| 27 | A Few Bed Rest Mommy Blogs

photo: jenniferramos via ETSY

To feel like you are not the only one, following bed rest mommy blogs, in addition to the super resources that I have provided you throughout my blog, there really are some great resources out there for us. And do not forget to click on the links to the right hand side of this page, under "Lovely Links" for support groups, resources and other time passers.  


Below are two bed rest mommy blogs, which are current, and that I read often. And it's nice to be able to comment on their blog entries to provide them with some positive encouragement. We all know that we need that!


http://whatwhywhereandwhen.blogspot.com/

http://awaitingmybabyboy.blogspot.com/


Happy Fourth of July Weekend!  And it is July... a new month, a month down, a month closer!  You got this Mama's!

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Bed Rest Mommy-To-Be Resources & Tips!

"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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Bed Rest Mommy-To-Be Resources & Tips!

"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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Bed Rest Mommy-To-Be Resources & Tips!

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

| 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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Bed Rest Mommy-To-Be Resources & Tips!

"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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Bed Rest Mommy-To-Be Resources & Tips!

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

| 10 | Thank Goodness for the Internet

photo: no9images via ETSY

I am not much of a TV watcher. And reading books, well, my attention span is lacking lets say. So I guess you can say my MacBook Pro and the internet are my BFF's while on bed rest. From blogs to Facebook, bed rest chats, bed rest forums, ETSY, creating a photo book and so on, oh thank goodness for the internet!






| PINTEREST |  I wanted to introduce you to something that I think is quite exciting and fun. My real BFF (not my computer or internet) showed me this great online tool called Pinterest via www.pinterest.com.  


What is Pinterest? Think of Pinterest as a virtual pinboard — a place where you can create collections of things you love and "follow" collections created by people with great taste.  We Bed Rest Mommies can use Pinterest to collect and share all sorts of things; nursery inspiration, favorite baby clothes, baby gear... you name it, you can pin it.  


If you are like me, you are always online, bookmarking things. Well Pinterest is like your own virtual book/pin board for you to organize all of the great things you love. So I say create an account today and get started. It's great and it is a wonderful TIME PASSER!  We looooovveee time passers ;  )


| TOP 50 MOM BLOGS |  Another super time passer is reading blogs.  I love Mom blogs!  I get so many great ideas from them, which I am able to save/pin these ideas on nothing but... Pinterest.  Checkout the top 50 Mom Blogs of 2010 via www.babble.com.


| ETSY |  I LOVE ETSY!  Just about everything for Baby Josie's Room is handmade from Etsy.com.  What is Etsy?  Well you will have to check it out for yourself, cause I would write all day about it.  It is the perfect place to buy custom handmade items.  For me I have bought everything from my wedding invitations, wedding favors, a baby quilt, vintage Disney records to frame for Josie's room, custom pillows, vintage children's chair and so on.  Again, you can use Pinterest to save items that you would like to return to and perhaps purchase.  Another great time passer without a doubt!

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Bed Rest Mommy-To-Be Resources & Tips!

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

| 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."

| 8 | Productive & Passing Time Away? Sounds Great!

photo: toxicguineapigs via ETSY

Often I feel like what else can I do to pass time away? Additionally, being a Bed Rest Mommy, I can be a little harsh on myself and I just want to be productive.  I then wait for the frustrations to settle, reality to kick in, breathe then I can see a little more clearly.  You know this roller coaster that I am talking about, huh?  


Well, from one Bed Rest Mommy, to another, here are some of the productive time passers that I have been doing recently:




1.) GREETING CARDS: Father's Day is fast approaching (Sunday, June 19th). With that, I have been visiting www.tinyprints.com and making some really fun and cute Father's Day cards. One for the VERY special Daddy-To-Be, for my Dad, Stepdad, Father-In-Law and Grandfather-In-Law.  You can customize these cards with your very own photos and words.  There are so many amazing designs to choose from. Also, Tiny Prints will label and stamp the card and send it to the recipient directly. So I pay $3.99 per card and then Tiny Prints charges you the .44 cents for postage and that is it.  LOVE THIS, you must try this out.  Again, it's a productive time passer!


2.) HOSPITAL BAG: Depending on my day, I get very excited about packing for the hospital. I do have this thing where I will not start to do so until I hit 32 weeks... I "feel" like if I do it sooner, I will jinx myself.  You know how we Bed Rest Momma's think.  In the meantime, I have found a list and I printed it out.  If there are things on this list I do not have, I either get it via internet or add it to my list for the hubby to pick up.  Click here for the baby arrival list which I am choosing to use.  Also, the Mommy who put this together has such a cute nursery design blog, you must check it out, "Lay Baby Lay".  See, packing and a fun blog... more time passers!

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."

| 5 | MY TOP 3 DAILY Sanity Savers

photo: mamalusha via ETSY

Online Support Groups/Networks:  It is a luxury, in my eyes, to be able to have the opportunity to communicate with others that know what you are going through. YOU are not alone!  While family and friends are great, they do not understand. Doctors... well, lets just say I do not turn to mine for support.  

• Facebook - Bed Rest Mommies & Babies
• BabyCenter Groups
• KeepEmCookin Forums

Daily Routine:  Creating a routine truly makes your day go by with some stability and normalcy. To help you set up a routine, here is a template for a daily routine. Print this out and get started! For me, and I have no children yet, I include in my daily routine each of my meals, snacks, vitamins, medicine, stretches, shower, phone calls, emails, reading, visitors, etc.  

Bond with Baby:  When I was first put on bed rest, I wanted nothing to do with anything baby.  No baby shows, no baby magazines, nothing. I was so scared that I would not see my baby when I was put on bed rest. Then, I decided I had two choices, to be positive, or be negative. So positive I really try to be. Here are some of the things I do to bond with my Baby Josie:

• Make a playlist via iTunes and play her music
• Work on a "Journey to Josie" book via www.blurb.com
• Read her a book ("Guess How Much I Love You")
• Plan her nursery
• Talk to her ;  )

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

| 4 | Not Your Typical Baby Shower

photo: paintallnightstudios via ETSY

What is typical, normal or regular being on bed rest? Well, not that much. But that does not mean we have to do without.  It just means we have to think outside the box and be creative.


Being a first time Mommy, a baby shower seemed crucial because we have nothing to welcome our princess.  My best friend had already sent out an electronic invitation for my baby shower, just one week before I was put on bed rest.  What do we do now?  Well, I had already set up a baby website where I can post pictures, showcase my registries and so on.  My best friend had to follow up with an updated electronic invitation briefly explaining my situation.  We decided to offer guests to take part in a virtual baby shower; visiting my baby website, this way, first time Mommy here could get the necessities for baby.


Additionally, with Baby Josie due in August, we are going to have a "Welcome to the World, Josie" get-together in October, Columbus Day Weekend.  What a great way to introduce out little bundle of miracle joy to all our friends and family!


The top 3 websites for electronic invitations that I have used:

1. EVITE (free)
2. PINGG (free)
3. Paperless Post

I created my Baby Website via www.thebump.com.

To see examples of a baby website, click here.

P.S.  Creating an online registry is fun and can pass the time away, Mommies... ;  )

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