CHAPTER VI. PRENATAL CARE. Instruction of the Mother, Examinations, and Observations. Importance of Prenatal Care. The Nurse’s Part. Personal Hygiene of Pregnancy. Excretions. Kidneys. Urine Tests. Skin. Bowels. Clothes: corsets, binders, shoes. Diet. Fresh Air and Exercise. Rest and Sleep. Care of the Breasts. Teeth. Travelling. Marital Relation. Common Discomforts during Pregnancy. Nausea and Vomiting. Heartburn. Distress. Flatulence. Diarrhea. Pressure Symptoms. Swelling of the Feet. Varicose Veins. Hemorrhoids. Cramps in the Legs. Shortness of Breath. Vaginal Discharge. Itching. Early Symptoms of Complications of Pregnancy: Toxemias, Premature Terminations, Hemorrhage. CHAPTER VII. MENTAL HYGIENE OF THE EXPECTANT MOTHER. Common Causes of Mental and Nervous Breakdown during Pregnancy. Nurse’s Attitude. CHAPTER VIII. PREPARATION OF ROOM, DRESSINGS AND EQUIPMENT FOR HOME DELIVERY. CHAPTER IX. COMPLICATIONS AND ACCIDENTS OF PREGNANCY. Premature Terminations of Pregnancy. Definition of Terms. Abortions. Causes: Abnormalities of Fetus; Abnormalities in the Generative Tract; Acute Infectious Diseases; Mental or Emotional Stress; Physical Shocks. Premonitory Symptoms. Prevention, Treatment, and Nursing Care of Threatened, Incomplete, and Complete Abortions. Missed Abortion. Therapeutic Abortion. Clerical and Legal Aspects of Abortion. Criminal Abortion. Premature Labor: Causes, Treatment and Nursing Care. Ante-partum Hemorrhage. Placenta Prævia: Cause, Symptoms, Treatment and Nursing Care. Premature Separation of a Normally Implanted Placenta: Cause, Symptoms, Treatment and Nursing Care. Toxemias of Pregnancy. Pernicious Vomiting of Pregnancy. Symptoms, Treatment and Nursing Care of Reflex Vomiting, Neurotic Vomiting, Toxemic Vomiting. Pre-eclamptic Toxemia: Symptoms, Prevention, Treatment and Nursing Care. Eclampsia: Symptoms, Treatment and Nursing Care. Nephritic Toxemia: Cause, Symptoms, Treatment and Nursing Care. Acute Yellow Atrophy of the Liver: Cause, Symptoms, Treatment and Nursing Care. Other Important Complications of Pregnancy: Syphilis. Heart Lesions. Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Thyroidism. Pyelitis. Gonorrhea. CHAPTER VI PRENATAL CARE The day is long since past when the obstetrician’s concern for his patient began when she went into labor. The obstetrician of to-day watches and cares for his patient throughout pregnancy, for he knows that by so doing he greatly increases her chances of surviving the ordeal of childbirth, and the baby’s prospect of living through that perilous first year.