It is this stitch in time that means so much to the pregnant woman and her expected baby. But the most painstaking obstetrician requires the co-operation of his patient in innumerable little ways, if she is to have the fullest benefits of his skill; for it is not so much what the doctor advises that counts as how the patient lives. It is at this point that nurses are more and more being given opportunity for immensely gratifying service. A private patient who is in the care of an obstetrician is, of course, supervised and instructed by her doctor. But there are other patients—women who cannot afford this individual care, but who need care none the less. And it is these expectant mothers that nurses are helping the doctors to instruct in the principles of right living, and are watching for danger signs, through visiting nurse societies, out-patient departments of hospitals and through prenatal clinics. The character and extent of the instruction and supervision given by the nurses is, of course, decided by the medical board of her organization, and is often affected by the conditions under which the work is conducted. The nurses in a rural community, for example, may take blood pressures and test urine for albumen, while in cities, rich in doctors and medical institutions, these observations might not be among their duties. In addition to this definite relation to expectant mothers, nurses are meeting them, unofficially and informally, at every turn; women who are needing, but not receiving, care from a doctor or an organization; women who are puzzled or troubled over their condition, but do not know where nor how to obtain advice; women who could employ a physician but do not appreciate the importance of his care. Every nurse should recognize it as her duty to advise an unsupervised, pregnant woman to place herself under medical care, no matter under what conditions she meets her. In the discharge of her duties, the nurse will sometimes need no little ingenuity to adapt the routines of prenatal care, as prescribed by her organization, to the mentality, traditions and varied demands of the daily lives of her patients. But this will have to be done, for though in a general way the needs of all expectant mothers are the same, their circumstances and personalities are infinitely varied. It may require undreamed-of tact and resourcefulness to convince a patient that details of care, which seem wholly unrelated to her or her baby’s welfare, will actually increase their chances for life and health. For this reason, it is of almost prime importance that the nurse win her patient’s friendship and confidence. She will then scarcely realize that she is being taught, but will do and continue to do as she is advised, because of an almost insensible reliance upon the judgment and sincerity of her counsellors.