Those who suffer much from this cause, ought also to lie down upon a couch or bed, for two or three hours every day; this will give great relief to the muscles.
Being Unwell during Pregnancy.
A female may be pregnant, and yet be unwell for one period or more while in that condition. Indeed, it may take place every month to the time of quickening, and has even continued in some rare cases up to the time of delivery.
Now, although this can scarcely be called one of the diseases of pregnancy—for it, ordinarily, in no way, interferes with the health—still, as while the discharge is actually present it predisposes to miscarriage, it is necessary to give one or two hints of caution.
Any female, then, thus circumstanced should manage herself with great care immediately before the appearance, during the existence—and directly after the cessation of the discharge. She should observe the most perfect quiet of body and mind—keeping upon the sofa while it lasts, and carefully abstaining from any stimulating or indigestible article of food, and if any symptoms of pain, uneasiness, or threatening miscarriage come on, immediately seek medical advice.
A case, showing the necessity of carefulness under such circumstances, occurred to me some time since, and its relation is all that I need add upon this point.
A lady, resident in Gloucestershire, missing one period, suspected herself of being pregnant, but being unwell on the following month, supposed herself mistaken. She had occasion, however, to come to London on the second day of her being unwell—Monday. On the Wednesday following she suffered considerable uneasiness from the exertion attendant upon the journey, and on Friday while from her hotel was obliged to return home in haste, and before night, miscarried.
Here then is a case in point—first proving, what some persons deny, that a female may be unwell and yet be pregnant, for she could not perceive the slightest difference in the appearance of the discharge from what ordinarily took place, and it was exact as to the time of its return—and next, showing how necessary is great caution, and the most perfect quiet, since undoubtedly this lady would not have miscarried, if her journey had only been delayed another week.
Jaundice sometimes occurs in the early or latter parts of the pregnancy—certain affections also of disordered functions of the heart, producing palpitation—a troublesome cough, accompanied with considerable pain in the head, sudden attacks of difficulty of breathing, and distressing inconvenience from irritable bladder.
These, and many other slight affections, may manifest themselves during gestation, but of those I say nothing. It would be advancing beyond the bounds by which I thought it right to limit myself, and departing from the object proposed.[[27]]