1. COSTIVE STATE OF THE BOWELS.--A costive state of the bowels
is common in pregnancy; a mild laxative is therefore occasionally
necessary. The mildest must be selected, as a strong purgative
is highly improper, and even dangerous. Calomel and all other
preparations of mercury are to be especially avoided, as a mercurial
medicine is apt to weaken the system, and sometimes even to produce
a miscarriage. Let me again urge the importance of a lady, during the
whole period of pregnancy, being particular as to the state of her
bowels, as costiveness is a fruitful cause of painful, tedious and
hard labors.
2. LAXATIVES.--The best laxatives are caster oil, salad oil, compound
rhubarb pills, honey, stewed prunes, stewed rhubarb, Muscatel raisins,
figs, grapes, roasted apples, baked pears, stewed Normandy pippins,
coffee, brown-bread and treacle. Scotch oatmeal made with new milk or
water, or with equal parts of milk and water.
3. PILLS.--When the motions are hard, and when the bowels are easily
acted upon, two, or three, or four pills made of Castile soap will
frequently answer the purpose; and if they will, are far better than
any other ordinary laxative. The following is a good form. Take of:
Castile Soap, five scruples;
Oil of Caraway, six drops;
To make twenty-four pills. Two, or three, or four to be taken at
bedtime, occasionally.
4. HONEY.--A teaspoonful of honey, either eaten at breakfast
or dissolved in a cup of tea, will frequently, comfortably and
effectually, open the bowels, and will supersede the necessity of
taking laxative medicine.
5. NATURE'S MEDICINES.--Now, Nature's medicines--exercise in the open
air, occupation, and household duties--on the contrary, not only at
the time open the bowels, but keep up a proper action for the future;
her--their inestimable superiority.
6. WARM WATER INJECTIONS.--An excellent remedy for costiveness of
pregnancy is an enema, either of warm water, or of Castile soap
and water, which the patient, by means of a self-injecting
enema-apparatus, may administer to herself. The quantity of warm water
to be used, is from half a pint to a pint; the proper heat is the
temperature of new milk; the time for administering it is early in the
morning, twice or three times a week.
7. MUSCULAR PAINS OF THE ABDOMEN.--The best remedy is an abdominal
belt constructed for pregnancy, and adjusted with proper straps and
buckles to accomodate the gradually increasing size of the womb. This
plan often affords great comfort and relief; indeed, such a belt is
indispensably necessary.
8. DIARRHEA.--Although the bowels in pregnancy are generally costive,
they are sometimes in an opposite state, and are relaxed. Now,
this relaxation is frequently owing to there having been prolonged
constipation, and Nature is trying to relieve herself by purging.
Do not check it, but allow it to have its course, and take a little
rhubarb or magnesia. The diet should be simple, plain, and nourishing,
and should consist of beef tea, chicken broth, arrow-root, and of
well-made and well-boiled oatmeal gruel. Butcher's meat, for a
few days, should not be eaten; and stimulants of all kinds must be
avoided.
9. FIDGETS.--A pregnant lady sometimes suffers severely from
"fidgets"; it generally affects her feet and legs, especially at
night, so as to entirely destroy her sleep; she cannot lie still; she
every few minutes moves, tosses and tumbles about--first on one side,
then on the other. The causes of "fidgets" are a heated state of the
blood; an irritable condition of the nervous system, prevailing
at that particular time; and want of occupution. The treatment of
"fidgets" consists of: sleeping in a well-ventilated apartment, with
either window or door open; a thorough ablution of the whole body
every morning, and a good washing with tepid water of the face, neck,
chest, arms and hands every night; shunning hot and close rooms;
taking plenty of out-door exercise; living on a bland, nourishing,
put not rich diet; avoiding meat at night, and substituting in
lieu thereof, either a cupful of arrow-root made with milk, or of
well-boiled oatmeal gruel.
10. EXERCISE.--If a lady, during the night, have the "fidgets," she
should get out of bed; take a short walk up and down the room, being
well protected by a dressing-gown; empty her bladders turn, her
pillow, so as to have the cold side next the head; and then lie down
again; and the chances are that she will now fall asleep. If during
the day she have the "fidgets," a ride in an open carriage; or a
stroll in the garden, or in the fields; or a little housewifery,
will do her good, and there is nothing like fresh air, exercise, and
occupation to drive away "the fidgets."
