How Pregnancy Bed Rest Prepared me for CV-19 Self Isolation

Stay home. Avoid crowds. Limit daily activities. While this may be new for many people, those of us moms who have spent time on pregnancy bed rest have already learned the ropes.

My three months of home based bed rest and two months living in a hospital during two pregnancies, have given me the skills, and mindset, I need to self-isolate during this Coronavirus pandemic.

In case you haven’t had the pleasure of being on bed rest, here are some tips and tools that helped me stay sane which will help you get through this time of staying home.

1. Set up a routine

In your normal, non-self isolated life, you have a pretty clear routine. This includes a set time for waking up, activities to do throughout the day, and a set bedtime. Routines help bring comfort and familiarity in times of uncertainty - for kids and adults alike. While you don’t need to have a rigid routine, it is good to have some consistent flow to your day. In my book Bed Rest Mom, I have examples of my typical day. I would encourage you to think about what you want to accomplish in a day, what you hope to learn and create a routine that you can follow.

2. Stay connected

Just because we’re self isolating doesn’t mean we can’t stay connected to friends and family. Start by thinking of who you know that is most isolated. For me, I make sure I call my parents daily, as they are in the high-risk category and limiting their outside time to a walk in the park, away from others. Since they have yet to figure out FaceTime (there is no amount of remote guidance that will help), I have increased the amount of photos I email them.

I also make sure to schedule time for a phone call or FaceTime with girlfriend. It is great to connect with someone who is also trying to juggle work, entertaining kids and supporting parents from a far. I pour a coffee, curl up in my favourite chair, and enjoy a few minutes of adult conversation.

I have also helped my kids set up FaceTime with their closest friends. This allows them to see a familiar face and have virtual playdates. I’m amazed at how creative they can be in combining games and technology.

3. Attitude is everything

When you are self-isolating, it is easy to get depressed or focus on the negative thoughts. Trust me, this was a real challenge when I was on bed rest. When I was in the hospital, I found it important to surround myself with people who had a positive vs. a doom and gloom outlook. This was key in ensuring the conversations involved laughter or plans for a positive future (which can be a challenge when wearing a hospital gown).

The more time I spent with positive people, the better I felt about my current situation. What was great was we were all in the same boat - pregnant and away from our families. As you look for people to connect with, thinking of who is going through a similar experience as you (self employed, home with young kids, living away from family or whatever your reality). It helps you feel less alone and is a great way to look for new solutions to your challenges.

4. Embrace technology

As I mentioned above, I am a big fan of FaceTime to keep connected. When I was living in the hospital, I used FaceTime to read a bedtime story to my daughter every night. For those of you who are grandparents or living away from your children, embrace technology to be a part of a child’s routine.

My book club has decided to continue our monthly meetings using Zoom (an online video conferencing tool). We will pour our wine (because that’s the basis of many bookclubs) and meet virtually. My kids have been warned that this is a do not disturb mom time.

Being self-employed and working from home, Zoom and GoToMeeting are two softwares I’ve used in my work life to connect with clients. However, now I’m using these for social purposes too.

5. This too shall pass

Throughout my pregnancy bed rests, I continually repeated the phrase - this too shall pass. I knew that even though the days seemed long and with no end in sight, it would all soon be a distant memory. And guess what - I was right!

When my children were born, life took on a new purpose, with a new routine. I wasn’t the same person I was going into the bed rest. I had changed for the better. My time in isolation, focused on keeping my baby and me safe, gave me new insight onto what was important.

As we continue to do our part in limiting the spread of the Coronavirus, please remember - this too shall pass. We are all in this together, and will get through it as a community.