Advice to a wife and mother in two parts

by Pye Henry Chavasse

233. Flatulence has sometimes misled a young wife to fancy that she has quickened; but, in determining whether she be pregnant, she ought never to be satisfied with one symptom alone; if she be, she will be frequently misled. The following are a few of the symptoms that will distinguish the one from the other: in flatulence, the patient is small one hour and large the next; while in pregnancy the enlargement is persistent, and daily and gradually increases. In flatulence, on pressing the bowels firmly, a rumbling of wind may be heard, which will move about at will; while the enlargement of the womb in pregnancy is solid, resistant, and stationary. In flatulence, on tapping—percussing—the belly there will be a hollow sound elicited as from a drum; while in pregnancy it will be a dull, heavy sound, as from thrumming on a table. In flatulence, if the points of the fingers be firmly pressed into the belly, the wind will wobble about; in pregnancy they will be resisted as by a wall of flesh.

234. The fifth symptom is, immediately after the quickening, increased size and hardness of the belly. An accumulation of fat covering the belly has sometimes led a lady to suspect that she is pregnant; but the soft and doughy feeling of the fat is very different to the hardness, solidity, and resistance of pressure of pregnancy.

235. The sixth symptom is pouting or protrusion of the navel. This symptom does not occur until some time after a lady has quickened; indeed, for the first two months of pregnancy the navel is drawn in and depressed. As the pregnancy advances, the navel gradually comes more forward. “The navel, according to the progress of the pregnancy, is constantly emerging, till it comes to an even surface with the integuments of the abdomen [belly]; and to this circumstance much regard is to be paid in cases of doubtful pregnancy.”[^[54]]

236. Sleepiness, heartburn, increased flow of saliva, toothache, loss of appetite, longings, excitability of mind, a pinched appearance of countenance, liver or sulphur-colored patches on the skin, and likes and dislikes in eating,—either the one or the other of these symptoms frequently accompany pregnancy; but, as they might arise from other causes, they are not to be relied on further than this—that if they attend the more certain signs of pregnancy, such as cessation of being “regular,” morning sickness, pains and enlargement of and milk in the breasts, the gradually darkening brown areola or mark around the nipple, etc., they will then make assurance doubly sure, and a lady may know for certain that she is pregnant.[^[55]]

CLOTHING.

237. A lady who is pregnant ought on no account to wear tight dresses, as the child should have plenty of room. She ought to be, as enceinte signifies, incincta, or unbound. Let the clothes be adapted to the gradual development both of the belly and the breasts. She must, whatever she may usually do, wear her stays loose. If there be bones in the stays, let them be removed. Tight lacing is injurious both to the mother and to the child, and frequently causes the former to miscarry; at another time it has produced a crossbirth; and sometimes it has so pressed in the nipples as to prevent a proper development of them, so that where a lady has gone her time, she has been unable to suckle her infant, the attempt often causing a gathered bosom. These are great misfortunes, and entail great misery both on the mother and the child (if it has not already killed him), and ought to be a caution and a warning to every lady for the future.

238. The feet and legs during pregnancy are very apt to swell and to be painful, and the veins of the legs to be largely distended. The garters ought at such times to be worn slack, as tight garters are highly injurious, and, if the veins be very much distended, it will be necessary for her to wear a properly-adjusted elastic silk stocking, made purposely to fit her foot and leg, and which a medical man will himself procure for her.

ABLUTION.

239. A warm bath in pregnancy is too relaxing. A tepid bath once a week is beneficial. Sponging the whole of the body every morning with lukewarm water may with safety and advantage be adopted, gradually reducing the temperature of the water until it be used quite cold. The skin should, with moderately coarse towels, be quickly but thoroughly dried.

240. Either the bidet or sitz-bath[^[56]] ought every morning to be used. The patient should first sponge herself, and then finish up by sitting for a few seconds, or while, in the winter, she can count fifty, or while, in the summer, she can count a hundred, in the water. It is better not to be long in it; it is a slight shock that is required, which, where the sitz-bath agrees, is immediately followed by an agreeable glow of the whole body. If she sits in the water for a long time she becomes chilled and tired, and is very likely to catch cold. She ought, until she become accustomed to the cold, to have a dash of warm water added; but the sooner she can use quite cold water the better. While sitting in the bath she should throw either a woolen shawl or a small blanket over her shoulders. She will find the greatest comfort and benefit from adopting the above recommendation. Instead of giving, it will prevent cold, and it will be one of the means of warding off a miscarriage, and of keeping her in good health.