GESTATION. 19 



dergoes a great development in connection with, the forma- 

 tion of the placenta (see below) . Meanwhile the whole uterus 

 enlarges; its muscular coat especially thickens. At first 

 the organ still lies within the pelvis, where there is but 

 little room for it; it accordingly presses on the bladder and 

 rectum (see Fig. 163)* and the nerves in the neighborhood, 

 frequently causing considerable discomfort or pain; and, 

 reflexly, often exciting nausea or vomiting (the morning 

 sickness of pregnancy). Later on, the pregnant womb 

 escapes higher into the abdominal cavity, and although then 

 larger, the soft abdominal walls more readily make room for 

 it, and less discomfort is usually felt, though there may be 

 shortness of breath and palpitation of the heart from inter- 

 ference with the diaphragmatic movements. All tight 

 garments should at this time be especially avoided; the 

 woman's breathing is already sufficiently impeded, and the 

 pressure may also injure the developing child. Meanwhile, 

 changes occur elsewhere in the Body. The breasts enlarge 

 and hard masses of developing glandular tissue can be felt in 

 them; and there may be mental symptoms: depression, 

 anxiety, and an emotional nervous state. 



During the whole period of gestation the woman is not 

 merely supplying from her blood nutriment for the foatus, 

 but also, through her lungs and kidneys, getting rid of its 

 wastes; the result is a strain on her whole system which, it 

 is true, she is constructed to bear and will carry well if in 

 good health, but which is severely felt if she be feeble or 

 suffering from disease. Many a wife who might have led a 

 long and happy life is made an invalid or brought to pre- 

 mature death, through being kept in a chronic state of 

 pregnancy. There is a general agreement that sexual con- 

 tinence is possible and a duty in unmarried men, but the 

 husband rarely considers that he should put any bounds on 

 himself beyond those indicated by his own passions; consid- 

 eration for his wife's health rarely enters his head in this 

 connection. The healthy married woman who endeavors 

 to evade motherhood because she thinks she will thus pre- 

 serve her personal appearance, or because she dislikes the 

 trouble of a family, deserves but little sympathy; she is 



* P. 10 of Appendix. 



