preparations for the confinement
The birth chamber—What to provide for a confinement—Ready to purchase obstetrical outfits—Position and arrangement of the bed—How to properly prepare the accouchement bed—The Kelly pad—The advantages of the Kelly pad—Should a binder be used—Sanitary napkins—How to calculate the probable date of the confinement—Obstetrical table—When should a pregnant woman first call upon her physician—Regarding the choice of a physician—How to know the right kind of a physician for a confinement—The selection of a nurse—The difference between a trained and a maternity nurse—Duties of a confinement nurse—The requisites of a good confinement nurse—The personal rights of a confinement nurse—Criticizing and gossiping about physicians ... page [61]
CHAPTER VII
the hygiene of pregnancy
Daily conduct of the pregnant woman—Instructions regarding household work—Instructions regarding washing and sweeping—Instructions regarding exercise—Instructions regarding passive exercise—Instructions regarding toilet privileges—Instructions regarding bathing—Instructions regarding sexual intercourse—Clothing during pregnancy—Diet of pregnant women—Alcoholic drinks during pregnancy—The mental state of the pregnant woman—The social side of pregnancy—Minor ailments of pregnancy—Morning nausea, or sickness—Treatment of morning nausea, or sickness—Nausea occurring at the end of pregnancy—Undue nervousness during pregnancy—The 100% baby—Headache—Acidity of the stomach, or heartburn—Constipation—Varicose veins, cramps, neuralgias—Insomnia—Treatment of insomnia—Ptyalism, or excessive flow of saliva—Vaginal discharge, or leucorrhea—Importance of testing urine during pregnancy—Attention to nipples and breasts—The vagaries of pregnancy—Contact with infectious diseases—Avoidance of drugs—The danger signals of pregnancy ... page [75]
CHAPTER VIII
the management of labor
When to send for the physician in confinement cases—The preparation of the patient—The beginning of labor—The first pains—The meaning of the term "labor"—Length of the first stage of labor—What the first stage of labor
means—What the second stage of labor means—Length of the second stage—Duration of the first confinement—Duration of subsequent confinements—Conduct of patient during second stage of labor—What a labor pain means—How a willful woman can prolong labor—Management of actual birth of child—Position of woman during birth of child—Duty of nurse immediately following birth of child—Expulsion of after-birth—How to expel after-birth—Cutting the cord—Washing the baby's eyes immediately after birth—What to do with baby immediately after birth—Conduct immediately after labor—After pains—Rest and quiet after labor—Position of patient after labor—The Lochia—The events of the following day—The first breakfast after confinement—The importance of emptying the bladder after labor—How to effect a movement of the bowels after labor—Instructing the nurse in details—Douching after labor—How to give a douche—"Colostrum," its uses—Advantages of putting baby to breast early after labor—The first lunch—The first dinner—Diet after third day ... page [93]