| 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!

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."

| 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."

| 7 | Never Enough Support

photo: Honeyboo via ETSY

In addition to the support resources that I often talk about, here are a few more. While I know there is the saying "less is more", personally I feel with the more support we have, it is "more is more" ;  )  I feel that with all of our situations so different, we do have commonalities and that is that we want our babies here as full term and as healthy as possible. The more support we are able to give one another, whether it is tips, resources, perspective, etc. the stronger we feel, emotionally, which in turn, the stronger we are physically.

1. Mamas on Bed Rest & Beyond: Information, Coaching Support and resources.  Everything a high risk pregnant mama needs to have a transformative pregnancy experience.  Please visit their Facebook page by clicking here.  Also, their website at http://www.mamasonbedrest.com. This resource has some amazing hands on stretching and exercising videos for us bed rest mommies to do right in bed... go figure ;  )
2. Better Bed Rest, Online Support for High Risk Pregnancies: Better BedRest, Inc is a non profit that supports moms on bedrest due to High Risk Pregnancies. They offer support, resources and referrals through weekly calls to the moms across the US. Better BedRest's mission is to provide outreach to help others understand this "invisible crisis". BBR offers a one time Emergency Grant up to $500 to help a mom pay a bill while on bedrest. A bedrest mom must prove she is losing an income. They fundraise for their emergency grant fun and anyone can donate on their website! They are always looking for grant opportunities so let them know if you have any good ideas! They need phone volunteers, women who have been on bedrest or have a connection to bedrest. Visit their website for the application. Further questions? Email info@betterbedrest.org.  Also, visit their Facebook page by clicking here.

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."

| 6 | Frugal Comfort & Clothes

photo: truthgoddess via ETSY

Just like every other Mommy-To-Be, we on bed rest want to be comfortable and would love to have some cute maternity clothes, too. Okay, so we don't go out in public, except for doctors visits, BUT to be wearing something that makes you feel good, that can only add to the positive outlook you need to make each day that much easier.  Just a small piece of the positive puzzle, but a piece nonetheless.

Other things to take into account is that being on bed rest, we can not go out shopping.  Also, most likely we are on a striiiccctttt budget.  With all of that taken into account, here are a few of the places via internet that I go for frugally comfortable clothes for this ever changing body.

1. Old Navy Maternity
2. Target Maternity
3. Forever 21 Maternity
4. Other:  Granted I am spending my last trimester in the summer, but my biggest buys are getting summer dresses that are not "maternity" by design, but rather "regular" summer dresses.  The key to buying "regular" summer dresses is that to get a size, or two, bigger, that the material is flowy and that the style is empire waist/seam of the dress is right above that belly. Also, tie waist dresses where you can bring the tie up to above your belly is great as well. Keep in mind the length of that dress if you are not buying it "maternity" for that length with shorten ALOT due to the big belly and perhaps other growing areas of that beautiful pregnant body ;  )

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."

| 3 | Think positive. Be proactive. Stay pregnant.

Online forums, chat rooms, featured reads and much more!  Keep ’Em Cookin’ is an educational organization that gives pregnant women the greatest opportunity to prevent preterm birth by providing them with current information on high-risk pregnancy and by offering them online community support.  

Not only is this such an amazing educational resource, but because of all of it's great information and opportunities to speak with others in your same situation, it allows time to pass by!  Oh we Mommies on bed rest love when days go by fast!

You must check out www.keepemcookin.com.  Trust me, it will become part of your daily bed rest routine ;   )

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

| 2 | Bed Rest Beauty

I know we all have bigger issues then what our hair looks like or if our eye brows are waxed. However, being a bed rest mommy myself, there are days that you would not mind feeling a little better about yourself. I have not had a hair trim or brow wax since February and goodness I would love one. 


Did you know that there are salons that do house calls? Even if you are on strict bed rest, you can get a brow wax or facial laying down.  Come on, check with your salon, or call someone in your town.  I am thinking about doing this and wanted to share with you all my little bed rest mommy moment.


Photo: KeepCalmArsenal via Etsy

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

| 1 | A Support Resource via Facebook

From bed rest sanity savers to your regular mommy-to-be needs, I am here to bring some great resources to you!  

First, I would like to introduce you to a great bed rest support resource via Facebook:

BED REST MOMMIES & BABIES For current and future Bed Rest Mommies (Daddy's too)! Share your ups and downs, and all the little "fun stuff" that comes along with being on bed rest! Remember every bed rest day is one day closer to holding your healthy baby!

Don't forget to stop by my blog again for I am always on the hunt for some great resources, from one bed rest Mommy to another!

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