The Four Epochs of Woman's Life; A Study in HygieneGalbraith, Anna M. (Anna Mary)
Science
The Four Epochs of Woman's Life; A Study in Hygiene
Galbraith, Anna M. (Anna Mary)
Women -- Health and hygiene
Diet.-- For the first twenty-four hours the diet must be restricted to
liquids, and in most cases nothing is given until the patient has had
a few hours' rest. The first thing that is given to the patient should
be a cup of warm milk or tea. Milk is the best diet; this may be
varied with beef-tea, bouillon, mutton or chicken broth; any of these
broths may be made with rice or barley to vary the flavor, but these
must not be given to the patient. The patient should have six ounces
of the liquid every two hours during the day and every three hours
during the night.
On the second day bread well toasted through may be added to any of
the liquids. On the third day stewed or baked apples should be added
to the diet. On the fourth day, and from this on, the patient will
have regular meals, but the diet must be a plain one. For breakfast,
stale bread, a soft-boiled egg, fruit, and a cup of tea, not too
strong. For dinner, which should always be given in the middle of the
day, an oyster-stew or clam broth, a lamb chop, or a very small piece
of beefsteak or chicken; but with these there must be no gravies or
dressings; a potato baked in the skin; raw tomatoes, if in season;
apple sauce or cranberry; celery; junket, plain corn-starch, lemon
jelly, plain cup-custard. From this list the diet must be arranged so
as to give as much variety as possible from day to day. Midway between
breakfast and dinner, and again in the middle of the afternoon, the
patient should have a glass of milk. The diet should be generous, but
simple.
Urination.-- The feeble condition of the bladder in the first few
hours after delivery frequently leads to the retention of urine. Owing
to the copious secretion of urine which is so common at this time,
painful and injurious distention of the bladder may result. The
patient should therefore endeavor to pass her urine in at least six
hours after labor, whether she feels any inclination to do so or not;
the sound of running water or warm fomentations over the bladder, warm
water in the douche-pan, and moderate pressure applied by the hand
over the suprapubic region, are often effective in accomplishing the
desired result. If all these means fail, the catheter must be used as
the last resort. During the entire lying-in the bladder should be
emptied every six hours.
Evacuation of the Bowels.-- There should be an evacuation of the
bowels in from twenty-four to thirty-six hours after the labor. For
this purpose a seidlitz powder may be given, or the liquid citrate of
magnesia. If this does not suffice, an enema of warm water, to which a
little soap or two teaspoonfuls of glycerin have been added, may be
given. Two pints of water should be prepared; the patient will retain
as much as she comfortably can, and as long as she can. The bowels
should be opened daily after the first day.
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