Bed rest during pregnancy may lead to significant bone loss in women. Researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, North Carolina, USA, measured the bone mineral density in 181 women receiving prenatal care at approximately 16 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. The researchers found that, overall, bone loss averaged between 0.4 per cent and 1.9 per cent during the 20-week period, depending on where the measurements were taken. A total of 34 women (19 per cent) experienced bone loss exceeding 5 per cent. Women who were asked to take bed rest experienced a loss of 4.6 per cent as compared to those women who did not go on bed rest and experienced a loss of 1.5 per cent. Women who were prescribed bed rest were 6.5 times more likely to experience bone loss of 5 per cent during the 20-week period. The findings suggest that there is a need for additional study with more detailed information on bed rest duration and compliance, and on recovery of bone mass after pregnancy.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
November 2004