The Prospective Mother

This book, written for women who have no special knowledge of medicine, aims to answer the questions which occur to them in the course of pregnancy.

Directions for safeguarding their health have been given in detail, and emphasis has been placed upon such measures as may serve to prevent serious complications.

Treatment of such conditions has not been discussed, as it can be judiciously carried out only by a physician who has the opportunity to observe and study the individual patient.

Furthermore, if there is to be notable improvement in the management of cases of childbirth, the appearance of untoward symptoms should not be awaited before consulting a physician; on the contrary, prospective mothers must be taught that they should be under competent medical supervision throughout pregnancy.

At present intelligent women demand some knowledge of the anatomical and physiological changes incident to the development of the embryo and the birth of the child.

These subjects do not readily lend themselves to popular description, but I have told the story as simply as possible, following in a general way the text-book of my teacher and friend, Professor J. Whitridge Williams; indeed, my main purpose has been to reproduce his book “in words of one syllable.”

The use of a number of technical words has been unavoidable, and, though their meaning has been given in the context, it has not been feasible to repeat the definition every time an unfamiliar term was used.