Guest Author - Paula Petrie

Sarah Bilston’s debut novel, “Bed Rest,” is light and fun. Written as the day to day diary entries of “Q,” a 7th month pregnant lawyer who takes up journaling after being prescribed bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy.

Bilston delves into our heroine’s emotional state, her relationships, and her total lack of concern about a huge weight gain, as Q goes through the associated life changes and tedium of spending weeks home alone, in bed. The novel also investigates the introspection we are bound to explore. The curious ways in which relationships can begin to form and the funny ways in which relationships can veer off on us.

I found the novel started out great, with a wonderfully smooth and witty writing style. However, for a short while I found the middle of the story fell to a flat succession of journal entries. That said, I think readers will find themselves well enough invested in Q’s well being, and curious enough to her pregnancy outcome; the outcome of an increasingly strained relationship with her husband, and the bumpy dealings she shares with her mother and her sisters, to keep reading. Possibly without suffering any lack of enthusiasm, as I tend to be an impatient reader.

For fans of “Bed Rest,” Ms. Bilston is working on a sequel called, “Sleepless Nights.” Sarah Bilston, originally from England, is married to an American and teaches at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.

One interesting point about this novel, is that it spotlights “Oligohydramnios.” This often disastrous, always frightening condition occurs in 4% of pregnancies, bringing about a lack of amniotic fluid.

Amniotic fluid is necessary for baby's proper growth and development. It cushions the fetus from physical trauma, permits fetal lung growth, and provides a barrier against infection. Inadequate levels of amniotic fluid, “oligohydramnios,” results in poor development of the lung tissue, allows compression of the fetal abdomen, and limits movement of the baby’s diaphragm, which can lead to fetal death. In fact the mortality rate in oligohydramnios is high.

A lack of amniotic fluid can cause pulmonary hypoplasia. Oligohydramnios is also associated with meconium staining of the amniotic fluid, fetal heart conduction abnormalities, a baby’s poor tolerance of labor, lower Apgar scores, and fetal acidosis.

To anyone who is, or has previously suffered with Oligohydramnious, and the associated bed rest, stress, and worry, I offer up a prayer for you.