top was this past weekend... I was laying in bed trying to get to sleep and as a stretched/straightened out my leg, I got a muscle cramp in my calf, often referred to as a charlie horse, and it was bad. Later in that evening, it happened to my other leg.  

I have been meaning to get serious in my bed rest exercise for the past month or so.  But to be honest, I am not nearly as diligent as I should be. I few leg lifts here and there and that is it. When you read about the repercussions of muscle deterioration due to bed rest, it is not uplifting that is for sure.  And that is not what WE need.  And knowing that simple exercises are in our control, is something we should really take advantage of.  Because you all know best, there is so much out of our control these days... right?!

Are you ready to boost your MUSCLES & MOOD?  And this is a time passer, and something to add to your daily routine...   ;   )

Well here are some of the resources I came across:

1. Article | How Exercise and Bed Rest in Pregnancy Can Co-Exist
2. Article | The Bed Rest Workout: Moves you can do on your couch or bed to help stay in shape, both physically and emotionally.
3. DVD | Bed Rest Fitness DVD
4. Video Clip | From the creator of "Bed Rest Fitness", Ms. Turner-Lee, also founder of Mama's on Bed Rest & Beyond, click here for her short clip, "Linguini Legs".

While I like to keep my posts short, sweet and to the point, I want to leave off with the BENEFITS to women who regularly perform the exercises while on bed rest and the health benefits:

• Maintenance of muscle tone and physical strength
• Improved circulation
• Reduction in the risk of leg clots leading to strokes, heart attacks and pulmonary embolisms
• Increased endurance during labor
• More effective pushes during delivery
• Decreased recovery time postpartum
• The emotional assurance that she is doing something great for herself and her baby

Don't forget to check out my other blog entries for 
Bed Rest Mommy-To-Be Resources & Tips!


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