NUBSmQ. Wi 



MANAGEMENT OP THE MOTHBB AFTER LABOR: Treat- 

 ment During the First Few Hours — The Lochia — Necjessity 

 of the Level Posture — Care when First Sitting-up — Change 

 of Room — Going out of Doors — Changing the Linen— The 

 Binder— Washing, &c.— Avoidance of Excitement — Occu- 

 pation —Diet — The Bowels —Flooding —Rigors — Suckling — 

 Sore Nipples— Abscess of Breast— Dispersion of Milk in the 

 Event of Not Suckling. 



After the patient has been made comfortable in the manner already 

 described, it is above all things desirable that she should have sereral hours of 

 undisturbed rest, and, if possible, sleep. There used to be a curious notion 

 prevalent amongst nurses that a \roman ought not to be allowed to fall asleep 

 directly after delivery. This is altogether a mistake; sleep is to be encouraged 

 by every possible means. To this end the room should be kept exceedingly 

 quiet, and the blinds drawn down so as to subdue the light. In this way the 

 patient will be best enabled to recover from the exhausting effects of labor. 

 In the meantime the nurse should keep an eye on the patient's face, and if she 

 observe that it is becoming unusually pale, she must at once ascertain whether 

 there is any flooding. 



For the first few days the patient will suffer more or less from after-pains, 

 which only require to be brought under the notice of the medical attendant in 

 case they are very severe or interfere with sleep. As a rule, no after-paina 

 occur after a first confinement. 



The Proper Food to be given directly after labor is a cup of tea, gruel, 

 or warm milk; but if the patient prefers to wait a little before taking anything 

 at all, there is no harm in allowing her to follow her inclination. When the 

 patient has had a few hours' rest, and has recovered from her exhaustion, the 

 child should be applied to the breast. The nipples can be drawn out much 

 better before the breasts become filled with mUk than afterwards. 



Not more than six hours should elapse after labor before the patient ia 

 reminded to pass water. She should not be allowed to wait until she feels a 

 desire to do this for, under these circumstances, the bladder may be quite full 

 without the patient having any inclination to empty it. At the end of six 

 hours, then, if it has not been already asked for, the slipper-pan should be 

 passed, a little hot water having previously been poured into it and the vessel 

 itself warmed before the fire. If she finds herself unable to use the slipper-pan, 

 she may be allowed to turn herself gently on to her hands and knees, in which 

 position she will almost always succeed, an ordinary chamber utensil being in 

 in that case substituted for the slipper-pan. Should she, even after changing 

 her position, still be unable to pass urine, she 'must not make forcing efforts, 

 but lie down again, rest a little, and then make a further attempt. The patient 

 herself frequently imagines that she has passed urine, when she has not; hence 

 the nurse, knowing this, must not be satisfied without seeing for herself th* 

 contents of the vessel after its rwnoval. 



