Greater care than is at present manifested ought to be taken with women
who are about to become mothers. Wealthy women in this condition are
often too much indulged in rest and are too richly fed. Poor women in
this condition are commonly underfed and made to toil too severely. The
poor, as we have seen, fare the best, but both, practically, are badly
cared for. Nothing that is extraordinary is required for the woman
during this condition named. She needs only to live by natural rule. She
should retire to rest early; take nine hours' sleep; perform walking or
similar exercise, to an extent short of actual fatigue, during the day;
partake moderately of food, and of animal food not oftener than twice in
the day; avoid all alcoholic drinks; take tea in limited quantities;
forego all scenes that excite the passions; hear no violence of
languages, be clothed in warm, light, loose garments; and shun, with
scrupulous care, every exposure to infectious disease.