Does taking it easy really matter?

[mom2fussy]

I'm 23 weeks & for the last couple of days I've had VERY light brownish discharge sometimes when I wipe after using the bathroom. I've only seen it a couple times each day. I haven't BD'ed or done anything else in weeks that would be a cause for it. But since there's so little of it, it's brown, I haven't had any cramps, and the baby is still kicking plenty like usual, I'm not too concerned.

I called my M/W just to get her opinion, and while she wasn't worried, she did suggest I take it easy today & maybe tomorrow - like sitting & relaxing or laying down a good bit. Since talking to her, I've looked online & saw that's been recommended by other people's doctors too.

My question is... does "taking it easy" really make any difference? Unless there's a diagnosed problem that requires bed rest, I don't see why sitting around would do much one way or the other? But I didn't spot w/DS, so I'm not familiar with this...

[MaerynPearl]

well, if you take it easy and still get spotting then they can rule out stress, incompetent cervix and a few other causes...

i was told to take it easy when I had my spotting but I was 6 hours away until a week after the spotting began and we did not want to risk it being incompetent cervix, placenta previa (which I had already been dxed with) or anything else like that that my activity could have worsened.

[mom2fussy]

hmmm, hadn't thought of that (ruling things out). That makes sense, I guess.

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by littleteapot

you're fine. Do whatever you were doing before, and maybe even pick up an extra, light fitness activity (walking, aquafit, pilates, etc). It's good for you, and for baby.

This is all fine and dandy in a normal pregnancy but when bleeding is involved (especially past the first trimester) its not very beneficial to the mother or baby for her to INCREASE activity until they know the cause of the bleeding. Especially because in many cases of bleeding, bedrest is required for the health of the mother and child both.

[littleteapot]

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl

This is all fine and dandy in a normal pregnancy but when bleeding is involved (especially past the first trimester) its not very beneficial to the mother or baby for her to INCREASE activity until they know the cause of the bleeding. Especially because in many cases of bleeding, bedrest is required for the health of the mother and child both.

That's probably why I said both:
"Don't overdo it"
And specified, "light", e.g. "walking". If you can't even *walk* without causing a miscarriage I personally fail to see how it's a viable pregnancy... and how walking was the cause of the miscarriage.

[MaerynPearl]

Perhaps not cause, but worsen... when you are already having bleeding, taking it easy can help if it is due to certain causes. Especially when its not early on, OP is 23 weeks. It is abnormal to have bleeding at that point, especially without having had sex or a vaginal exam recently. Taking it easy, as her nurse suggested, is to rule out certain causes of the bleeding and potentially stop others until she can get in to the doctor, rather than sending her to the ER in the chance that it is not an emergency and have them treat it as such. Of course, if through resting she continues to bleed, it is pretty obvious it IS worth an ER trip... but that's probably not likely since the blood is brown, thus old.

I understand where you are coming from but in the context of the original post its not only unhelpful, but potentially harmful to both mother and child to tell her that taking it easy would be bad for her and that instead she should increase activity.

[GuildJenn]

I've had some heavy, red bleeding (which started with brown spotting) and have been on not-too-strict bedrest (i.e. I can move around a bit in my own home) for a week. I hate it. However it gave me lots of time to look into it. All this is my vague opinion at this point.

It's true that bedrest is a bit suspect as a cure-all, but I did find some good reasons it might help. If the placenta is detaching a tiny little bit, rest gives your body some space to repair tissue, increase blood volume, etc. (I don't think parts that are detached can reattach, but just keep it in shape.) If it's moving around that's irritating something, like a cervix, slowing down helps settle it down so everyone can calm down.

I agree that the most likely cause is just irritation. But I don't think taking it easy for a couple of days is going to impact on your fitness level that much. In my first pregnancy I was really active and had no spotting at all. In my second I did have spotting that really did seem to come after I'd had a particularly active day (I was travelling a lot and hauling suitcases wasn't good), and I did need to advice to (duh) take the ramps. I don't think it was dangerous, per se, but I also think it was good advice not to continue to encourage it.

For the record, I was much fitter in my first pregnancy and labour did not go down well. For my second, because of my crazy travel lifestyle, I was less fit and labour was a breeze. That's not evidence, just my anecdotal experience.

But for sure if it continues I'd have the discussion.

23 weeks is so close to viability these days (anything after 20 weeks that ends the pregnancy would be a stillbirth) that if slowing down did help something like an incompetent cervix, it could be a big gift to your baby. BUT as I said if it's just brown spotting I would seriously ask the midwife after a few days.

[mom2fussy]

Just to update... no sign of any spotting today at all - not even a brownish tinge to any discharge.

[justduckyangie]

Originally Posted by mom2fussy

Just to update... no sign of any spotting today at all - not even a brownish tinge to any discharge.

Great news!!

[MeepyCat]

Aaaagh.

Okay, in general, for normal pregnancies, I agree that continuing one's normal activity level is fine and healthy. A good idea.

I think the "training for a marathon" analogy is highly suspect. Someone used it on me once while I was seven months pregnant, and had I not just dragged my pregnant self up eight flights of stairs, I would probably have throttled them. Would you train for a marathon with limited lung volume? No, I venture to say you would not. I truly cannot imagine a way to meaningfully train for labor.

Rest does have a place in caring for yourself while pregnant, particularly when bleeding, hypertension, or other symptoms of potential difficulties are involved. Not all pregnancy-related problems result from a non-viable fetus, they can also be the result of placental problems, cervical issues, or uterine abnormalities. The key to getting mom and baby through some of these problems safely really is "stay pregnant until it goes away, or until the baby has decent odds of survival after birth."

If you're experiencing light (brown) bleeding, and feeling the baby move, then the odds are quite good that, whatever caused the bleeding, it's not to do with the baby, but possibly one of those other issue.

I've had bleeding during pregnancy for various reasons. In one case, I lost the baby. In another, I spent some time on bed rest and had a healthy daughter at 32 weeks (we spent time in the NICU, but she's fine).

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by mom2fussy

Just to update... no sign of any spotting today at all - not even a brownish tinge to any discharge.

I'm glad to hear that! with a couple days rest and taking it easy (like, not helping move the couch while we were moving or pushing how active I was past what my body could handle) until I was full term, we got by without any more bleeding episodes too. I hope the same for you!

[MamaMonica]

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