PART XII.
Pregnancy. Its Symptoms.
Suppression of iJie Menses. The suppression of the menses is not a certain sign of pregnancy, although it is one of its most important concomitant symptoms. Ex- posure to cold or wet, a shock to the nervous system from fright or other causes, uterine congestion or structural dis- ease of the womb, — any of these may cause suppression. There are instances in the history of pregnancy when women menstruated regularly through the whole period of utero-gestation (pregnancy); and it often occurs that women menstruate for the first two or three months. Baudelocque and Dewees mention cases when women men- struated only during pregnancy.
Enlargement and Shape of the Abdomen. The enlarge- ment and shape of the abdomen is not always a sure in- dication of pregnancy, and certainly not during the first three months. At the end of the third month, however, some physicians believe that they can detect a flatness in the lower part of the abdomen, which is produced, partly by the intestines being pushed upwards and side- ways, and partly by gaseous accumulations. The French have so much confidence in this change, that they have adopted the adage. En ventre plat, enfant il y a. During the first month, the process of gestation causes more blood to flow to the uterine region; and the womb, in adapting itself to the new condition, causes a sympathetic irritation of the alimentary canal, which induces formation of gases that render the abdomen more tense and full: but this soon disappears, leaving the abdomen more natural, apparently (158)
