Pregnant women are very liable to piles. Of course we know such are caused by constipation. It is very important that pregnant women be schooled to pay strict attention to their bowels, not allowing either constipation, or diarrhoea; and by attending early to these derangements much trouble can be avoided. Turkey rhubarb was our favorite in such cases. Nux vomica and Sulphur are the principle remedies of today. Give the Nux at night and the Sulphur in the morning. If these do not relieve in a few days, it will be wise to consider Ignatia or other of our homoeopathic remedies.
A sluggish condition of the bowels is one the annoying troubles of pregnancy. There are many circumstances to induce it, and it must be carefully guarded against. A change should generally be made in the diet; eat plenty of ripe sweet fruit, such as apples, prunes, peaches, etc.; take plenty of exercise in the open air. Avoid coffee and all stimulating liquids. It is best not to use violent purgatives, as they are able to produce miscarriage. Nux vomica every morning and night here will most likely prove worthy, and if not Lycopodium or Sulphur may be taken. If the bowels feel painful, Bryonia and Ignatia will often prove beneficial.
Diarrhoea does not occur so often during pregnancy as constipation, but is much more injurious, as it rapidly weakens the patient if not checked. Sometimes there is simply looseness of the bowels, where the movements are more frequent than usual; but the appetite remains good and the general health is not affected. Such cases may be controlled simply by regulating the diet. The diarrhoea which is to be feared, is when the discharges are dark-colored, liquid, and very offensive; the breath is bad, and there is a disagreeable taste in the mouth; little or no appetite. The principle remedies here are Chamomilla, Pulsatilla, Dulcamara and Nux vomica used according to symptoms presented.
In cases of dyspepsia, heartburn, or sour stomach sometimes a slice of lemon, sugared and kept in the mouth will relieve, or one drop of sulphuric acid in a tumbler of water. If these do not relieve try Nux vomica and Pulsatilla in alternation.
Females during the early months of pregnancy are frequently attacked with fainting and hysteric fits.
The patient should be placed in cold air and cold water dashed over the face, and ammonia held to the nostrils. When the paroxysm is over, give a dose of Coffea or Chamomilla. When the attack is caused by anger give Chamomilla; by fear Veratrum; for nervous persons, Ignatia, Coffea, or Chamomilla.
Should there be incontinence of urine (enuresis) we must not forget Pulsatilla, Sepia, or Causticum. On the other hand when there is difficult urination (strangury), which is often an exceedingly troublesome complaint, caused by pressure of the enlarged uterus upon the bladder, I have often scalded a little parsley and given the decoction or tea, a few teaspoonfuls at a time quite often to allow proper urination to take place. Apple water also will do the trick. Among our homoeopathic remedies Pulsatilla is the principal remedy. The administration half- hourly of a few doses of Gelsemium in almost any potency will nine times out of ten render the catheter unnecessary in cases of retention of urine after confinement.
Mention should probably be made here that the nipples during and after pregnancy are liable to become cracked and inflamed, and this happens especially after the child begins to nurse, therefore, for several weeks previous to delivery the breasts should frequently be bathed in cold water, and rubbed down with coarse towels. Sometimes bathing the nipples and breasts with brandy twice a day for several weeks previous to confinement will be found beneficial. Or using a decoction of green tea or a decoction of oak bark, or pomegranate. Should there be tenderness or soreness, bathe the nipples and breasts frequently in a weak solution of arnica.
I don’t intend going into a discussion of labor and delivery as my intention here is to treat factors which will aid the mother over the confinement period.
Often the secretion of milk may be suddenly suppressed from various causes, such as exposure to cold and dampness, mental emotions, errors in eating. Here hop tea or a glass of beer will bring milk, and a little thuja ointment rubbed on the breast will reduce the hardness of the breast and aid the milk to flow.
If, on the other hand, there is an excessive secretion of milk, which sometimes happens, causing distention of the breast and sometimes inflammation, debility, headache and other nervous disorders, Calcarea carb. or Phosphorus will generally afford relief.
If the nipples become sore after the child has left the breast, the nipples should be washed with cold water to which has been added a few drops of arnica and they should then be thoroughly dried and the milk squeezed out of them, and covered with powdered starch.
My advice to expectant mothers has always been to be careful in raising the arms high as in hanging clothes and the like during pregnancy as it is likely to lead to a miscarriage.
By taking red raspberry tea each day for three or four months before confinement all aching pains around the pelvis will be done away with and an easy delivery will result. I have never had to use forceps in my life. Always remember red raspberry tea, a light diet, with broths and soups, short walks daily and frequent rests, and delivery will be easy. It is a wise act for the mother to remain in bed for nine of twelve days following the delivery to rest up and become normal.
If the mother becomes fainty with shortness of breath give Crataegus in small doses. If chilly I would give Millefolium (Yarrow) which will open the circulation more freely.
Lastly, I would like to mention that if the mother while carrying the child longed for various foods which it was impossible for her to obtain, the child will become restless and yearning after birth. In such cases I have used a washed sweet pickle for the child to suck on. If this failed, I would use the raw rind off a piece of pork in the same manner and have never known it to fail in such cases. The child has suffered because the mother has not received what she wanted while carrying the child.
MT. CLEMENS, MICH.
