The compleat midwife's practice enlarged in the most weighty and high concernments of the birth of man containing a perfect directory or rules for midwives and nurses : as also a guide for women in their conception, bearing and nursing of children from the experience of our English authors, viz., Sir Theodore Mayern, Dr. Chamberlain, Mr. Nich. Culpeper ... : with instructions of the Queen of France's midwife to her daughter ... / by John Pechey ... ; the whole illustrated with copper plates.

CHAP. XV. How to Govern Women in Child-bed.

THere is great difference in the governing Women in Child-bed; for she that thinks to order an or∣dinary labouring, or Country-woman, like a person of quality, kills her, and she that thinks to govern a per∣son of quality like an ordinary Country-woman, does the same to her. For the Stomach and Constitution of the one is tender and weak, and the Constitution and Stomach of the other strong and lusty; which will not be satisfied with ordinary Viands: For if you give to one of these strong Stomachs presently after their deli∣very, any strong Broth, or Eggs, or a draught of Milk, they are like Mills that always grind, and empty as fast as they pour in; and that that gives one Wo∣man a fever, keeps another from it; and therefore Women in Child-bed are to be governed by their se∣veral Constitutions. As for Women that are delicate, and have been accustomed to live delicately, greater care must be taken of them, giving them meats that breed good nourishment, and do not clog the stomach, forbearing also to give her those meats to which she has too great a dislike, agreeing to her humour, provided, that the meat which she loves be not hurtful; and gi∣ving her for the first eight days of her lying in, boyled meats rather than rosted, as gellies, &c. the juice of Veal, or Capon, but not Mutton, it being too fever∣ish: giving her to drink Barly-water, or else water boyled, wherein is boyled a dram of Cinnamon to e∣very pint, and two ounces of Sugar dissolved; or if she do not love Sugar, Coriander-seed water; if she drink wine, let it be two thirds of water to one third of wine, giving her in the morning white-wine, and in

the afternoon Claret, taking care of eating any thing that may breed any crudities: She may also take at the discretion of those about her, Almond-milk now and then. There are some women that cannot be kept from sleeping, and others that cannot sleep at all. It will not be amiss to give to those that cannot sleep, French barley-water; the way to make it well, is to let it boyl well, and to take the broth without strain∣ing it; neither ought it to be taken after the eight days are past, by reason that it nourishes exceedingly, and does not a little obstruct the Liver.