Best Gifts for Pregnant Women on Bed Rest

At first glance, bed rest might sound like it wouldn’t be all that bad; people waiting on you hand and foot while you relax in front the of the television or flip through the pages of a book. The reality is that bed rest can resemble a nightmare. Not only is a woman on bed rest virtually strapped to her bed for all hours of the day, she’s concerned about the health of the growing baby in her belly. To top it off, she has to rely on those around her to get all the things done that she normally accomplishes. Bed rest for a pregnant woman can be depressing, isolating and frustrating. If you know someone who is on bed rest, you will make their day if you show up to their house with a gift.

Appropriate gifts for a woman on bed rest include items that will keep her occupied, items that will keep her cheered up and items that will help eliminate her stress about the things she can’t get done. When it comes to keeping her occupied, think about her limitations. It’s likely that she literally has to lie reclined all day long, or perhaps can walk around for 5 minutes at a time.

Given those conditions, she needs books and magazines to read throughout the day. Do not purchase a gift card to a bookstore, as she will be unable to drive and pick out her own books. If you’re unsure about what books to buy, just pick up a couple of bestsellers. If she likes doing crossword puzzles, you can purchase a book of those, as well as some Soduku puzzles. Movies are also a great way to keep her entertained. If she has a long way to go on bed rest, you might just want to invest in a gift subscription to Netflix. This service is great because she can order (and even watch) movies online. The ordered movies will arrive in her mailbox in just a day or two. Two other items she might enjoy are an old fashioned deck of cards and a handheld electronic game.

A few gifts that will keep her cheered up are some things that will keep her mind on the prize at the end of bed rest: her baby. Purchase a scrapbook and some scrap booking materials so that she can create a book for the many pictures she will take in the coming months. Or, purchase a baby book for her so that she can begin filling out some of the information prior to the baby’s arrival. Maybe she’d like to pass the time by knitting or crocheting a quilt for her little one? Purchase an instructional DVD and the items she would need to complete a handmade keepsake. 
Gifts that will help reduce her stress include some services you can provide for her. You could make (and freeze) and few dinners for her and her family to enjoy. (It would be a nice touch to throw in a TV tray so that she can remain in bed while eating.) You can offer to run errands for her, such as grocery shopping, picking up prescriptions, etc. You can also pay to have her house cleaned, or team up with a few friends and clean it together. Offering these "gifts" will help make her feel less overwhelmed about all the things she’s unable to do right now.

Once you’ve chosen a gift for the woman on bed rest, pay her a visit so you can also spend time with her. In fact, the gift of your time is probably something she’d enjoy more than the above gifts! Make it a point to visit her often during her bed rest, but don’t feel obligated to bring a gift with each visit. Your friendship will be the best gift at this troubling time in her life.