A troublesome cough sometimes affects delicate, nervous women during the early months of pregnancy. If it be not very frequent nor severe, it requires no attention, as it will pass away of itself in a short time. When, however, it disturbs the sleep at night, renders the patient anxious, and causes headache and weariness, it is time to do something for it. It may, indeed, be so violent as to threaten abortion on account of the forcible concussion of the abdomen it produces.
A tea-spoonful of paregoric occasionally repeated during the day will be found a most efficient soothing remedy.
WAKEFULNESS.
Sleeplessness, always distressing, is particularly so to pregnant women. If prolonged, it leads to serious consequences. It should receive, therefore, the most prompt attention.
The causes of sleeplessness during pregnancy are numerous. Dyspepsia is one of them. Whenever indigestion is present the diet should be plain and simple, and everything avoided which produces heartburn, sourness, or flatulency. It is important also not to take tea or coffee late in the afternoon or evening—a late cup of either being a frequent cause in itself of sleeplessness.
Sometimes the reason for the wakefulness will be found in a want of exercise or too constant confinement to closely-heated rooms. Or, it may be that exciting novels are read late in the evening. Perhaps the evening meal is too heavy and taken too late.
The treatment of sleeplessness consists first, of course in the removal of the apparent cause. The patient should have a regular hour for retiring, which should be an early one. The bed-room should be quiet, well ventilated, and slightly warmed. The bed coverings must not be too heavy nor the pillows too high.
A warm bath of the temperature of 90 to 96 degrees Fahrenheit, taken just before going to bed, often invites sleep. A rapid sponging of the body with warm water may have the same effect. A tumbler of cold water, when the skin is hot and dry, swallowed at bed-time, sometimes affords relief. If the bowels are constipated relief should be sought in the manner we have just mentioned in speaking of constipation.
When there is nervous excitement at night, and the means we have advised fail to propitiate 'nature's soft nurse,' there is a sedative medicine which may be used with safety and effect—it is bromide of potassium. The same proportion which we have given for the treatment of morning sickness (see page 355) may be now used. Have the three-ounce mixture put up by the druggist, and take a dessert-spoonful or a table-spoonful just before bed-time. It frequently acts almost as if by magic. On no account should recourse be had to opiates or dangerous sedative drugs.