Bed Rest not Effective in Preventing Premature Birth

Taking complete bed rest is not advisable for women at higher risks of giving birth early, researchers say.  According to a new study, bed rest - one of the most prevalent treatments used to prevent premature birth - can be of little help to women at risk, particularly those having a short cervix. On the other hand, it may have an opposite effect.

Babies born before 37 weeks of gestational age are considered to be premature. Preterm birth is the leading cause of newborn deaths and the second leading cause of death among children aged below 5 in the world. In the country, more than half a million babies are born prematurely. A preterm birth can bring in many health problems for the child, including intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, breathing or respiratory problems, feeding or digestive problems and vision or hearing loss. 

A team of researchers led by Dr. William Grobman from Northwestern University in Chicago examined the prevalence of bed rest among pregnant women, and its effectiveness in protecting against early birth. More than 600 women participated in the study. The study was carried out to investigate the power of progesterone injections in protecting women with a short cervix against premature birth, Reuters Health reported.

Using questionnaires, researchers collected information about the prevalence of activity restriction among the participants. Of the total 646 women, 252 (39 percent) reported being prescribed complete bed rest around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Researchers also noticed that a majority of the women who were put on bed rest were old, with a short cervix, or were detected with intra-amniotic debris.

Contradicting the popular belief about the effectiveness of bed rest in avoiding premature birth, researchers found that the prevalence of preterm birth was higher among women who followed activity restriction (37 percent) than others (17 percent). According to the study, published in the online issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology May 8, women who restrict all of their activities, including any kind of work or sexual activities, to avoid early birth are at a doubled risk of having a premature baby than others. The stress or anxiety that comes along with taking bed rest may be leading to the occurrence, the authors told Reuters Health.

Apart from this, complete bed rest can also invite many other health risks and complications. According to experts from Mayo Clinic, bedridden women are more likely to experience joint pain, muscle aches, blood clots, decreased bone mass, mental conditions like depression, anxiety, stress, and mood swings.