Suggestion In Obstetrics


In no department of medicine is favorable or unfavorable mental

influence more important than in obstetrics. Unfortunately,

unfavorable suggestion has here played a serious role and must be

controlled, modified, neutralized. Suggestion is valuable in its every

phase, during the course of pregnancy, in labor itself, in

post-partum convalescence, and with regard to nursing. Many women in

our time are prone to persuade th
mselves that labor is a more serious

incident than it usually proves to be and the consequence is an

unfortunate suggestion of pain to come that so exaggerates

sensitiveness as to make the actual suffering seem more than it really

is. Sympathy expressed for women in pregnancy and in anticipation of

their labor is sure to do more harm than good. Pain instead of being

lessened by sympathy is increased and capacity to bear it is

diminished. Anything that calls attention more particularly to the

pain removes distracting conditions that might modify it favorably.

Animals have the admirable instinct of withdrawing to some quiet

corner when they are in pain, preferring to be alone. In this they

follow nature and imitation of them is worthy of consideration, at

least so far as the avoidance of opportunities for the expression of

sympathy is concerned.



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