Light on Dark Corners, under the heading Cases Cited, actually let women know what could happen if they did not heed the warnings. However, they should have included one, a pregnant woman became alarmed after reading this book...
"A woman bitten on the vulva by a dog (ouch!), bore a child having a similar wound on the glans penis. The boy suffered from epilepsy, and when the fit came on, or during sleep, was frequently heard to cry out 'The dog bites me!' "
"A pregnant woman who was suddenly alarmed from seeing her husband come home with one side of his face swollen and distorted by a blow, bore a girl with a purple swelling on the same side of the face".
"A woman, who was forced to be present at the opening of a calf by a butcher, bore a child with all it's bowels protruding from the abdomen. She was aware at the time of something going on in the womb".
"A woman absent from home became alarmed by seeing a great fire in the direction of her own house, bore a child with a distinct mark of the flame upon its forehead".
"A woman who had borne healthy children, became frightened by a beggar with a wooden leg and a stumped arm, who threatened to embrace her. Her next child had one stump leg and two stump arms."
"A woman frightened in her first pregnancy by the sight of a child with a hare lip, had a child with a deformity of the same kind. Her second child had a deep slit, and the third a mark of a similar character or modified hare lips. In this instance the morbid mind of the mother affected several successive issues of her body".
"A pregnant woman became frightened at a lizard jumping into her bosom. She bore a child with a fleshy excrescence exactly resembling a lizard, growing from the breast, adhering by the head and neck.
(From Light on Dark Corners)
2. A few days, sometimes a few hours, before labor commences, the child "falls", as it is called; that is to say, there is a subsidence - a dropping - of the womb lower down the abdomen. That is the reason why she feels lighter and more comfortable, and more inclined to take exercise, and why she can breathe more freely.
3. The only inconvenience of the dropping of the womb is, that the womb presses more on the bladder, and sometimes causes an irritability of that organ, inducing a frequent desire to make water.
4. The subsidence - the dropping - of the womb may then be considered one of the earliest of the precursory symptoms of child-birth, and as the herald of the coming event.
5. She has, at this time, an increased moisture of the vagina - the passage leading to the womb - and of the external parts, She has, at length, slight pains, and then she has a "show"; as it is called; which is the coming away of a mucous plug which, during pregnancy, had hermetically sealed up the mouth of the womb (so she pops the cork?). The "show" is generally tinged with a little blood. When a "show" takes place, she may rest assured that labor has actually commenced. One of the early symptoms of labor is a frequent desire to empty the bladder.
6. She ought not, on any account, unless it be ordered by the medical man, to take any stimulant as a remedy for the shivering. In case of shivering or chills; a cup either of hot tea or hot gruel will be the best remedy for the shivering; and an extra blanket tucked around her, in order to thoroughly exclude the air from the body. The extra clothing, as soon as she is warm and perspiring, should be gradually removed, as she ought not to be kept very hot, or it will weaken her, and will thus retard her labor.
7. She must not, on any account, force down - as her female friends or as a "pottering" old nurse may advise - to "grinding pains"; if she does, it will rather retard than forward her labor.
8. During this stage, she had better walk about or sit down, and not confine herself to bed; indeed, there is no necessity for her, unless she particularly desire it; to remain in her chamber.
9. After an uncertain length of time, the pains alter in character. From beiong "grinding" they become "bearing down", and more regulated and frequent, and the skin becomes both hot and perspiring. These may be considered the true labor-pains. The patient ought to bear in mind then that "true labor-pains" are situtated in the back, and loins; they come on at regular intervals, rise gradually up to a certain pitch of intensity, and abate as gradually; it is a dull, heavy, deep sort of pain, producing occasionally a low moan from the patient; not sharp or twinging, which would elicit a very different expression of suffering from her.
10. Labor - and truly it may be called "labor" - the first has gone forth that "in sorrow though shalt bring forth children." Young, in his Night's Thoughts, beautifully expresses the common lot of women to suffer:
In this shape, or in that, has fate entailed
'Tis mother's throes on all women born,
No more the children than sure heirs of pain."
2. A bottle of sweet oil, or vaseline, or some pure lard should be in readiness. Arrangements should be made for washing all soiled garments, and nothing by way of soiled rags or clothing should be allowed to accumulate.
3. A rubber blanket, or oil or waterproof cloth should be in readiness to place underneath the bottom sheet to be used during labor.
5. No people should be allowed in or about the room except the nurse, the physician, and probably members of the family when called upon to perform some duty.
6. During labor no solid food should be taken; a little milk, broth or soup may be given, provided there is an appetite.
7. When the pains become regular and intermit, it is time that the physician is sent for. On the physicians' arrival he will always take charge of the case and give necessary instructions.
8. In nearly all cases, the head of the child is presented first. The first pains are generally grinding and irregular, and felt mostly in the groins and within, but as labor progresses, the pains are felt in the abdomen, and as the head advances there is severe pain in the back and hips and a disposition to bear down, but no pressure should be placed upon the abdomen of the patient; it is often the cause of serious accidents. Nature will take care of itself.
9. Conversation should be of cheerful character, and all allusions to accidents of other child births should be carefully avoided.
10. Absence of Physician - In case the child should be born in absence of physician, when the head is born receive it in the hand and support it until the shoulders have been expelled, and steady the whole body until the child is born. Support the child with both hands and lay it as far away from the mother as possible without stretching the cord. Remove the mucus from the nostrils and mouth, wrap the babe in warm flannel, make the mother comfortable, give her a drink, and allow the child to remain until the pulsations have entirely ceased and then sever the cord. Use a dull pair of scissors, cutting it about two inches from the child's navel, and generally no time is necessary, and when the physician comes he will give it prompt attention.
11. If the child does not breathe at it's arrival, a little slapping on the breast and body will often produce respiration, and if this is not efficient, dash cold water on the face and chest; if this fails close the nostrils with two fingers and breathe into the mouth, and then expel the air from the lungs by gentle pressure upon the chest. Continue this as long as any hope of life remains.
12. After-Birth - Usually contractions occur and after-birth is readily expelled; if not, clothes wrung out in hot water (so that's why they always boils water?) laid upon the bowels will often cause the contraction of the uterus, and the expulsion of the after-birth.
13. If the cord bleeds severely inject cold water into it. This in many cases also removes the after-birth.
14. After the birth of the child give the patient a bath, if the patient is not too exhausted, change the soiled quilts and clothing, fix up everything neat and clean and let the patient rest.
15. Let the patient drink weak tea, gruel, cold or hot water, whichever she chooses.
16. After the birth of the baby the mother should be kept perfectly quiet for the first 24 hours and not allowed to talk or see anyone except the nearest relations, however well she may seem. She should not get out of bed for ten days or two weeks, not sit up in bed for nine days. The more care taken of her at this time, the more rapid will be her recovery when she does get about. She should go up and down stairs slowly, carefully, and as seldom as possible for six weeks. She should not stand more than is avoidable during that time, but sit with her feet up and lie down when she has time to rest. She should not work a sewing machine with a treadle for at least six weeks, and avoid any unusual strain or over-exertion. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," and carelessness will be well repaid by a perfect restoration to health.
