Boston,
Whilst most intelligent women will demand some knowledge of the anatomical and physiological changes occurring during the development and birth of their new baby, any treatment of such conditions as discussed can only be judiciously carried out by a physician who has the opportunity to observe and study each individual patient.
When a woman’s suspicion is first aroused, she is unable to decide positively whether or not she is actually pregnant and it is true that even Physicians may find it necessary on some occasions to make more than one examination before they commit themselves to a definite opinion.
The initial symptoms of pregnancy are so widely known that in most instances the prospective mother herself can make a diagnosis shortly after conception has taken place. However, just now and then pregnancy advances for several months unrecognized and is only detected by a physician who has been consulted on account of symptoms that the patient has incorrectly attributed to some other condition. So then how can a woman’s suspicion be confirmed? The signs of pregnancy may be classified, according to how reliable they are.
In order of importance the doubtful or presumptive signs of pregnancy are these:
(1) Cessation of menstruation,
(2) Changes in the breasts,
(3) Morning sickness,
(4) Some disturbances in urination.
Each of the more reliable symptoms must be accepted cautiously; but taken altogether, except in very unusual cases, they may be relied upon. If, for example, menstruation has previously been regular and then a period is missed, the patient has good reason to suspect she is pregnant; if the next period is also missed and meanwhile the breasts have enlarged, the nipples darkened, and the secretion of colostrum has begun, it is nearly certain that she is pregnant; Whether morning sickness and the desire to pass urine more frequently are present is of less importance.
The most characteristic evidence, we must remember, is not available until the eighteenth or twentieth week; then the signs of pregnancy are unmistakable.
Many puzzling questions occur to the woman who is about to become a mother. Most of these questions are reasonable and natural, and should be frankly answered. However, no matter how frank and helpful advice from well meaning folk may be, it will not enable you to dispense with professional advice. For the prospective mother no advice can ever be more important than this: You must put yourself under the care of a physician.
Early Pregnancy Signs
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