Bedrest

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This article is about a medical treatment. For the type of pillow, see pillow.

Bedrest as a medical treatment refers to staying in bed day and night as a treatment for an illness or medical condition, especially when prescribed or chosen rather than resulting from severe prostration or imminent death. Even though most patients in hospitals spend most of their time in the hospital beds, bedrest more often refers to an extended period of recumbence at home. It does not necessarily mean one must actually remain in a prone position indefinitely.

As a treatment, bedrest is mentioned in the earliest medical writings. Its popularity and perceived efficacy have varied greatly over the centuries. In the 19th century, "taking to bed" and becoming an "invalid" for an indefinite period of time was a culturally accepted response to some of the adversities of life. In the middle of the twentieth century, bedrest was still a standard treatment for rheumatic fever as well as markedly high blood pressure.

Prolonged bedrest carries some medical risks such as demineralization of the bones and atrophy of the muscles, as well as economic and social costs, and is much less commonly prescribed today. Preterm labor with threatened miscarriage remains one of the few conditions for which bedrest remains a standard treatment.

Women pregnant with twins or higher-order multiples are at higher risk for preterm labor, preeclampsia (toxemia), and other pregnancy complications, thus bedrest is common in these cases. About 50% of women pregnant with twins will be on some form of bedrest for at least part of their pregnancy. Recent studies have shown that routine bedrest in twin pregnancies (bedrest in the absence of complications) does not improve outcomes, however bedrest is almost always prescribed for women carrying triplets or more.