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GESTATION AND PARTURITION. 445
and don't
knows how to make a beautiful live baby,
know how to "born it." I feel a perfect
her powers, and let see my patient that I do. Gene
confidence in
rally I can fix the time of birth, and I have done so often
within five minutes by the watch. But I am careful not
to promise too much.
At an early stage of labor, the bowels should be
moved freely, and an opportunity given the patient to
urinate often. During the dilating pains, no support
can be of much service ; but after the regular bearing-
around the loins,
down pains have set in, a bandage put
and held firmly by an assistant at each pain, sometimes
is a great relief.
The position is of little consequence.
Some ladies
like to sit in a chair; some walk about the room, and
stand, sit. or kneel at each pain, holding on by whatever
is handy; some lie on the side, to be delivered, and
some on the back. I had one who preferred to be de
livered on her knees, and it proved a very convenient
way. I prefer that the patient should lie on her back,
with her right side toward me. The clothing should
be such as not to be in the way, and to be easily re
moved.
- As the pains become more frequent and more severe,
the patient and friends grow anxious to know if all
is right. I am now to compelled make another exami
nation.- If the weather is warm, I beg leave to remove
my coat ; but if the room is cool, or the people par
ticular, I ask some one to pin a napkin around my arms,
to protect the sleeves. With this precaution, 1 make
an examination during a pain, and find the bag of waters
protruding, and by waiting until the pain has passed off,
38