Mother, Nurse and Infant / A Manual Especially Adapted for the Guidance of Mothers and Monthly Nurses, Comprising Full Instruction in Regard To Pregnancy, Preparation for Child-birth, and the Care of Mother and Child, and Designed to Impart so Much Knowledge of Anatomy, Physiology, Midwifery, and the Proper Use of Medicines as Will Serve Intelligently to Direct the Wife, Mother and Nurse in All Emergencies.

by S. P. Sackett

The history of the case is important in forming an opinion as to whether there may be severe hemorrhage. Some women are naturally predisposed to flowing.

PART IV.
SKILLED NURSING AND MIDWIFERY.

CHAPTER I.
PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTION TO THE NURSE MIDWIFE.

It is my design in giving the following instructions to prepare the student of this work to be a skilled or skillful nurse, not to be simply a midwife; to act in conjunction with, not in opposition to, physicians; to conform to, and not to violate laws which regulate the practice of medicine; to officiate in cases of easy, natural labor sometimes, but never in cases requiring the use of instruments; to be prepared to act in emergencies until the doctor can come and take the case; not to treat the case when the services of a physician can be obtained and is desired or needed; in short to act intelligently in all cases in which women now act perhaps blindly, hurriedly and ignorantly.

The present state of feeling among our people, and especially among the medical profession in this country, would not sanction an effort to educate women solely as midwives.

But there is a general feeling or sentiment that every young lady ought to have that kind of education which may render her useful; that she should be prepared in some way to minister to the desires, wants and needs of her fellow creatures, and that some part of that knowledge or skill should be of that kind which would be available if these persons were thrown on their own resources; hence I would have some of you to be, not only nurses of the sick, but skilled nurses of lying-in women. And should some young lady after studying this work, decide to pursue the study of medicine thoroughly and become a physician, the knowledge here obtained would be available.

PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS.

1. Do not stop short of a thorough knowledge of this book, every part of it.

2. Endeavor here to get a knowledge of midwifery that will qualify you to attend ordinary cases of natural labor, and enable you sometimes to give medicine when needed, and when there are no physicians in attendance; but understand that there are many times when the only proper thing for you to do is to send for a physician or experienced accoucheur.

3. Do not hesitate to seek knowledge and experience and instruction from any source where you think that you can obtain it. Physicians will be willing to aid you, and I think the time is coming when he will regard the educated nurse as his friend, and not as his natural enemy.