way is explained not only pain in the leg but also those sensations
of numbness and tingling which prospective mothers not infrequently
complain of. The presence of these pressure symptoms is usually
limited to the last few weeks of pregnancy. They often begin about
the time the child's head enters the bony canal through which it is
ultimately born; engagement of the head, as this is called, occurs
simultaneously with the dropping of the waist-line, that is, about
two or three weeks before delivery. From the time the head is engaged
all the pressure symptoms become somewhat more intense.

From the very nature of their causation, it is clear that cramps in
the legs are difficult to treat. The recumbent posture lessens the
discomfort, and, if in addition the hips are elevated, absolute
comfort will occasionally be secured. Whether or not the
administration of medicine is advisable must be determined by the
physician who has the opportunity to see the patient. The birth of
the child, of course, removes the cause of the pressure and
permanently relieves this discomfort.

_Shortness of Breath_.--Besides the ailments caused by the
downward pressure of the pregnant uterus, there are also symptoms due
to its upward growth. Thus shortness of breath is regularly noted
toward the end of pregnancy, and, as has already been mentioned, it
is one of the reasons for exercising leisurely.

Unlike the other pressure symptoms, shortness of breath is ordinarily
aggravated by the recumbent posture, for lying flat on the back
increases the compression of the chest. At night, which is frequently
the time when difficulty in breathing is most pronounced, the patient
may, if necessary, sleep propped up in bed. For this purpose an