Does oiling and massaging the body do good?  Some women claim it does; it certainly puts the muscles in better condition and strengthens the muscles of the abdomen which have so much part in the labor.

What is the morning sickness and are all women subject to it?  Nausea and vomiting without any cause.  No; many escape it entirely.

At what period of pregnancy does it usually occur?  During the early months it is more frequent and troublesome.

How long does it usually last?  Usually three or four months, but it may last during the whole pregnancy.

What can be done for it?  In some cases arranging the diet to prevent and cure constipation relieves it.  For fuller treatment see this heading under Obstetrics.

Does it ever endanger life?  Not often, but a physician should be called if it is bad.

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Can any strict rules be laid down for this trouble?  No, but the food should be as concentrated as possible; egg-nog, ice cream, a bit of rare steak, etc., raw oysters, gruels, meat broths, etc., if liquids are well borne.  It is surprising how little will keep up some women during pregnancy.

When and how often should the urine be examined?  From the beginning and twice each month, and every week after the fifth month.

When should the nurse be called?  Long enough before the expected time to get everything ready.

What is lightening?  It is caused by the womb sinking down lower in the pelvis the last month, and this lightens the pressure upon the diaphragm and lungs.

What are false pains?  They occur during the last few weeks of pregnancy at irregular intervals and are usually in the abdomen.

What is the bag of waters?  It is a sac containing the fluid in which the child floats while in the womb.  The amount of fluid varies from a pint to a gallon or more.  When it ruptures there is a sudden flow of liquid, more or less continuous flow.  It may occur at the very beginning of labor and is one of the signs of labor.

What are the other signs of approaching labor?  A profuse discharge of mucus from the vagina, and this may be tinged with blood.  The “show” pains begin generally in the back and are quite regular, one every twenty minutes or half hour. (Dilatation of the womb).

How should the baby be first washed?  See Obstetrics.

What clothing should be put on?  See Obstetrics chapter.

Care of the eyes.—­Wipe the eyelids with clean gauze and water.  If there has been much discharge from the vagina during pregnancy, the child’s eyes should be washed cleanly and also one or two drops of the one per cent solution of silver nitrate should be put into each eye as a preventive.  (See Obstetrics).

How often should the baby’s bowels move?  Two or three times daily for the first week, and then once or twice a day.