NO REST FOR THE PREGNANT
Every year nearly a million pregnant American women are put on bed
rest for at least a week for such conditions as preterm labor,
pregnancy-related hypertension, preeclampsia and multiple pregnancy.
Yet there's little scientific evidence to support this prescription.
Out of four of the studies done on women carrying more than one
fetus, two found no benefits from bed rest or hospitalization, and
the other two showed that these interventions actually increase the
chance of preterm birth. What's more, researchers say, women on bed
rest often experience muscle loss, indigestion, dizziness,
depression, sleep changes and fatigue. Some experts even say that
activity may provide the best insurance against prenatal problems: A
recent study found the chance of preterm birth was lower
for women who exercise during pregnancy than for those who did not
work out.
Source: "Forget the Rest" [ http://www.washingtonpost.com ], The
Washington Post, December 10, 2002