Hints to mothers for the management of health during the period of pregnancy and in the lying-in room : with an exposure of popular errors in connection with those subjects. : and hints upon nursing.

  • Bull, Thomas.
Date:
1865
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Hints to mothers for the management of health during the period of pregnancy and in the lying-in room : with an exposure of popular errors in connection with those subjects. : and hints upon nursing. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

    72/450 (page 56)
    It must not be forgotten, however, that a woman may mistake her condition, and that such mistakes are not at all unlikely to arise from the circumstance that the symptoms which naturally accompany the cessation of menstruation much resemble those of pregnancy. She passes over the menstrual period;—she is struck with this. Other symptoms are soon manifested; the size increases—the breasts even become swollen and painful—the stomach disordered, and the appetite capricious—flatulence collects in the intestines; and whilst on this account the size still increases, the air moving' about the bowels gives an inward sensation which is mistaken by the female for the plunging of the child. Time alone, or the inves- tigation of the medical attendant, detects the mistake; and the symptoms are then to be easily removed by the employment of carminative and purgative medicines, the use of active exercise, and bandaging the distended abdomen. It must be remembered also, that suppression of the monthly return may arise from a variety of causes, altogether independent of conception. Every woman is aware that exposure to cold, just before the expected period, is a frequent cause. Different forms of disease, hardsliips, or mental emotions, may produce the same result. It does not follow, therefore, because menstruation ceases, pregnancy must exist; which naturally presents the inquiry, what dependence is to be phiced u-:on the omission of menstruation as a symptom