yuEsmG. Z81 



Two pillows are then to be put in the centre of the bed, so that the patient may 

 lie with the upper part of the body directly across the bed, the hips being as 

 near the edge as possible. The upper bed-clothing during labor should consist 

 of a sheet, one blanket, and a thin counterpane, which should completely hide 

 from exposure every part of the patient's person, except the head and neck. 

 A long roller-towel should be fastened to the bed-post at the patient's feet. 

 Nurses often make the mistake of fixing this to the post at the opposite corner, 

 or even to one of the posts at the bed's head. A very little consideration, how- 

 ever, will make the inconvenience of this arrangement apparent. By grasping 

 the end of a towel, attached in the way I have recommended, the patient pulls 

 herself still closer to the edge and foot of the bed; whereas, by pulling at a 

 towel fastened to one of the posts on the further side of the bed, she drags 

 herself away from the very position which it is desirable she should preserve. 

 The same objection, of course, applies to supplying the place of the towel by 

 means of the hands of an attendant standing on the left side of the bed. This 

 should never be encouraged, as it always has a tendency to displace the patient, 

 and to render it difficult for the medical attendant to give needful assistance. 



As labor advances, and it becomes necessary for the patient to be placed in 

 bed, she should put on a clean chemise and night-dress, which should be rolled up 

 under the armpits out of reach of the discharges, while the soiled chemise and 

 night-dress should be slipped down from the arms and shoulders, and loosely 

 fastened round the waist. (Amongst the working classes it is still too much the 

 custom for women to be confined in their every -day dress. It is a practice that 

 ought always to be discountenanced.) The hair should be dressed in such a way 

 that the continuous lying in bed after the confinement will not drag upon or 

 entangle it more than is inevitable. 



It is very undesirable for a woman in labor to be surrounded by a number 

 of friends and neighbors. In most cases the nurse herself is the only attendant 

 that is really needed, although the presence of one other person (the husband) 

 should not be objected to, if the patient wishes it. 



No nurse should ever allow herself to be teased into prophesying that the 

 labor will be over by a certain hour. If such prophesies turn out incorrect, as they 

 are most likely to do, the patient loses courage and confidence. All gossip ia 

 to be avoided, and nurses should be particularly careful to make no reference 

 to their past experiences, especially such as have been unfavorable. A good, 

 kind nurse will not be at a loss for a few helpful and encouraging words as 

 labor goes on, and will not need to have recourse either to foohsh promises or 

 dismal anecdotes. 



Every now and then the patient should be reminded to pass water, lest the 

 bladder should become so full as to hinder labor. This point is often neglected, 

 partly because the attention is so preoccupied that the desire to empty the blad- 

 der is scarcely perceived, and partly because when the waters have broken, the 

 escape of a little gush of amniotic fluid during each pain often misleads the 

 patient, making her think she has passed urine when really she has not. 



Pood for the Patient.— In the early part of labor when pains are slight 

 and the intervals long, there is no reason for interfering either with the charac- 



