Advice to a wife and mother in two parts

by Pye Henry Chavasse

354. The breasts are, at times, during pregnancy, much swollen and very painful; and, now and then, they cause the patient great uneasiness, as she fancies that she is going to have either some dreadful tumor or a gathering of the bosom. There need, in such a case, be no apprehension. The swelling and the pain are the consequences of the pregnancy, and will in due time subside without any unpleasant result. The fact is, great changes are taking place in the breasts; they are developing themselves, and are preparing for the important functions they will have to perform the moment the labor is completed.

355. Treatment.—She cannot do better than, every night and morning, to well rub them with equal parts of eau de Cologne and of olive oil, and to wear a piece of new flannel over them; taking care to cover the nipples with soft linen, as the friction of the flannel may irritate them. The liniment encourages a little milky fluid to ooze out of the nipple, which will afford relief.

356. If stays be worn, the patient should wear them slack, in order to allow the bosoms plenty of room to develop themselves. The bones of the stays ought all to be removed, or serious consequences might ensue.

357. Bowel complaints, during pregnancy, are not unfrequent. A dose either of rhubarb and magnesia, or of castor oil, are the best remedies, and are generally, in the way of medicine, all that is necessary.

358. The diet at such times ought to be simple, small in quantity, and nourishing. Farinaceous food, such as rice, tapioca, sago, Du Barry’s Arabica Revalenta, and arrow-root, are particularly beneficial. Green vegetables and fruits, especially stone fruits and uncooked fruits, ought to be avoided.

359. The surface of the body—the bowels and feet particularly—ought to be kept warm. If a lady suffer habitually from relaxation of the bowels, let her, by all means, wear a flannel vest next the skin.

360. The bladder.—The patient during pregnancy is liable to various affections of the bladder. There is sometimes a sluggishness of that organ, and she has little or no inclination to make water. There is, at another time, a great irritability of the bladder, and she is constantly wanting to pass urine; while, in a third case, more especially toward the latter period of the time, she can scarcely hold her water at all,—the slightest bodily exertion, such as walking, stooping, coughing, sneezing, etc., causing it to come away involuntarily; and even in some cases, where she is perfectly still, it dribbles away without her having any power to prevent its doing so.

361. A sluggish state of the bladder is best remedied by gentle exercise, and by the patient attempting, whether she want or not, to make water at least every four hours.

362. Irritability of the bladder.—The patient ought, during the day, to drink freely of the following beverage:

Take of—Best Gum Arabic, one ounce;