KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE CONFINEMENT

THE BIRTH CHAMBER--WHAT TO PROVIDE FOR A CONFINEMENT--READY TO PURCHASE OBSTETRICAL OUTFITS--POSITION AND ARRANGEMENT OF THE BED--HOW TO PROPERLY PREPARE THE ACCOUCHMENT BED--THE KELLY PAD--THE ADVANTAGES OF THE KELLY PAD--SHOULD A BINDER BE USED?--SANITARY NAPKINS--HOW TO CALCULATE THE PROBABLE DATE OF THE CONFINEMENT--OBSTETRICAL TABLE--WHEN SHOULD A PREGNANT WOMAN FIRST CALL UPON HER PHYSICIAN--REGARDING THE CHOICE OF A PHYSICIAN--HOW TO KNOW THE RIGHT KIND OF A PHYSICIAN FOR A CONFINEMENT--THE SELECTION OF A NURSE--THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TRAINED AND A MATERNITY NURSE--DUTIES OF A CONFINEMENT NURSE--THE REQUISITES OF A GOOD CONFINEMENT NURSE--THE PERSONAL RIGHTS OF A CONFINEMENT NURSE--CRITICIZING AND GOSSIPING ABOUT PHYSICIANS.

THE BIRTH CHAMBER

The room in which the confinement is to take place should be selected with care. In many cases there will be no choice for the reason that there will be only one suitable bedroom available. Where practicable however a room having the following accessories, or as many of them as is possible, should be given the preference.

1.--Good light, and a southern exposure.

2.--Capable of being well ventilated and well heated if necessary.

3.--Running water if plumbing is modern.

4.--Fairly large size (not a hallroom).

5.--A quiet room, free from street noises.

If the house is a private one the room should be on the second floor. If the home is in an apartment house the confinement chamber should be as [62]

far removed from the living-room as circ.u.mstances will permit,--especially if there are other children who will make more or less continuous noise.

All unnecessary furniture, pictures and draperies should be taken out of the room a few days before the confinement is due; the room itself, and everything left in it, should be thoroughly cleaned and aired. A small table for holding instruments, sterilizing basins, etc., should be provided and in readiness.

WHAT TO PROVIDE FOR A CONFINEMENT.--The following articles should be in readiness at all confinements:--

1.--Douche pan.

2.--Bed pan.

3.--Douche bag (fountain syringe) with gla.s.s douche tube.

4.--One rubber sheet 1 yards square.

5.--Two bed pads, one yard square, made of absorbent cotton or old clean cloths, covered with washed cheese cloth and st.i.tched here and there to hold in place.

6.--One dozen clean towels.

7.--One-half dozen clean sheets.

8.--A hot water bottle.

9.--One pound absorbent cotton (good quality).

10.--Five yards sterile gauze.

11.--Four quarts of hot, and as much cold water, that has been boiled.

12.--One-half dozen papers a.s.sorted safety pins.

13.--One box sanitary pads.

14.--Four pieces of unbleached cotton or muslin, one and one-quarter yards long.

15.--Four ounces powdered boracic acid.

16.--Four ounces of brandy or whisky.

17.--One jar of white vaseline (unopened).

18.--One cake of castile soap.

19.--Two or three agate or china hand basins.

20.--One slop jar.

21.--One pan under bed for after birth.

The physician will direct that certain additional articles be provided according to his individual taste and custom. These will include an [63]

antiseptic and ergot; any other requisite found necessary can be sent for, or the physician can supply it, as he invariably has in his bag whatever may be required in complicated cases or in an emergency. All the items enumerated in the above list are absolutely essential, they may not all be used but it would not be safe to undertake a confinement without providing the essential requisites. Many maternity outfits are prepared ready for use and can be obtained at the larger drug stores, costing from $10 to $25. The articles in the above list can be bought for about $6, not including those articles which the patient is a.s.sumed to have. The following are samples of the ready-to-purchase outfits:

READY-TO-PURCHASE OBSTETRICAL OUTFITS

OUTFIT NO. 1 1 Sterilized Bed Pad (30 inches square).

2 dozen Sterilized v.u.l.v.a Pads.

2 Sterilized Mull Binders (18 inches wide).

5 yards Sterilized Gauze.

1 pound Sterilized Absorbent Cotton ( pound).

Rubber Sheet, 1 yards by 2 yards, Sterilized.

Douche Pan, Sterilized.

1 Tube K-Y Lubricating Jelly.

Sterilized Nail Brush.

Boric Acid, Powdered.

Tinct. Green Soap.

Bichloride Tablets.

Lysol.

Tube Sterilized Tape.

PRICE $10.00.

OUTFIT NO. 2.

2 Sterilized Bed Pads (30 inches square).

2 dozen Sterilized v.u.l.v.a Pads.

2 Sterilized Mull Binders (18 inches wide).

6 Sterilized Towels.

10 yards Sterilized Gauze.

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1 pound Sterilized Absorbent Cotton ( pound).

Rubber Sheet, 1 yard by 1 yards, Sterilized.

Rubber Sheet, 1 yards by 2 yards, Sterilized.