The midwives' pocket book.

  • Morten, Honnor, 1861-1913.
Date:
1897
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The midwives' pocket book. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by University of Bristol Library. The original may be consulted at University of Bristol Library.

    68/112 (page 56)
    Wash your patient and plait her hair in two plaits ; give her a soap and water enema if the bowels have not acted within the last two or three hours, and let her pass water. Dress her in a clean night-dress pinned up under the arms, and put an old flannel petticoat on round the waist. Let her have a drink, of water or cup of tea if she wishes. At the end of the first stage there may be cramp, sickness, or shivering'; the woman may want to sit up, thinking the bowels are going to act; do not allow this, or the child may be born in the chamber. During the second stage your patient must lie on the bed on her left side with knees drawn up and sepa- rated by a pillow. Poor people have all sorts of fancies about lying across the bed or at the foot; the point to insist on is a position that is convenient to the midwife, and will prevent the soiling of the bed. It is a relief to the patient to press against the small of her back during the pains. To prevent rupture of the perineum, which is frequent in primipera, but is always a disgrace to the midwife, it is well to bathe the perineum with warm water, or to rub it with vaseline if it is a first child. But be sure your manipulations do not disturb the patient in those brief merciful dozes that give strength and relief between the pains in