t if there
is a tendency to sag in the middle. Over this mattress is securely
pinned the strip of rubber sheeting or table oilcloth. A clean sheet
covers mattress and rubber cloth and at the spot where the hips are to
lie may be placed the large sterile pad to absorb the escaping fluids.
The floor about the bed is protected by newspapers or oilcloth. Good
lighting should always be provided. Much trouble and possible
infection may be avoided by clean bedding, plenty of clean dressings,
boiled water, rubber gloves, and clean hands.

CHAPTER VIII

THE DAY OF LABOR

As the two hundred and seventy-three days come to a close, our
expectant mother approaches the day of labor with joy and gladness.
The long, long waiting days so full of varied experiences, so full of
the consciousness that she, the waiting mother, is to bring into the
world a being which may have so many possibilities--well, even the
anticipated pangs of approaching labor are welcomed as marking the
close of the long vigil. These days have brought many unpleasant
symptoms, they have been days of tears and smiles, of clouds and
sunshine.

THE TIME OF WAITING

The prospective mother has thought many times, "Will my baby ever
come?" But nature is very faithful, prompt, and resourceful. She
ushers in this harvest time under great stress and strain, for actual
labor is before us--downright, hard labor--just about the hardest work
that womankind ever experiences--and, as a rule, she needs but little
help--good direction as to the proper method of work and the
economical expenditure of energy. In the case of the average mother
this is about all that is needed, and if these suggestions come from a
wise and sympathetic physician--one who understands and appreciates
asepsis--she may count herself as fortunately situated for the
oncoming ordeal.

In the days of our grandmothers it was almost the exception rather
than the rule to escape "child-bed fever," "milk leg," etc.; but in
these enlightened days of asepsis, rubber gloves, and the various
antiseptics, puerperal infection is the exception, while a normal
puerperium is the rule; and this work of prevention lies in the
scrupulous care taken by anyone and everyone concerned in any way with
the events of the day of labor.

On this day of labor, the mother, who has gone through the long
tedious days of waiting, should see to it that nothing unclean--hands,
sponges, forcep, water, cloth--is allowed to t