Midwifery and the diseases of women

by Joel Shew

It may appear a strange doctrine to you, that in general those who suffer from nausea, vomiting, and the other more common accompaniments of pregnancy, get along better than those who experience none of these symptoms. “If vomiting should not be violent, and occur only in the early part of the day, though very troublesome,” observes Dr. Denman, “it is so far from being detrimental, that it is generally found to be serviceable, by exciting a more vigorous action of the uterus, and by bringing the stomach into a better state.”

Some have been afraid that vomiting would cause abortion; and such an occurrence might happen, if this symptom were brought on in a violent manner, as by the administration of powerful drugs. But the vomiting which comes on in consequence of the stomach-sickness, instead of causing premature delivery, appears to be a safeguard against such an occurrence. In other words, those who experience nausea and vomiting, are not so liable to miscarry as those who have none of these symptoms.

If we could but take into our minds the whole scope of nature, and if we were able to trace, like the Infinite Mind, causes and effects, we should, doubtless, much oftener than we now are, be struck with the evident goodness of the Creator, even in the physical sufferings which He has made it our lot to endure. What is the office of nausea and vomiting in these cases? It is possible, under bad management, for these symptoms to become actually alarming in their extent. But what, it is well for us to inquire, is the design of these occurrences, so common during the period of gestation? Plainly, to restrain the woman from the gratification of a voracious and wayward appetite, the indulgence of which could but be of material detriment to both mother and child.

How is it in sea-sickness? Do we not find that people who go to sea are generally benefited in health thereby, and that none are so much benefited as those who are made sick? And how are they thus benefited? I answer, by the abstinence and fasting which they are compelled to practice. Almost all persons—all, I will say—have more or less of impurity in their bodies, so badly have we treated ourselves, and so badly do we live. Hence it is that in sea-sickness, and in the vomiting that occurs in pregnancy, benefit is received; the body is made to purify itself by its own inherent power.

If every pregnant woman could have nausea enough, no doctor would ever think of bleeding her; it would prevent all that plethora and fullness of the system which, under such circumstances, have led good and honest men, as well as women, to believe it is often best to abstract blood.

But you ask me, are these symptoms really natural, and intrinsically best for the system in pregnancy? I answer, they are not. I believe it possible so to live that a woman pregnant need not have them any more than any one else. In sea-sickness how is it? The sailors—they who are kept up regularly in the open air every four hours at farthest—never have it to any extent worth speaking of. The first time they go to sea they are apt to be sick, like other people; but in a day or two it is all gone—they work it off.

So, too, in the sickness of pregnancy. We never hear of the Indian women having it. They, likewise, are active in their habits, live plainly, and go often into the open air.

One of the most important things to observe in these cases is, not to eat too much, or at wrong times. A great many patients of this kind make sad work with themselves by eating all sorts of things for which they have a relish, and at all hours of the day, just as the fit happens to take them. We know full well how important it is to eat regularly when we are in health. How much more so, then, must it be when we are ill! If you have nausea, or if you have not, but no appetite, drink some pure cold water, and wait; the appetite will come.

It is really surprising to see on how small a portion of food a patient can subsist for many days.

The laboring classes—those who are compelled to work hard, whether they would or not, and who are obliged, in consequence of the iron hand of poverty being upon them, to live on plain, homely fare—they are not troubled with nausea and vomiting, as the idlers and the luxurious are.