"Each
year thousands of women are put on bedrest as a result of complications
in their pregnancies. It is estimated that one out of every four pregnancies
is considered high-risk. That is equivalent to 800,000 - 1,000,000 women
each year that face a high-risk pregnancy. Bedrest is the most common
treatment for the varying problems associated with high-risk pregnancies."
So opens Days
in Waiting: A Guide to Surviving Pregnancy Bedrest by Mary
Ann McCann. If you've ever been on bedrest while pregnant, you already
know how stressful it can be. There are so many questions and concerns.
What am I allowed to do? Can I take a shower every day? Should I lie
on my left side or right? What can I do to keep from being bored?
Days in Waiting: A Guide to Surviving Pregnancy Bedrest
by Mary Ann McCann is a wonderful resource that is full of help for
the pregnant mother who finds herself on bedrest.
The book is set up as part reference book and part workbook. Throughout
the book there are places to jot down your own ideas, questions and
notes. This is a very practical book to have handy for moms-to-be
on any form of bedrest, from modified to strict to hospital bedrest.
Ms. McCann says this about her book, "It is my hope that what I have
written will give women on bedrest inspiration to cope with the daily
challenges of a difficult pregnancy and commend them for their spirit
and strength."
Chapter 1 opens with the author's personal story about her experiences
with being on bedrest for two difficult pregnancies. Chapter 2 helps
explain the different types of bedrest while offering suggestions
for how to accept being on bedrest and the limitations that come with
it.
Chapters 3 through 7 are the meat of the book. Here, expectant mothers
will find information on all sorts of topics, including dealing with
meals, organizing your time, dealing with your doctor and helping
your children and family understand what you're going through. You
will find lists to help you pack for the hospital if you have to be
on hospital bedrest and a list of questions to ask the hospital personnel.
Chapter 8 is specifically for husbands and includes tips for taking
care of themselves and dealing with changing expectations. Chapter
9 covers life after bedrest and the arrival of the baby, and Chapter
10 discusses the issues surrounding the decision to get pregnant again.
The book ends with Chapter 11, a comprehensive list of resources for
baby items, support organizations and helpful web sites.
I was on bedrest for approximately 18 weeks and had to figure out
how to cope with it the hard way - by just doing it. I wish I had
had a book like Days in Waiting: A Guide to Surviving Pregnancy Bedrest
when I was trying to deal with bedrest. For example, Chapter 2 has
a series of questions to ask your doctor regarding what you are and
are not allowed to do, along with space to make notes about what s/he
tells you. It would have been nice for me to have all of those questions
in one place, already written down for me. Ms. McCann's book does
a great job of offering ways to cope, to find the faith to get you
through each day, to regain control in as many areas of your life
as possible. I had to learn those things on my own, and a book like
Days in Waiting: A Guide to Surviving Pregnancy Bedrest
would have been extremely useful to me.
Book review by Jennifer Thompson
To Purchase:
• Days in Waiting: A Guide to Surviving Pregnancy Bedrest at Amazon.com
• Days in Waiting: A Guide to Surviving Pregnancy Bedrest at Amazon UK
• Days in Waiting: A Guide to Surviving Pregnancy Bedrest at Amazon Canada
