The English midwife enlarged containing directions to midwives; wherein is laid down whatever is most requisite for the safe practising her art. Also instructions for women in their conceiving, bearing and nursing of children. With two new treatises, one of the cure of diseases and symptoms happening to women before and after child-birth. And another of the diseases, &c. of little children, and the conditions necessary to be considered in the choice of their nurses and milk. The whole fitted for the meanest capacities. Illustrated with near 40 copper-cuts.

SECT. X. Figure the first. Of unnatural Births.

DR. Courteous Mrs. Eutrapelia, If you perceive a child come with its feet for∣wards, and the hands drawn downwards to the thighs, according to the next ensuing form, How will you deliver the woman?

[illustration] depiction of the baby in the womb in an unnatural position for birth: presentation of the feet, with the arms pointing downwards

Mid. In this, I will take care to be fur∣nished with Oyles, and convenient liniments, and only to help the coming forth of the in∣fant, by anointing and cherishing it, lest it go back again, but that it may come forth the same way as it began. But first of all I shall take care, that both arms of the infant so stretched downwards, be so secured by me,

that the infant may not have power to draw them back again, but that I may compel it to come forth, after the very same manner: But if the infant breaking forth after this manner, and by reason of its bigness as well as his arms drawn down, be so streightned by the nar∣rowness of the matrix, that of it self it cannot wholly come to the birth; then the womb of the woman is to be anointed with oyl of Lil∣lies, or sweet Almonds, or hogs grease, & some sneezing Powder, blowed up he nose, to help the sending forth of the birth; and the womb gently to be compressed with both hands, that it tend not upwards, but downwards, as it ought, until it come forth entirely.

Here most Authors advise to change the Figure and place the head so that it may pre∣sent it self first to the birth; which is very difficult and almost altogether impossible to be performed; if we desire to avoid the dan∣gers that by such violent endeavours both the Mother and the Child must inevitably be put into; and I wish they would have shown us any way how it might be safely acted; that we might have followed their examples wherefore 'tis better to draw it forth by the feet, then to venture a worse accident by turning it.

Now to perform this the Midwife must have her Nails well pared and no rings on her

fingers, but her hands well anointed with Oyl or fresh Butter; then the woman being seat∣ed to the best advantage let her gently put her hand into the entry of the Womb, which if it be not wide enough let her open it a lit∣tle and little by degrees, with her fingers by spreading them one from the other after they are entred together, so continuing to do till it be sufficiently enlarged, then finding the Child's feet let her draw it forth in this po∣sture following; but if there shall but one foot present it self, then she shall consider whether it be the right or the left, and in what fashion it comes; for thefe reflections will be a means to inform her, on what side the other may be, which as soon as she knows let her seek for it, and then gently draw it forth together with the first; and then also let her be very careful and well assured that this 2d be not the foot of another Child; for if it should chance to prove so, she may soon∣er split both Mother and Children then draw them forth: the which she may easily pre∣vent it by sliding her hand up the first leg and thigh to the twist, she find both thighs joined together, and depending from one and the same body; and which is likewise without doubt the best means to find the other foot, when it comes but with one.

Being then secured of both the Childs feet, she may draw them forth, and holding them together, she may bring them by little and little in this manner, by taking hold of the Legs and Thighs aftewards, as soon as she can come at them and drawing them so till the hips be come forth: in the mean time let her observe to wrap the parts in a single nap∣kin, to the intent that her hands being alrea∣dy greasy slip or slide nor from the Infants body, which is very slippery, because of the slimy humors which are all over it; and hin∣der her from taking fast hold of it; which being done she may on both sides, with her hand, bring away the arms, being careful that the Belly and Face be downwards; lest being upwards the Head be stopt by the chin over the share-bone; so that if it be not so she must turn it to that posture; which is easily done if by taking hold of the body, when the breast and arms are forth, she shall draw it with turning it in proportion, on that side it most inclines to, till it be as it should be, that is with the Face downwards, and having brought it to the shoulders, let her lose no time, (desiring the Women at the same in∣stant to bear down) that so in drawing, the head at that very moment may take its places and not be stopt in its passage.

There are indeed some Children that have their Head so big, that when the whole body is born, yet that stops in the passage, not∣withstanding all the care that can be used to prevent it; in this case the Midwife must not only endeavour to draw forth the Child by the shoulders, least she sometimes separates the body from the Head, but she must disin∣gage it by little and little, from the bones in the passage, with the fingers of each hand, sliding on each side oppofite the one to the other, sometimes above and sometimes under until the work be ended; endeavouring to dispatch it as soon as possible, least the Child be cloaked or stifled; as it will certainly be if it remain long in that posture; w••ich be∣ing artificially and well effected; she may soon after fetch away the after-birth.