Study Shows Bed Rest During Pregnancy May Not Decrease Risk of Premature Birth
by Jennifer Chait, 05/21/13 filed under: green family, green maternity, green pregnancy, prenatal
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A new study published in a recent issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology notes that “therapeutic” bed rest during pregnancy may be over-recommended, and may actually cause harm to both mother-to-be and her baby. According to Obstetrics & Gynecology, as many as 95% of all obstetricians report that they’ve recommended bed rest or restricted activity for their patients, and about 20% of all pregnant women (800,000 a year) are prescribed bed rest. This new study reveals that putting pregnant women on bed rest should no longer be what the doctor orders. Researchers reported that almost 40% of the 646 pregnant women included in the study were ordered to restrict sexual, work and non-work activity. A whopping 37% of the women who followed these instructions had their baby prematurely, compared to 17% of the women who maintained their regular pattern of activity.
