PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SIDE-EFFECTS OF ANTEPARTUM HOSPITAL BED REST

The purpose of this study was to describe the physical and psychosocia l effects of antepartum hospital bed rest on pregnant women and to det ermine whether the symptoms exhibited differed from those exhibited by pregnant women not on bed rest. Women on complete bet rest (n = 10) h ad greater gastrocnemius muscle dysfunction, weight loss, and dysphori a than women on partial bed rest (n = 7) or no bed rest (n = 18). Sepa ration from family was the greatest hospital stressor. Postpartum reco very form the side effects of bed rest was prolonged and included symp toms of muscular and cardiovascular deconditioning. The severity of si de effects appeared to be directly related to the degree of severity r estriction.