A nurse's handbook of obstetrics . ome severe systemic disturbance of toxaemic origin. Mental and emotional phenomena are, fortunately, notvery common, but they may be noticed in some cases. Forexample, a woman of the most amiable disposition may, underthe influence of pregnancy, become exceedingly disagreeable andfretful, while, on the other hand, one of great asperity may,rarely, go to the opposite extreme and take on the qualities of averitable saint. In the same way, articles of food and forms ofamusement, ordinarily unthought of, may suddenly be demanded,and in rare instances the most unu
A nurse's handbook of obstetrics . ome severe systemic disturbance of toxaemic origin. Mental and emotional phenomena are, fortunately, notvery common, but they may be noticed in some cases. Forexample, a woman of the most amiable disposition may, underthe influence of pregnancy, become exceedingly disagreeable andfretful, while, on the other hand, one of great asperity may,rarely, go to the opposite extreme and take on the qualities of averitable saint. In the same way, articles of food and forms ofamusement, ordinarily unthought of, may suddenly be demanded,and in rare instances the most unusual and even disgustingimpulses may be fostered. The writer has had recently under CHANGES IN THE BREAST. 87 his care a woman who, when pregnant, developed an irresistibleappetite for raw potatoes. The changes in the breast include enlargement of theentire gland on both sides; a sense of fulness, and shooting ortingling pains in these organs; and darkening of the tissuessurrounding the nipples (Fig. 41). Temporary slight enlarge-. Fig. 41.—Marked pigmentation of breast. Tubercles of Montgomery and a drop of milkon the nipple plainly shown. ment of the breasts and sensations of weight and fulness are, ofthemselves, of no significance, for, in many women they may benoticed at the ordinary menstrual periods, but the darkening ofthe areola around the nipples and the presence of a silvery whitefluid (colostrum), which can be squeezed out of the breast,constitute, in a woman who has never borne children, verysignificant signs of pregnancy. If, however, the woman hashad a child, the areolar pigmentation from the previous preg-nancy will remain, and it is not unusual for colostrum to bepresent for months or even years after it has once , while it is apparent that these breast symptoms are notof much account in the case of a woman who has borne chil- 88 A NURSES HANDBOOK OF OBSTETRICS. dren, they are of great significance if the patient has never beenpregnant before. The
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