Most women are able to stay active throughout pregnancy, but each year, nearly 20% of pregnant women are prescribed bed rest for at least some part of their pregnancy. Bed rest during pregnancy can range from spending most of the day lying or sitting on your couch to staying in a hospital bed closely monitored by hospital staff. Although the degree of bed rest and reasons for bed rest in pregnancy differ, the goals are essentially the same: to help you have a successful pregnancy and healthy baby.

Reasons for bed rest
There are several reasons why your doctor might want you to be on bed rest. For example, your doctor may recommend bed rest if you experience early contractions, which could be signs of preterm labor, or if you have had previous pregnancies that ended in miscarriage, still birth, or premature birth. If you are expecting multiples -- two or more babies -- your pregnancy may be considered high risk and your doctor will monitor you closely. If you develop any problems, your doctor might place you on bed rest.
Following are some other reasons your doctor may advise bed rest:
Preeclampsia. A potentially dangerous condition characterized by high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and swelling, particularly in the legs and face. Preeclampsia occurs in up to 8% of pregnancies, usually during the second half of pregnancy.
Vaginal bleeding. A problem with several possible causes, including placenta previa, a complication in which the placenta grows in the lowest part of the uterus and covers all or part of the opening to the cervix; or placental abruption, a complication in which the placenta separates from the uterus before the baby is ready to be born.
Incompetent cervix. A weak cervix that may open prematurely.
Cervical effacement. Softening or thinning of the cervix, which is one of the first signs of labor.
Poor fetal development.
A test or procedure that indicates a medical complication.
What to expect when you're on bed rest
Just as pregnancy is different for each woman, so is the experience of bed rest. Some women know that because of problems with past pregnancies they will need to go on bed rest at some point; for others, a prescription for bed rest comes as a surprise. Some women are prescribed bed rest early in their pregnancies; others must spend their entire pregnancies resting in bed.
Sometimes, doctors recommend modified bed rest. This means you should spend most of your time lying or sitting up on the couch or bed, but you should not exercise, lift, or have intercourse. At other times, doctors may restrict almost all activity, telling a patient to sit up only for meals or stand for quick showers. Sometimes doctors prescribe bed rest with close monitoring in the hospital.
It's important to know how much -- and what -- you should or should not do during bed rest. Following are some questions you should ask your doctor:
Can I get up to use the bathroom?
How long is bed rest required?
Must I stay in bed all the time or can I move around the house if necessary?
Is it OK to work from home?
Is it OK to do light chores?
Can I take baths or showers? Should I lie on one side or stay in a certain position?
Bed rest complications
Although your doctor may prescribe bed rest for pregnancy complications, restricting activity may itself lead to problems. Following are some of the more common ones:
Tiredness, constipation, muscle and joint pain, back pain, dizziness and muscle weakness and a lack of energy.
Less commonly, blood clots can form in the deep veins of the legs, so it's important to exercise your leg muscles to keep blood moving. Your doctor can recommend some safe exercises to practice in bed.
There are also things you can do to manage other complications of bed rest. For example, eating a well-balanced diet can help prevent constipation. If constipation becomes a problem, your doctor may recommend a laxative or stool softener. A physical therapist or massage therapist may be able to help you deal with musculoskeletal pain or weakness. Be sure to check with your health care provider before taking any medication or undergoing any therapy.
How to cope with bed rest during pregnancy
The prospect of bed rest may sound like a welcome reprieve from your busy life at first, but if it lasts long, you can feel isolated, frustrated, and bored. Fortunately, there are things you can do to make your days, weeks, or months of bed rest more pleasant and productive.
Stay on schedule. Days and nights can easily run together if you spend both in bed. Make it a point to maintain some type of schedule. Get dressed in the morning. Keep a to-do list and plan “activities” for the day, such as calling a few friends, scheduling a doctor's appointment, or ordering baby items online.
Read up. Catch up on reading -- something you won't likely have time for once the baby comes. Good picks include parenting books, magazines, and web sites; baby name books; newspapers; magazines; novels; or even children's books that you may want to read to your little one later.
Catch some flicks. Enjoy movies on TV, online, or from services that deliver DVDs directly to your home.
Let people help. Although you may find it hard to ask for help, you must. If a friend or family member asks how they may help, offer specifics, such as picking up items at the grocery store or taking your turn on the car pool until you're up and out again.
Keep a journal. Keep a journal to vent (for your eyes only) or to document your pregnancy (possibly a gift to share with your child one day). Better yet, keep one of each type.
Catch up on correspondence. Answer letters, pay bills, write thank-you notes for baby shower gifts, or make a list of people (with names and email addresses) to contact when the baby is born.
Get online support. Use the Internet to find support from other mothers on bed rest. Check out message boards and chat rooms for empathy and advice.
(Source: WebMD)