Advice to a wife and mother in two parts

by Pye Henry Chavasse

POSITION.

568. The way of placing the patient in bed.—She ought not, immediately after a labor, under any pretext or pretense whatever, to be allowed to raise herself in bed. If she be dressed, as recommended at paragraph 508, her soiled linen may readily be removed; and she may be drawn up by two assistants—one being at the shoulders and the other at the legs—to the proper place, as she herself must not be allowed to use the slightest exertion.

569. Inattention to the above recommendation has caused violent flooding, fainting, bearing down of the womb, etc., and in some cases even fatal consequences.

THE LYING-IN ROOM.

570. The room to be kept cool and well ventilated.—A nurse is too apt, after the confinement is over, to keep a large fire. Nothing is more injurious than to have the temperature of a lying-in room high. A little fire, provided the weather be cold, to dress the baby by, and to encourage a circulation of the air, is desirable. A fire-guard ought to be attached to the grate of the lying-in room. The door must occasionally be left ajar, in order to change the air of the apartment; a lying-in woman requires pure air as much as any other person; but how frequently does the nurse fancy that it is dangerous for her to breathe it!

571. After the affair is over, the blinds ought to be put down, and the window curtains should be drawn, in order to induce the patient to have a sleep, and thus to rest herself after her hard work. Perfect stillness must reign both in the room and in the house.

572. It is really surprising, in this present enlightened age, how much misconception and prejudice there still is among the attendants of a lying-in room; they fancy labor to be a disease, instead of being what it really is—a natural process; and that old-fashioned notions, and not common sense, ought to guide them.

573. The patient should, after the labor, be strictly prohibited from talking; and noisy conversation ought not to be allowed; indeed, she cannot be kept too quiet, as she may then be induced to fall into a sweet sleep, which would recruit her wasted strength. As soon as the baby is washed and dressed, and the mother is made comfortable in bed, the nurse ought alone to remain; let every one else be banished the lying-in room. Visitors should on no account, until the medical man gives permission, be allowed to see the patient.

THE BLADDER.

574. Ought a patient to go to sleep before she has made water?—There is not the least danger in her doing so (although some old-fashioned person might tell her that there is); nevertheless, before she goes to sleep, if she have the slightest inclination she should respond to it, as it would make her feel more comfortable and sleep more sweetly.