11. HEARTBURN.--Heartburn is a common and often a distressing symptom
of pregnancy. The acid producing the heartburn is frequently much
increased by an overloaded stomach. An abstemious diet ought to be
strictly observed. Great attention should be paid to the quality
of the food. Greens, pastry, hot buttered toast, melted butter, and
everything that is rich and gross, ought to be carefully avoided.
Either a teaspoonful of heavy calcined magnesia, or half a teaspoonful
of carbonate of soda--the former to be preferred if there be
constipation--should occasionally be taken in a wine-glassful of warm
water. If these do not relieve--the above directions as to diet having
been strictly attended to--the following mixture ought to be tried.
Take of:
Carbonate of Ammonia, half a drachm;
Bicarbonate of Soda, a drachm and a half;
Water, eight ounces;
To make a mixture: Two tablespoonfuls to be taken twice or three times
a day, until relief be obtained.
12. WIND IN THE STOMACH AND BOWELS.--This is a frequent reason why a
pregnant lady cannot sleep at night. The two most frequent causes of
flatulence are, first, the want of walking exercise during the day,
and second, the eating of a hearty meal just before going to bed at
night. The remedies are, of course, in each instance, self-evident.
13. SWOLLEN LEGS FROM ENLARGED VEINS (VARICOSE VEINS.)--The veins are
frequently much enlarged and distended, causing the legs to be greatly
swollen and very painful, preventing the patient from taking proper
walking exercise. Swollen legs are owing to the pressure of the womb
upon the blood-vessels above. Women who have had large families are
more liable than others to varicose veins. If a lady marry late in
life, or if she be very heavy in pregnancy carrying the child low down
she is more likely to have distention of the veins. The best plan will
be for her to wear during the day an elastic stocking, which ought to
be made on purpose for her, in order that it may properly fit the leg
and foot.
14. STRETCHING OF THE SKIN OF THE ABDOMEN. This is frequently, in a
first pregnancy, distressing, from the soreness it causes. The best
remedy is to rub the abdomen, every night and morning, with warm
camphorated oil, and to wear a belt during the day and a broad flannel
bandage at night, both of which should be put on moderately but
comfortably tight. The belt must be secured in its situation by means
of properly adjusted straps.
15. BEFORE THE APPROACH OF LABOR.--The patient, before the approach of
labor, ought to take particular care to have the bowels gently opened,
as during that state a costive state greatly increases her sufferings,
and lengthens the period of her labor. A gentle action is all that is
necessary; a violent one would do more harm than good.
16. SWOLLEN AND PAINFUL BREASTS. The breasts are, at times, during
pregnancy, much swollen and very painful; and, now and then, they;
cause the patient great uneasiness, as she fancies that she is going
to have either some dreadful tumor or a gathering of the bosom. There
need, in such a case, be no apprehension. The swelling and the pain
are the consequences of the pregnancy, and will in due time subside
without any unpleasant result. For treatment she cannot do better than
rub them well, every night and morning, with equal parts of Eau de
Cologne and olive oil, and wear a piece of new flannel over them;
taking care to cover the nipples with soft linen, as the friction of
the flannel might irritate them.
17. BOWEL COMPLAINTS. Bowel complaints, during pregnancy, are not
unfrequent. A dose either of rhubarb and magnesia, or of castor oil,
are the best remedies, and are generally, in the way of medicine, all
that is necessary.
18. CRAMPS. Cramps of the legs and of the thighs during the latter
period, and especially at night, are apt to attend pregnancy, and are
caused by the womb pressing upon the nerves which extend to the lower
extremities. Treatment. Tightly tie a handkerchief, folded like a
neckerchief, round the limb a little above the part affected, and let
it remain on for a few minutes. Friction by means of the hand either
with opodeldoc or with laudanum, taking care not to drink the lotion
by mistake, will also give relief.
19. THE WHITES. The whites during pregnancy, especially during the
latter months, and particularly if the lady have had many children,
are frequently troublesome, and are, in a measure, occasioned by the
pressure of the womb on the parts below, causing irritation. The best
way, therefore, to obviate such pressure is for the patient to lie
down a great part of each day either on a bed or a sofa. She ought
to retire early to rest: she should sleep on a hair mattress and in
a well ventilated apartment, and should not overload her bed with
clothes. A thick, heavy quilt at these times, and indeed at all times,
is particularly objectionable; the perspiration cannot pass readily
through it as through blankets, and thus she is weakened. She ought to
live on plain, wholesome, nourishing food; and she must abstain from
beer and wine and spirits. The bowels ought to be gently opened by
means of a Seidlitz powder, which should occasionally be taken early
in the morning.
