Overview: Bed Rest in Pregnancy

Bed rest during pregnancy means you limit your physical activity and may need to lie down most of the day.

Bed rest used to be recommended during pregnancy for certain problems, such as preeclampsia, preterm labor, and multiple pregnancy (twins or more). But it is not often recommended anymore. This is because bed rest has not been shown to help problems like preeclampsia or prevent preterm birth. And it can cause serious problems, like blood clots.

In some cases, your doctor or midwife may recommend bed rest. Every case is different, so make sure you understand what activities you should avoid and which ones are okay. Ask your doctor or midwife:

• How much you can walk around.
• If there is a limit to how much you can lift.
• If you need to lie down or if you can just sit.
• If you can have sex.
• If you can continue to work or if you need to limit work activities. Your doctor or midwife can write a note to your employer to request any changes if you need them.