The Matron's Manual of Midwifery, and the Diseases of Women During Pregnancy and in Childbed / Being a Familiar and Practical Treatise, More Especially Intended for the Instruction of Females Themselves, but Adapted Also for Popular Use among Students and Practitioners of Medicine

by Frederick Hollick

PLATE XXXVIII.—a.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 shows the state of the parts at the beginning of labor. The mouth of the Womb is considerably dilated, and the Membranes, A, are protruding slightly.

Fig. 2 shows the state of the parts at the end of the first period. The neck of the Womb is now so fully dilated that it forms a continuous passage with the Vagina, while the bag of waters, A, projects far down and occupies the whole width of the canal.

The first period may be much protracted, and is generally very exhausting, though not attended with any danger or special difficulty.

SECOND PERIOD.

At this stage all the previous symptoms become much exaggerated. The contractions are more powerful, and the pains more acute, but with a perfect period of repose between them, during which the female will feel quite easy, and even sometimes fall asleep, but only to be aroused by the pains coming on again. The muscles of the Abdomen, and the diaphragm, are now called into play; the patient strains, or violently bears down, and pants with exertion, while the perspiration streams from every pore, the pulse quickens, and the expression of the countenance betrays the wildest anxiety and excitement.