SLEEPLESSNESS.
This, in a greater or less degree, not unfrequently occurs during pregnancy. It is most apt to occur during the later months of the period. Within a few days of the birth, however, better rest is experienced, and a greater degree of comfort in every respect. This tendency to sleeplessness during pregnancy is sometimes so troublesome as almost wholly to prevent sleep. “The limbs are agitated by involuntary contractions of the muscles, which, by the frequency and suddenness of their motion, instantly interrupt the sleep to which the woman was at the moment strongly inclined.”
“Sleeplessness,” says Dr. Maunsel, “most frequently affects the weak, nervous, and irritable, occurring sometimes early in pregnancy, oftener toward the end of the term. If the want of sleep continue for many days, it is commonly followed by very grave symptoms, as restlessness, fever, mental disturbance, convulsions, etc.; abortion has resulted from it, and some cases have terminated in insanity; others have destroyed life.” But those who follow a judicious course of water-treatment do not become thus afflicted. If such occurrences should be at all possible in the new modes, the cases would be exceedingly rare. I have known many persons to follow bathing during pregnancy, but none who have had any thing like serious difficulty in obtaining a proper amount of rest.
In many cases this want of sleep in pregnancy does not sensibly impair the general health. Some persons have been under the necessity of walking their room much of the night; and yet, after a short repose at the dawn of day, have been astonished to find themselves as much refreshed, apparently, as after a good night’s rest.
Treatment.—To prevent sleeplessness in pregnancy, a variety of means have been recommended. If there is plethora, or too great fullness of the system, small bleedings and cooling purgatives of mild kind are recommended by almost every author who has written on the subject. It is well known that in many parts of the country, women believe that they cannot get through pregnancy at all without being bled. The doctors have been at the root of this matter in the beginning. This old-fashioned practice, fortunately, is now fast going out of date. It is not for me here to enter into a discussion of the question whether such means ever do any good in pregnancy; but I will say, on the authority of physiological and pathological science, and my own experience, that bathing, water-drinking, and the proper regulation of the general habits, are incomparably the best modes; the best, not only for the time of pregnancy, but also for that of childbirth and the period of nursing.
Dr. Dewees recommended for this affection, low diet, cool air, and cold water, as being among the best remedies. And Dr. Denman says, that “a glass of cold water drank at bedtime is not a contemptible remedy;” and he might have said one of the best, especially if the dose be soon repeated. And Dr. Dewees, in quoting this advice of Dr. Denman, adds, “We know that bathing the hands and face in cold water is an excellent practice, and should always be resorted to.”
Dr. Maunsel says, “Pediluvia (foot-baths), or, what is better, hip-baths, very often do good.” But the important matter of temperature, the doctor does not speak of. A warm hip-bath and a cold one are very different things. He remarks, also, well, “that the diet should be cooling, and exercise in the open air as freely as circumstances will permit.”
I may, however, dismiss this whole matter of sleeplessness in pregnancy, by saying, that those who bathe daily, exercise judiciously, and, when possible, in the open air, drink only pure soft water (and all can have this from the clouds), partake only of plain and unstimulating food, and sleep upon hard beds and pillows, in cool, fresh air, will rarely, if ever, be troubled with want of sleep.
One other thing, however; it sometimes seems necessary for persons in pregnancy to get a “nap” during the day. Those who have great cares, and many in our country have, often find it extremely difficult to get through the long, hot days of summer without sleep. Now, in such cases, if the woman can go by herself, and be wholly undisturbed, and feel entirely free from every care, and thus get a good half hour or an hour’s sleep, she will be much refreshed thereby. It is necessary to observe that the clothing should be removed as at night. Persons often wonder how it is that they feel worse after sleeping than before. When one lies down, if the clothing be left on, too much heat is retained about the surface, and thus debility, instead of refreshment, is experienced. This day-sleeping should be done with the stomach empty, as at three or more hours after a meal, and not in the afternoon, as that would be liable to cause wakefulness at night. It is truly surprising how much, under favorable circumstances, a short sleep even will refresh the powers of life.