The Prospective Mother, a Handbook for Women During PregnancySlemons, J. Morris (Josiah Morris)
Science
The Prospective Mother, a Handbook for Women During Pregnancy
Slemons, J. Morris (Josiah Morris)
Obstetrics; Pregnancy
One must always be alert to see the very first attempt at breathing,
for unduly prolonged manipulations may defeat their own object; the
natural inclination always is to do too much rather than not enough.
In some instances, however, the measures thus far indicated will not
prove successful, and, if not, the cord must be tied and cut through,
for subsequent treatment cannot be conveniently carried out while the
child remains attached to the placenta. As soon as the cord is
severed the child is placed in a tub of warm water, about the normal
temperature of the body, and is moved about in the bath for a few
moments, the attendant watching closely all the while, for the
breathing is often very superficial. Should signs of beginning
respiration not appear, the attendant should grasp the child by the
shoulders, dip it up to the neck in a basin of cold water and quickly
return it to the warm tub. This operation may be repeated five or six
times; generally the instant the child touches the cold water it
draws up its feet, opens its eyes, and cries. One must take care that
the plunge lasts but a moment; if the child becomes chilled efforts
to revive it will likely be unsuccessful. Indeed, the necessity for
keeping it warm must be constantly borne in mind.
With the very exceptional cases in which hot and cold tubs are
ineffective, the following method becomes valuable. Wrap the child in
a blanket and lay it face downward upon a table or chair, allowing
the head to hang over the edge. Roll the body on one side or a little
beyond; then slowly roll it back upon its face and onward to the
other side. This maneuver is repeated fourteen times to the minute,
but not more frequently. When properly performed it secures a flow of
air to and from the lungs with the same rapidity as in the normal
respiration of an infant. Efforts to revive the child must not be
quickly given up, as a successful outcome occasionally requires half
an hour of work or even longer. One method after another should be
tried in the order which I have indicated. A physician always
perseveres so long as the heart-sounds can be heard; but, since an
inexperienced person might be unable to decide upon this point, the
most reliable course for the layman is to persist in the
resuscitation until the physician arrives.
CHAPTER XI
THE LYING-IN PERIOD
The Changes in the Uterus--The Lochia--The Return of Menstruation--
Other Restorative Changes: The Loss in Weight; The Abdominal Wall;
The Pelvic Floor--The Care of the Patient: The Elimination of Waste
Material; Cleanliness; The Diet; The Environment; The Time for
Getting up--The Final Examination.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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