Advice to a wife and mother in two parts

by Pye Henry Chavasse

205. It has been asserted, and by men of great experience, that sometimes a woman menstruates during pregnancy. In this assertion I cannot agree; it appears utterly impossible that she should be able to do so. The moment she conceives, the neck of the womb becomes plugged up by means of mucus; it is, in fact, hermetically sealed. There certainly is sometimes a slight red discharge, looking very much like menstrual fluid, and coming on at her monthly periods; but being usually very sparing in quantity, and lasting only a day or so, and sometimes only for an hour or two; but this discharge does not come from the cavity of, but from some small vessels at, the mouth of the womb, and is not menstrual fluid at all, but a few drops of real blood. If this discharge came from the cavity of the womb, it would probably lead to a miscarriage. My old respected and talented teacher, the late Dr. D. D. Davis,[^[51]] declared that it would be quite impossible during pregnancy for menstruation to occur. He considered that the discharge which was taken for menstruation arose from the rupture of some small vessels about the mouth of the womb.

206. Some ladies, though comparatively few, menstruate during suckling; when they do, it may be considered not the rule, but the exception. It is said, in such instances, that they are more likely to conceive. Many persons have an idea that when a woman, during lactation, menstruates, the milk is both sweeter and purer. Such is an error. Menstruation during suckling is more likely to weaken the mother, and consequently to deteriorate the milk. It therefore behooves a parent never to take a wet nurse who menstruates during the period of suckling.

207. A lady sometimes suffers severe pains both just before and during her “poorly” times. When such be the case, she seldom conceives until the pain be removed. She ought therefore to apply to a medical man, as relief may soon be obtained. When she is freed from the pain, she will, in all probability, in due time become enceinte.

208. If a married woman have painful menstruation, even if she become pregnant, she is more likely, in the early stage, to miscarry. This is an important consideration, and requires the attention of a doctor.

209. If a single lady, who is about to be married, have painful menstruation, it is incumbent on either her mother or a female friend to consult, two or three months before the marriage takes place, an experienced medical man, on her case; if this be not done, she will most likely, after marriage, either labor under ill health, or be afflicted with barrenness, or, if she do conceive, be prone to miscarry.

210. The menstrual discharge, as before remarked, ought, if healthy, to be of the color of blood—of fresh, unclotted blood. If it be either too pale (and it sometimes is almost colorless), or, on the other hand, if it be both dark and thick (it is occasionally as dark, and sometimes nearly as thick, as treacle), there will be but scant hopes of a lady conceiving. A medical man ought, therefore, at once to be consulted, who will in the generality of cases, be able to remedy the defect. The chances are, that as soon as the defect be remedied, she will become pregnant.

211. Menstruation at another time is too sparing; this is a frequent cause of a want of family. Luckily a doctor is, in the majority of cases, able to remedy the defect, and by doing so will probably be the means of bringing the womb into a healthy state, and thus predispose her to become a mother.

212. A married lady is very subject to the “whites;” the more there will be of the “whites” the less there will usually be of the menstrual discharge;—so that in a bad case of the “whites” menstruation might entirely cease, until proper means be used both to restrain the one and to bring back the other. Indeed, as a rule, if the menstrual discharge, by proper treatment, be healthily established and restored, the “whites” will often cease of themselves. Deficient menstruation is a frequent cause of the “whites,” and the consequent failure of a family; and as deficient menstruation is usually curable, a medical man ought, in all such cases, to be consulted.

213. Menstruation at other times is either too profuse or too long continued. Either the one or the other is a frequent source of barrenness, and is also weakening to the constitution, and thus tends to bring a lady into a bad state of health. This, like the former cases, by judicious management may generally be rectified; and being rectified, will in all probability result in the wife becoming a mother.

214. When a lady is neither pregnant nor “regular,” she ought immediately to apply to a doctor, as she may depend upon it there is something wrong about her, and that she is not likely to become enceinte[^[52]] until menstruation be properly established. As soon as menstruation be duly and healthily established, pregnancy will most likely, in due time, ensue.