What a Young Wife Ought to KnowDrake, Emma F. Angell (Emma Frances Angell)
Science
What a Young Wife Ought to Know
Drake, Emma F. Angell (Emma Frances Angell)
Infants -- Care; Marriage; Women -- Health and hygiene
There are several distressing ailments which afflict the pregnant woman,
and which are too often by the uninformed considered a necessity, hence
nothing is done for them. Leavitt has said wisely, “The general health
is already frequently disturbed, and the system in an enfeebled state,
when pregnancy is established. The woman at once enters on the trying
experiences of early gestation—attributing nearly all her symptoms to the
physiological changes being wrought in her organism. Viewing them also
as, in great measure essential features of her condition, she is prone
to neglect proper attention to hygienic rules.”
Another mistake is too frequently made by the women, and indulged by
the physician, namely, considering the pregnant state a pathological,
diseased, or unnatural condition, in every instance, while it should be
in the majority of cases purely a physiological, natural and healthy
condition. True, woman is not exempt during pregnancy from the various
ills that assail her sex, and the human family as a whole; but that every
ailment with which she is assailed should be attributed to her condition
is a mistake, and a greater mistake is to neglect proper treatment for
these ills.
The morning sickness is one of the most common and troublesome ailments
of the parturient, and one which is most often neglected. But it is
likewise one which can be controlled in the majority of instances. Do not
neglect it, but see to it at once. Plenty of exercise in the open air,
well-aired sleeping rooms, pleasant surroundings and suitable food go far
to mitigate this ill, but the doctor will need to be consulted at times.
The diet of women suffering from morning sickness, should be regulated,
and nothing deleterious to her allowed. Often the aggravated ailment can
be traced to vagaries of appetite, which have been foolishly indulged,
which corrected, and a reasonable diet substituted, will do much to aid
the cure. Often a few mouthfuls of food or a cup of coffee taken in the
morning before rising will prove of decided benefit, and should be tried
before medicines are resorted to.
The false notion that the pregnant woman “must eat for two,” and so
proceed to indulge her appetite to the utmost, should be corrected. The
appetite should be kept under in pregnancy as carefully as at any other
time, and rather than otherwise, more care be taken in the selection of
food, and regularity of meals.
Leavitt recommends as articles specially suited to the earlier months of
pregnancy, the following:—“Mutton-broth, chicken-broth, oysters, clams
and fish. When they have heretofore agreed, the following may also be
eaten: beef, mutton, chicken, game, eggs, stale bread, oat meal, rice,
baked potatoes, spinach, macaroni, greens, celery, green peas, lettuce,
asparagus, oranges, grapes, and stewed fruit. Desserts should in most
instances be avoided.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account