Friday, January 21, 2011

Euphemism of the day: Pelvic Rest

If you were told that you should adhere to "pelvic rest", at least until the bleeding completely stops, what would it mean to you?

7 comments:

Sparkling Squirrel said...

Guess before reading on down to the "official answer."

No intercourse.

I saw the high rick specialist in "the City" last week (all is well except I have this "subchorionic hematoma" and blood is still coming out and it's likely to persist). Yesterday, my local OB and I were discussing what they specialist had said, "And he instructed you about pelvic rest?"
Thinking that this meant some sort of bed rest or at least lack of pivoting and hip-swaying dancing, I said he hadn't mentioned it.
So then my doc. launches into this explanation about how intercourse did not cause this but might exacerbate it . . .
Me: Oh, pelvic rest is no sex? Yes, he told me that.

Beth said...

that's all. really? wow. I would have guessed less standing, walking, etc. But just no sex. huh.

Jennifer said...

I would have guessed less sitting an more lying on your back. Sorry the bleeding is likely to persist, but at least you know what it is now.

Why not just say - no intercourse? weird.

salsis said...

No hula-hopping!

salsis said...

And no hula-hooping!

Sparkling Squirrel said...

Yep, just no intercourse. It seems that I can hula-hoop, sit, stand and whatever all I want, but should not engage in any penetrating thrusts (frankly, not something that was high on our likely list given my other symptoms).
Jennifer, yeah, it was weird. The specialist had just said "no intercourse" and my doctor is normally quite direct. I guess that she wanted to point out that this does not preclude other forms of "sex" but I think most pregnant women have a better idea of what intercourse means than pelvic rest.

The Mister said...

Googling "pelvic rest" is about as ridiculous as one might expect. What a stupid euphemism.