A companion for midwives, child-bearing women, and nurses directing them how to perform their respective offices : together with an essay, endeavouring to shew the influence of moral abuses upon the health of children / by Robert Barret ...

CHAP. II. What preparatory offices are incum∣bent on the Midwife, when the Woman is near the time of her Delivery.

WHen a Woman with Child is ap∣prehensive of her approaching Labour, she ought to have her House and Family in Order, lest any occasional Disorder should disturb her in the time of her Lying-in; she ought to have h••r own Room clean and sweet; the Linnen about her Body clean, and what Linnen is necessary for other occasions got rea∣dy, and in its proper place; that when her Pains come, they may not be hurry∣ing and shuffling about from Room to Room, crying Where is this? or, Where is that? When all things within doors are put to rights, they ought to be quick in calling the Midwife, rather sooner, than later. Some Women have a trick of putting it off as long as ever they

can before they send for the midwife▪ but the safer way is to send for her as soon as they find the least motion to a Delivery, for fear of a Surprisal. Her midwife being call'd, the next thing is to send for the Assistance of some sober, wise Women, among her Neighbours, such as have gone through the like hazard be∣fore; but above all, take care there be no frightful, whimsical, resolute, head∣strong, drunken, whispering, talkative, sluttish Women amongst them: Any of these Extreams is not not only unsuita∣ble, and unbecoming, but highly per∣nicious. One of such Women may do more harm than three modest, wise Women can do good.