Advice to a wife and mother in two parts

by Pye Henry Chavasse

215. When a lady is said to be “regular,” it is understood that she is “regular” as to quality, and quantity, and time. If she be only “regular” as to the time, and the quantity be either deficient or in excess, or if she be “regular” as to the time, and the quality be bad, either too pale or too dark; or if she be “regular” as to the quality and quantity, and be irregular as to the time, she cannot be well; and the sooner means are adopted to rectify the evil, the better it will be for her health and happiness.

216. There is among young wives, of the higher ranks, of the present time, an immense deal of hysteria; indeed it is, among them, in one form or another, the most frequent complaint of the day. Can it be wondered at? Certainly not. The fashionable system of spending married life, such as late hours, close rooms, excitement, rounds of visiting, luxurious living, is quite enough to account for its prevalence. The menstrual functions in a case of this kind are not duly performed; she is either too much or too little “unwell;” menstruation occurs either too soon, or too late, or at irregular periods. I need scarcely say that such a one, until a different order of things be instituted, and until proper and efficient means be used to restore healthy menstruation, is not likely to conceive; or, if she did conceive, she would most likely either miscarry, or, if she did go her time, bring forth a puny, delicate child. A fashionable wife and happy mother are incompatibilities! Oh, it is sad to contemplate the numerous victims that are sacrificed yearly on the shrine of fashion! The grievous part of the business is, that fashion is not usually amenable to reason and common sense; argument, entreaty, ridicule, are each and all alike in turn powerless in the matter. Be that as it might, I am determined boldly to proclaim the truth, and to make plain the awful danger of a wife becoming a votary of fashion.

217. Many a lady, either from suppressed or from deficient menstruation, who is now chlorotic, hysterical, and dyspeptic, weak and nervous, looking wretchedly, and whose very life is a burden, may, by applying to a medical man, be restored to health and strength.

218. As soon as a lady “ceases to be after the manner of women”—that is to say, as soon as she ceases to menstruate—it is said that she has “a change of life;” and if she does not take care, she will soon have “a change of health” to boot, which, in all probability, will be for the worse.

219. After a period of about thirty years’ continuation of menstruation, a woman ceases to menstruate; that is to say, when she is about forty-four or forty-five years of age, and, occasionally, as late in life as when she is forty-eight years of age, she has “change of life,” or, as it is sometimes called, a “turn of years.” Now, before this takes place, she oftentimes becomes very “irregular;” at one time she is “regular” before her proper period; at another time either before or after; so that it becomes a dodging time with her, as it is so styled. In a case of this kind menstruation is sometimes very profuse; at another it is very sparing; occasionally it is light colored, almost colorless; sometimes it is as red as from a cut finger; while now and then it is as black as ink.

220. When “change of life” is about, and during the time, and for some time afterwards, a lady labors under, at times, great flushings of heat; she, as it were, blushes all over; she goes very hot and red, almost scarlet; then perspires; and afterwards becomes cold and chilly. These flushings occur at very irregular periods; they might come on once or twice a day, at other times only once or twice a week, and occasionally only at what would have been her “poorly times.” These flushings might be looked upon as rather favorable symptoms, and as an effort of nature to relieve itself through the skin. These flushings are occasionally, although rarely, attended with hysterical symptoms. A little appropriate medicine is for these flushings desirable. A lady while laboring under these heats is generally both very much annoyed and distressed; but she ought to comfort herself with the knowledge that they are in all probability doing her good service, and that they might be warding off, from some internal organ of her body, serious mischief.

221. “Change of life” is one of the most important periods of a lady’s existence, and generally determines whether, for the rest of her days, she shall either be healthy or otherwise; it therefore imperatively behooves her to pay attention to the subject, and in all cases when it is about taking place to consult a medical man, who will, in the majority of cases, be of great benefit to her, as he will be able to ward off many important and serious diseases to which she would otherwise be liable. When “change of life” ends favorably, which, if properly managed, it most likely will do, she may improve in constitution, and may really enjoy better health and spirits, and more comfort, then she has done for many previous years. A lady who has during the whole of her wifehood eschewed fashionable society, and who has lived simply, plainly, and sensibly, and who has taken plenty of out-door exercise, will, during the autumn and winter of life, reap her reward by enjoying what is the greatest earthly blessing—health!

PART II.
PREGNANCY.

SIGNS OF PREGNANCY.

222. The first sign that leads a lady to suspect that she is pregnant is her ceasing to be unwell. This, provided she has just before been in good health, is a strong symptom of pregnancy; but still there must be others to corroborate it.