e kind of food which is necessary for the pregnant
woman to take during this period is very similar to that taken
ordinarily. It is necessary to furnish food materials rich in calcium
and phosphorus, with an adequate supply of proteins in their simplest
form in order to meet the requirement of the growing organism. Milk
and eggs furnish the most efficient foods in this respect and the
prospective mother should see that they form the chief items of her
daily dietary. Milk furnishes calcium in its most available form for
the developing skeleton of the growing infant, hence it is necessary
to provide the mother with food to replace the mineral which is
withdrawn from her body.

~Meat in the Diet.~--Meat should be eaten sparingly by the prospective
mother, as it imposes needless work upon the already taxed kidneys
and, if eaten in excess, will give rise to dangerous complications.
Milk and eggs will provide ample protein for all purposes.

~Albumen in the Urine.~--Albuminuria is one of the most frequent
complications in pregnant women. It should be combated and controlled
as soon as possible. The allowance of meat should be cut down or
entirely eliminated from the diet until the urine clears up. When
albuminuria is persistent in spite of efforts to overcome it, the
patient must be placed upon a strict milk diet as used in acute
nephritis, to prevent dangerous complications arising.

LACTATION

~Diet of Mother.~--Her dietary need not differ materially from that to
which she is accustomed. She must avoid indigestible foods or any
article which has been proved to disagree with either the infant or
herself.

~Factors Regarding Secretion of Milk.~--Constipation, worry, nervous
excitement, and over-fatigue all have an unfavorable effect upon the
secretion of milk and must therefore be avoided by the nursing mother.

~The Bowels.~--Constipation of the mother reacts quickly and
unfavorably upon the health and comfort of the baby, hence it should
be avoided by eating coarse breads, green vegetables, and fruits, when
they do not disagree with the baby, by drinking plenty of water and
taking a certain amount of outdoor exercise to keep her own health in
good condition.

~Stimulating the Milk Production.~--When the milk supply is deficient
it will be advisable for the mother to drink a glass of milk or a bowl
of cereal milk gruel between meals. Alcoholic beverages are not
necessary to insure an adequate secretion of milk. Th