=Preparatory Treatment for Patient.=—The patient should have a warm bath, and the genitals should be scrubbed thoroughly with soap and water. Shaving the parts is much to be desired if the patient has no objection, then an antiseptic pad should be applied. The nurse must be sure the bladder is empty; it is very important that a dribbling from an over-distended bladder should not be mistaken for frequent urinations; this is to prevent the danger of ruptured bladder from the constant pressure of a contracting uterus; also a distended bladder makes labor hard by interfering with the passage of the head. =During the First Stage.=—The patient may be out of bed and encouraged to take exercise. She should not walk about too freely before the head is engaged, lest this induce a malpresentation or malposition. The patient’s crying should not be prevented, and she should be told not to press down. She may have a cup of hot water or tea, but no stimulant, as an anesthetic may become necessary. =During the Second Stage.=—All clothing should be removed but the night-dress. Pin the gown up under the arm, put on perineal drawers, and a sheet around the body, then place the patient in bed. The pain in the back may be relieved by pressure over the sacrum, and the patient should be encouraged to hold her breath. The nurse should now use tact to quiet the patient, having hitherto managed, if possible, to encourage calmness. For cramps in the limbs, the muscles may be moved and firm pressure applied. A handkerchief bound tightly around the affected part may relieve it. A sheet may be tied to either side of the bed, for the patient to grasp, and a block placed at the foot of the bed for a brace for her feet. =Patient After Labor.=—The soiled skin should be gently and quickly bathed with warm solution, the vulva and perineum carefully cleansed and an antiseptic pad applied. The binder should be pinned firmly about and below the hips, allowing freedom over the upper part of the abdomen. If there is any anxiety that the uterus may relax after kneading it, a tightly folded towel may be placed over the fundus, and kept in position by the binder. A vaginal douche is never given without orders from the physician. External douches of lysol, 1 or 2 per cent., are given three or four times daily until the lochia becomes scant. The patient should be watched during the first few hours for symptoms of hemorrhage. The room should be kept quiet and dark, and light, warm covering be used on the bed. The patient may have a cup of hot water or milk to induce sleep and relieve thirst.