Post Punk Kitchen Forum

This weekend I am going to visit a friend who was just put on bed rest. She is not due until February, but she's having twins. I'm not sure what her symptoms are or why she's been put on bed rest, I just know she is going out of her mind with boredom. What should I bring her? I've thought of the usual things: books, magazines, yummy food. She is the type of person who resists help and always insists she doesn't need anything, so any suggestions you have for making her time in bed a little more tolerable would be most helpful!

Maybe a DVD set of something she hasn't seen like Veronica Mars or Buffy

A book on knitting or maybe some sort of big project that she could take on in bed, like following all the steps in "Your money or your life".

Do you have any idea if she has a Nintendo DS? I am seriously addicted to the Professor Layton games. I spent a lot of time in bed postpartum and those games helped pass the time.

Also, Buffy and Veronica Mars are two excellent suggestions. I might as will have been on bedrest when I was watching those for the first time.

FEBRUARY.

oh criminy, that is so far away.

i was on bedrest for the last week and nearly went crazy, i was so bored.

if she has an mp3 player, maybe you could load it up with new music and podcasts for her? i think that i relistened to every single this american life episode during that time.

are video games an option?

oh and another vote for an entire television series! that's really smart, because if she doesn't finish before the birth, she can always finish while nursing late at night. matt downloaded the first few seasons of house for me to watch during late night feedings, and lots of episodes of mythbusters.

I talked to her this evening and her doctor said her cervix is "incompetent." I know that's the technical term, but it sounds so critical! February is a long way off, but it seems unlikely she'll actually make it that long...

She's not really a video games person, but I love the idea of getting her a tv series to watch. I'm going to give her some of my beginning knitting books and some needles and yarn, and pass on lots of novels I've enjoyed.

Probably just visiting is what she needs most... I'd be out of my mind. I don't live close enough to supply meals, but maybe I'll get her a gift certificate to a local restaurant so she can get delivery sometimes.

fuzzy socks!

I think you're right that company is probably what she needs the most.

Along the lines of the TV series thing, I'd make sure that, if she isn't already, she was hooked up with Netflix and a way to view the Watch Instantly selection. There are SO many complete TV series up on Watch Instantly and so many different ways to view it (on your tv or computer).

I'd also guide her to the internet knit and crochet community, Ravelry, and websites like Knittinghelp.com. They are great resources for both guidance and support. Ravelry, in addition to being a great place for real time help, has forums for pretty much every topic under the sun.

that is such a great idea! get her a subscription to netflix if she doesnt have it! so genius.

Yes if she wants to learn to knit or crochet, this would be a good time to start. I hope everything turns out okay for her and the babies!

Yes and yes!

Does she play video games at all? Oh yeah, that's not as productive as knitting or anything, but...

Sudoku!

suggest she buy herself a kindle too. endless books!

My mom was put on strict bedrest for EVER with my first brother (placenta previa). Not being able to shower was the worst part of it for her. If you can find a dry shampoo and offer to wash her hair, she would probably be grateful for the rest of her life.
Otherwise, as others said, anything to keep her busy. Is she fed up with the internet already? I would probably bring a boardgame or a deck of cards and play all afternoon.

Yes! I will bring card games. And crossword puzzles. I don't know her situation with netflix/mp3 player (I don't see her in person very often) but I'll find out this weekend and suggest things. I am so uncomfortable in bed, I can only imagine being there 24/7. If she doesn't already have a full-body pillow, I'll get her one of those.

Thanks, guys!