Page:The American improved family physician, or home doctor.djvu/271

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—The cessation of menstruation at the usual period of its occurrence is among the first indications, though not in itself conclusive of pregnancy. Most women experience some degree of nausea, and sometimes vomiting on rising, called morning sickness; this usually begins in the fifth or sixth week, and continues to the end of the third month.— The breasts or mammary glands become larger than usual, the small papillae or teat become elongated, and the areola or circle around it becomes of a darker color. The mine is generally more abundant, and more pale and limpid. To distinguish pregnancy from amenorhoeaamenorrhoea [sic], or obstructed menstruation, is sometimes difficult. One symptom will distinguish amenorrhoea from pregnancy which is a dizziness of the head; this is never experienced in the signs of pregnancy, but mostly always in amenorrhoea. If the female, after sexual intercourse since her last menstruation, has experienced any sudden excitement, or change of the system, as chills, lassitude, &c, without any known adequate cause, it affords additional evidence that she has conceived.

The only infallible signs of pregnancy are:—The movement of the child, not the woman's fancies, for many women have been deceived on this point. To ascertain the movement of the child, place the woman on her back, with the legs a little flexed; bare the abdomen, and dip the hand in some very cold water, and apply it suddenly over the tumor: and the motions of the child will infallibly, if alive, declare its existence.

DURATION OF PREGNANCY.—The natural duration, of pregnancy has usually been reckoned at nine calendar or