Standing, or walking, usually become more difficult, and swelling of the external parts, or piles, are apt to occur. With some females also, a sudden diarrhœa, or vomiting, takes place, and troubles them up to the period when labor commences.
Finally the Uterus begins to contract, though insensibly at first; the Abdomen becomes unusually hard, and flying pains are experienced, particularly with first children. This continues with more or less of intermission, up to the actual period of labor, which is usually divided into three periods, each of which must be considered separately.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE PROGRESS, PHENOMENA, AND DURATION OF NATURAL LABOR.
FIRST PERIOD.
On making an examination the mouth of the Womb will be found to be dilating, and a discharge of mucus, tinged with blood, issuing from it. The membranes may also be felt protruding into the Vagina, and distended, like a bladder. The female complains of being drawn powerfully together in the inside; she trembles, and gasps for breath; her pulse sinks, and she often becomes sick and deadly faint; she complains of great thirst, and breaks out into profuse perspiration; frequently she will weep, and apparently suffer from some terrible apprehension, while her strength will be completely exhausted. Occasionally however, she will be perfectly passive, and almost immoveable, appearing as if in a dream.
The pains however, gradually become more and more acute, and closer together; the patient is excited and irritable; her pulse becomes quicker again, the thirst increases, and vomiting frequently ensues. Before each pain she frequently experiences a severe chill, with chattering of the teeth, and not unfrequently becomes perfectly delirious.
With each pain the mouth of the Womb expands more and more, till at last it totally disappears, and the cavity of the Uterus and the Vagina form but one uniform passage, which is completely occupied with the distended membranes, or bag of waters, which may be felt like a soft round tumor. This is well represented in the following Plate:—