Bed rest during pregnancy: Get the facts

When you're pregnant, being told to stay in bed for a few days or a few weeks might seem like just the welcome break you need. In reality, though, staying in bed for a long time or moving very little during pregnancy may do more harm than good. Here's what you need to know.

Can bed rest delay labor and delivery?

Bed rest used to be tried on a regular basis to delay labor that had started early, called preterm labor, or to prevent a baby from being born too soon, called premature birth. But bed rest during pregnancy is no longer routinely recommended. That's because there's no evidence that staying in bed during pregnancy, either at home or in the hospital, delays or stops preterm labor or prevents premature birth.

Can some activity changes help?

Even though bed rest typically isn't the answer, limiting some activities may be useful for pregnant people who have had preterm labor or for those who are at high risk of a premature birth.

For example, some people may be told not to lift anything heavier than 20 pounds (about 9 kilograms). They also may need to stop doing some types of exercise, such as strength training and anything that includes heavy lifting. The healthcare team might suggest changing a work schedule if, for example, it involves working more than 40 hours a week, working night shifts, standing for a long time, or doing a lot of physical work.

Some pregnant people may be told not to have sex. They include those who have had preterm labor that's stopped or those who have a condition in which the placenta covers or is close to the cervix, called placenta previa. This is especially true if contractions or bleeding happens more often or gets more intense after sex.

What are the concerns linked to bed rest?

Bed rest during pregnancy may lead to health issues, including:

• A blood clot in a deep vein, such as a vein in the leg. The medical term for this is venous thromboembolism.
• A loss of bone mass, called bone demineralization.
• A loss of conditioning in the heart, lungs, and muscles.

Bed rest also can be stressful. Managing child care, dealing with job concerns, or losing income due to time on bed rest can raise a pregnant person's stress levels. And that might make it harder to stay healthy.

If your healthcare team suggests bed rest during your pregnancy, talk with them about the reasons for that recommendation. Ask if limiting or stopping certain activities could be a better choice instead. Make sure you understand the risks before making a decision about bed rest.