DISEASES OF PREGNANCY.
1. COSTIVE STATE OF THE BOWELS.—A costive state of the bowels
is common in pregnancy; a mild laxative is therefore occasionally
necessary. The mildest must be selected, as a strong purgative
is highly improper, and even dangerous. Calomel and all other
preparations of mercury are to be especially avoided, as a mercurial
medicine is apt to weaken the system, and sometimes even to produce
a miscarriage. Let me again urge the importance of a lady, during the
whole period of pregnancy, being particular as to the state of her
bowels, as costiveness is a fruitful cause of painful, tedious and
hard labors.
2. LAXATIVES.—The best laxatives are caster oil, salad oil, compound
rhubarb pills, honey, stewed prunes, stewed rhubarb, Muscatel raisins, figs, grapes, roasted apples, baked pears, stewed Normandy pippins, coffee, brown-bread and treacle. Scotch oatmeal made with new milk or water, or with equal parts of milk and water.
3. PILLS.—When the motions are hard, and when the bowels are easily
acted upon, two, or three, or four pills made of Castile soap will
frequently answer the purpose; and if they will, are far better than
any other ordinary laxative. The following is a good form. Take of:
Castile Soap, five scruples; Oil of Caraway, six drops;
To make twenty-four pills. Two, or three, or four to be taken at
bedtime, occasionally.
4. HONEY.—A teaspoonful of honey, either eaten at breakfast
or dissolved in a cup of tea, will frequently, comfortably and
effectually, open the bowels, and will supersede the necessity of
taking laxative medicine.
5. NATURE'S MEDICINES.—Now, Nature's medicines—exercise in the open
air, occupation, and household duties—on the contrary, not only at
the time open the bowels, but keep up a proper action for the future; her—their inestimable superiority.
6. WARM WATER INJECTIONS.—An excellent remedy for costiveness of
pregnancy is an enema, either of warm water, or of Castile soap
and water, which the patient, by means of a self-injecting
enema-apparatus, may administer to herself. The quantity of warm water
to be used, is from half a pint to a pint; the proper heat is the
temperature of new milk; the time for administering it is early in the
morning, twice or three times a week.
7. MUSCULAR PAINS OF THE ABDOMEN.—The best remedy is an abdominal
belt constructed for pregnancy, and adjusted with proper straps and
buckles to accomodate the gradually increasing size of the womb. This
plan often affords great comfort and relief; indeed, such a belt is
indispensably necessary.
8. DIARRHEA.—Although the bowels in pregnancy are generally costive, they are sometimes in an opposite state, and are relaxed. Now, this relaxation is frequently owing to there having been prolonged constipation, and Nature is trying to relieve herself by purging. Do not check it, but allow it to have its course, and take a little rhubarb or magnesia. The diet should be simple, plain, and nourishing, and should consist of beef tea, chicken broth, arrow-root, and of well-made and well-boiled oatmeal gruel. Butcher's meat, for a few days, should not be eaten; and stimulants of all kinds must be avoided.
9. FIDGETS.—A pregnant lady sometimes suffers severely from
"fidgets"; it generally affects her feet and legs, especially at
night, so as to entirely destroy her sleep; she cannot lie still; she
every few minutes moves, tosses and tumbles about—first on one side, then on the other. The causes of "fidgets" are a heated state of the blood; an irritable condition of the nervous system, prevailing at that particular time; and want of occupution. The treatment of "fidgets" consists of: sleeping in a well-ventilated apartment, with either window or door open; a thorough ablution of the whole body every morning, and a good washing with tepid water of the face, neck, chest, arms and hands every night; shunning hot and close rooms; taking plenty of out-door exercise; living on a bland, nourishing, put not rich diet; avoiding meat at night, and substituting in lieu thereof, either a cupful of arrow-root made with milk, or of well-boiled oatmeal gruel.