[Illustration: A PRECIOUS FLOWER.]
20. IRRITATION AND ITCHING OF THE EXTERNAL PARTS.--This is a most
troublesome affection, and may occur at any time, but more especially
during the latter period of the pregnancy. Let her diet be simple
and nourishing; let her avoid stimulants of all kinds. Let her take a
sitz-bath of warm water, considerably salted. Let her sit in the bath
with the body thoroughly covered.
21. HOT AND INFLAMED.--The external parts, and the passage to the womb
(vagina), in these cases, are not only irritable and itching, but are
sometimes hot and inflamed, and are covered either with small pimples,
or with a whitish exudation of the nature of aphtha (thrush), somewhat
similar to the thrush on the mouth of an infant; then, the addition of
glycerine to the lotion is a great improvement and usually gives much
relief.
22. BILIOUSNESS[Footnote: Some of these valuable suggestions are taken
from "Parturition Without Pain," by Dr. M.L. Holbrook.] is defined by
some one as piggishness. Generally it may be regarded as _overfed_.
The elements of the bile are in the blood in excess of the power
of the liver to eliminate them. This may be caused either from the
superabundance of the materials from which the bile is made or by
inaction of the organ itself. Being thus retained the system is
_clogged_. It is the result of either too much food in quantity or too
rich in quality. Especially is it caused by the excessive use of _fats
and sweets_. The simplest remedy is the best. A plain, light diet with
plenty of acid fruits, avoiding fats and sweets, will ameliorate or
remove it. Don't force the appetite. Let hunger demand food. In the
morning the sensitiveness of the stomach may be relieved by taking
before rising a cup of hot water, hot milk, hot lemonade, rice or
barley water, selecting according to preference. For this purpose many
find coffee made from browned wheat or corn the best drink. Depend for
a time upon liquid food that can be taken up by absorbents. The juice
of lemons and other acid fruits is usually grateful, and assists in
assimilating any excess in nutriment. These may be diluted according
to taste. With many, an egg lemonade proves relishing and acceptable.
23. DERANGED APPETITE.--Where the appetite fails, let the patient go
without eating for a little while, say for two or three meals.
If, however, the strength begins to go, try the offering of some
unexpected delicacy; or give small quantities of nourishing food, as
directed in case of morning sickness.
24. PILES.--For cases of significance consult a physician. As
with constipation, so with piles, its frequent result, fruit diet,
exercise, and sitz-bath regimen will do much to prevent the trouble.
Frequent local applications of a cold compress, and even of ice, and
tepid water injections, are of great service. Walking or standing
aggravate this complaint. Lying down alleviates it. Dr. Shaw says,
"There is nothing in the world that will produce so great relief in
piles as fasting. If the fit is severe, live a whole day, or even two,
if necessary, upon pure soft cold water alone. Give then very lightly
of vegetable food."
25. TOOTHACHE.--There is a sort of proverb that a woman loses one
tooth every time she has a child. Neuralgic toothache during pregnancy
is, at any rate, extremely common, and often has to be endured. It is
generally thought not best to have teeth extracted during pregnancy,
as the shock to the nervous system has sometimes caused miscarriage.
To wash out the mouth morning and night with cold or lukewarm water
and salt is often of use. If the teeth are decayed, consult a good
dentist in the early stages of pregnancy, and have the offending teeth
properly dressed. Good dentists, in the present state of the science,
extract very few teeth, but save them.
26. SALIVATION.--Excessive secretion of the saliva has usually been
reckoned substantially incurable. Fasting, cold water treatment,
exercise and fruit diet may be relied on to prevent, cure or alleviate
it, where this is possible, as it frequently is.
27. HEADACHE.--This is, perhaps, almost as common in cases of
pregnancy as "morning sickness." It may be from determination of blood
to the head, from constipation or indigestion, constitutional "sick
headache," from neuralgia, from a cold, from rheumatism. Correct
living will prevent much headache trouble; and where this does not
answer the purpose, rubbing and making magnetic passes over the head
by the hand of some healthy magnetic person will often prove of great
service.
28. LIVER-SPOTS.--These, on the face, must probably be endured, as no
trustworthy way of driving them off is known.