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. XXII. Of a birth wherein the Infant presents the belly.

DR. In the next place Mrs. Midwife, let me hear from you how you will help a woman in labour of a child when it presents its belly first?

Mid. That you shall Sr. very willingly to the utmost of my skill.

And here Sr. I must note that the back-bone may easily be bent and turned forwards alit∣tle, but by no means backwards without ex∣cessive violence. Wherefore the worst and most dangerous figure that a child can offer to the birth, is the belly, or the breast, for then its body is constreined to bend back∣wards, and what ever throws or endeavours a woman makes to bring it forth it will never be accomplish'd; for she will sooner perish with her child then ever advance it in this posture into the passage, wherefore 'tis in great danger if not timely succourd; and in case it should escape, which would be very strange, it would be weak in the back along time after its birth: but that which aug∣ments

the danger much more is that for the most part the Navil-string comes forth when the Child comes with the belly; Therefore as soon as 'tis discover'd to be so, the Midwife must use the sole remedy of drawing it forth by the feet, as speedily as may be, in this fol∣lowing manner.

Having placed the woman I must gently slide up my flat hand, being well anoint∣ed for the easier entrance, towards the midle of the childs breast, which I must thrust back to turn it, this situation being already half turn'd, the feet being as neer to the passage as the head, when it represents the midle of the belly; then I must slip up my hand un∣der the belly till I find the feet, which I must bring to the passage, to draw it forth in the same manner, as if it came with the feet fore∣most; being very careful to keep the Face downwards which must alwaies be observed before the head can be drawn forth, for the reasons before given which must never be forgotten.

And here likewise is to be noted that the Midwife must alwaies prooceed after one and the same manner in the deliveries when a Child comes with the breast, or belly.

But on the other hand I would have it re∣mark'd, that when at any time an Infant comes with its side, it is impossible to be de∣livered

as the two former; but yet it is not so much tormented, nor is its situation so cruel; for it may remain in it a longer time without dying, than in the two former, wherein it is much more as it were upon the rack than in this, in which posture the body may be bended forwards, and not backwards, as in the other; but the Navil string doth not come forth so easily, as when it comes with the belly first. And in this as in the other 2 births, the Midwife will find it the safest way to draw it forth by the feet; by pushing back a little the Infants body with her hand, the better to introduce it, which she may slide along its thighs till she find the legs and feet by which she must turn it, and afterwards draw it forth, as I said even now: nor ought she to amuse her self, in any of these 3 births, to place its head right, that it may come naturally, because 'tis in great dan∣ger of dying in these unnatural positions, if not drawn forth with speed, which can never be effected unless it be by finding the feet, as I have directed.