How to Support a Mom on Bed Rest

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Many of you started your NICU journey as a mom on bed rest. Maybe it was in the comfort of your own home; maybe it was in the hospital. Maybe it was for a few days; maybe it was (gulp!) a few months. No matter what the case, bed rest can be a scary time because it means something is not going as planned with your pregnancy.

If you’ve experienced bed rest, you may have had people ask what they can do for you. If you’ve had a friend on bed rest, you’ve probably wondered how to help. Below is a list of ideas you can share with people who ask how they can support you on bed rest. You can also use it as a source of ideas for friends who might be going through the same thing.

For anyone on bed rest:

• Adult coloring books and pens/colored pencils
• iTunes or Netflix gift cards
• Books
• Snacks (if not on a restricted diet)
• Magazines
• Nail polish (and maybe even application!)
• Foot mask/Foot file
• Lip balm
• Face mask
• Bubble bath/Epsom salts
• Amazon gift card (physical or e-card)
• Amazon Prime membership
• Amazon Fire Stick or Roku Express
• DVDs/CDs
• Socks
• Headbands
• Journal
• Cute water bottle
• Yarn and knitting needles or crochet hooks (or a whole kit!)
• Soft throw blanket
• Bath pillow
• Soft sheet set or even pillows/pillowcases
• Board games
• Puzzles
• Deck of regular cards or a specific card game
• Crossword puzzles/Sudoku/Word find puzzles
• Boy or girl scrapbooking stuff (pocket page scrapbooking for baby boy or girl would work well without needing a ton of tools!)
• Other craft items – maybe for a seasonal decoration like a wreath

Items more specific to hospital bed rest:

• Air fresheners/Glade Plug-Ins or essential oil diffuser
• Extension cord/Wall or bar power strip
• Small humidifier (hospitals can be very dry places!)
• Restaurant gift card for a restaurant that delivers to the hospital (Check with the hospital information desk or unit directly to find out options of places that deliver)

There are also non-material things that might help you when you’re on bed rest or ways you can help a friend on bed rest.

Consider these other ways to help:

• Make meals for family at home
• Make freezer meals
• Clean or pick up the house
• Help prep the baby’s nursery or assemble furniture
• Run errands, go grocery shopping
• Drive other kids to school, activities, etc.
• Keep the bed rest mama company
• Holiday prep if bed rest occurs over a holiday

If you were on bed rest, what were things that you really appreciated?