During this emotionally difficult time in your pregnancy, your doctor or midwife will be your main source of support and information. This relationship is key to you and your baby's health. This is why the trust you have spent the earlier part of your pregnancy developing is so important.

If you were physically active before pregnancy, the thought of being inactive may truly scare you. Even when faced with potential negative complications with your pregnancy or to your health, you may still be concerned about this lack of exercise. By talking to your practitioner, you can learn why restrictions are necessary and what you can do about them. Sometimes the restrictions are temporary, but other times they are not. Dealing with this will be something you will need a lot of support in resolving. Your practitioner will help you answer these questions.

Your practitioner may have certain tricks in his or her bag to help alleviate your fears. It is to his or her advantage that you are emotionally adjusted to the new reality of your pregnancy. He also has a vested interest in keeping you, and subsequently, your baby, healthy.

Sometimes this involves minor stretching exercises that you can do, perhaps even isometrics and other forms of exercise. The nurses and other educators can also help you find resources. Another place to look for help would be the physical therapy department.

Physical Therapy

The physical therapy department may be what you think of when you see people who have been in debilitating car wrecks or accidents of some form. However, these specially trained therapists are specialists in the human body and its functions. Your doctor or midwife can help you find a therapist to assist you with body work either in the hospital or at home on bed rest.

The physical therapy would usually consist of simple exercises done with the therapist, even when large movements or being out of bed is out of the question. The benefits of using physical therapy include counteracting many of the negative outcomes of bed rest — including muscular atrophy and calcium depletion in your bones — and simply feeling better. The more you maintain during your period of bed rest, the better you will be in the short term and postpartum.

If you think physical therapy can help you and no one has mentioned it to you, do not hesitate to ask for a referral from your practitioner. Being proactive in your health care can only make you and your baby healthier. If your practitioner doesn't know of someone or can't find someone who specializes in pregnancy, ask a local high-risk center, the local physical therapy association, or organizations such as Sidelines for a referral in your area.