Getting ready to be a mother

by Carolyn Conant Van Blarcom

Fig. 23.—Drawing showing the baby’s descent at the time of birth. The head is passing through the inlet and pressure by the bag of waters has started to dilate the cervix. (Drawn by Max Brödel. Used by permission of A. J. Nystrom and Co., Chicago.)

Take a warm soapsuds enema; a thorough, warm, sponge or shower bath, scrubbing the inner surface of the thighs and lower abdomen thoroughly, but do not bathe between the labia. Put on a freshly laundered nightgown, stockings, dressing-gown and slippers and braid your hair, preferably in two braids.

Drink all of the water you want and about every three or four hours take some form of liquid nourishment such as milk, cocoa, strained soup or broth, with toast or crackers. Such nourishment will help to keep you from getting tired and will do no harm, but it may not be altogether wise to take anything more solid without your doctor’s permission. It is not uncommon for one to feel nauseated toward the end of the first stage and this tendency may be aggravated by taking solid food.

One thing to remember is the very great importance of your poise and favorable mental attitude. So much of proved value has been done, and still is being done, to safeguard you and your baby, that you have every reason to feel calm and secure, and it is of very practical importance that you cultivate this attitude. The woman who allows herself to become excited, nervous and apprehensive has much harder time than the one who asserts her self-mastery and preserves a tranquil state of mind. This is so definitely the case that for the sake of your own comfort I cannot urge you too strongly to remember it and to exclude disturbing or exciting influences as far as possible. One of the most troublesome of these is excitable but well-meaning and officious friends or relatives. Accordingly, if your nurse is not at hand try to have some one cool-headed woman with you and insist upon excluding those who would be upsetting or likely to offer advice and suggestions. In getting yourself ready, then, it is advisable to take a bath and an enema; put on clean clothing; not to stay in bed entirely throughout the first stage, but on the other hand to try to keep mind and body fresh and rested by lying down when you begin to feel tired, taking light nourishment regularly, not bearing down during pains and denying yourself to visitors who might be excitable.

This is all simple enough and you will not find it difficult to carry it out. And, happily, the preparations relating to the room are equally simple and uncomplicated.

Either you or the friend who is with you, may make the bed—you if you feel like it, she, if you are tired. The mattress is covered with the larger of the two pieces of rubber sheeting that you have in readiness and over this is placed the lower sheet, stretched very smooth and tight and tucked well under the mattress at head, foot and sides. If the sheet is not very large, it may be made secure by being pinned with safety-pins to the under side of the mattress. The smaller rubber is then placed across the middle third of the bed and over this a muslin sheet, folded once through the middle, tucked well under the sides of the mattress. Next, the upper sheet, a light blanket and a thin counterpane, all left open at the foot, and a pillow.

The packages of sterile dressings, douche pan, fountain syringe, pitchers and basins may be placed on the tables, and the washstand equipped for the doctor’s hands with soap, sterile nail-brush, nail scissors and file. A large kettle or pail of water should be boiled, covered and put aside to cool and a large receptacle such as a wash-boiler, half or two thirds full of water put on to boil when the pains begin to come about every five minutes.

The baby’s bathtub should be near at hand for sometimes babies do not breathe quite satisfactorily at first and are helped to do so by being held in a tub of warm water. There should be, also, a box, basket or crib, in readiness to receive the baby, furnished with a clean blanket and hot water bottle with a flannel cover.

These are the preparations which may be made during the first stage—that period when the cervix is being slowly but steadily dilated by the bag of waters as it is forced downward by the uterine contractions. You feel these as pains beginning in the back, and finally in the lower abdomen and thighs, gradually growing stronger and more frequent.