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. IV. How the Infant doth in the Womb the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, and eighth month; and of the due time and form of the Birth; and causes of pain in Child-birth.

AFter the third and fourth month the In∣fant useth a more plentiful nourish∣ment, by which it groweth more and more until the time of Birth shall come: There∣fore it is to be understood, that when it is born in the sixth month, it cannot, in nature, live; because, though it be formed distinct∣ly, yet it is not arrived to its just perfection. But if it be born in the seventh month, it may easily live, because then it is sufficiently per∣fect. And, whereas 'tis a common opinion those born in the eighth month can rarely live; but such as are born in the seventh are often times living, because on the seventh month the Infant is ever moving towards the Birth, at which time, if it be strong enough, it comes to the Birth, but if not, it remain∣eth in the Womb till it groweth stronger,

(viz.) the other two Months. After the mo∣tion at seven Months end if it be not born, it removes it self into some other place of the Womb, and is so weakned by that motion, that should it come to the birth in the follow∣ing eighth Month, it cannot live by reason of that motion.

This seems very probable to many, but if they that practise deliveries make a rational reflection thereon, they shall find that 'tis the Matrix alone assisted with the compression of the Muscles of the lower belly and Midriff, which cause the expulsion of the Child; be∣ing stirred up by its weight, and not able to be farther extended to contain it: and not the Infant for want of nourishment is not able to stay any longer there, and so useth its pretended endeavours to come forth; and to that purpose kicking strongly it, breaks the Membranes with its Feet which contain the waters, insomuch as when the Child is natu∣rally Born the skins are alwaies torn before the Head; which pressing and thrusting each through the waters before it, causeth them to burst out with force. Hippocrates admits the 10 month, and beginning of the 11. And here, I do acknowledge for truth that the or∣dinary term of going with Child is 9 months; but I cannot consent that Children born in the 7 month do oftener live than those born

in the 8, but on the contrary, I believe the nearer they approach to the term of 9 months the stronger they are, and therefore rather live then those born in the 7th, which is wholly contrary to the other opinion which they have from Hippocrates; and in Egypt and Spain and other places Children born in the 8th month live. But they should have considered there may be some difference a∣bout Hippocrates's Months, viz. whether they were Solar or Lunar, a Solar consisting of 30 or 31 days throughout the year, and a Lunar of 27 days and some odd Hours and odd Mi∣nutes.

And then again the Women might be mi∣staken in their reckoning. And do we not know not only in the same Country and Field but also on the same Vine, grapes sometimes six weeks ripe before their ordinary Season; and others not till a month after? which happens according to the Territories, diffe∣rent influence of the Sun, and as the Vine is ordered. So do we see Women brought to bed six weeks and 2 months before, and some∣times as long after their ordinary term; if it be not that the Womb not being capable of an extension beyond a certain degree, can∣not bear its burden, but a little while after the account is out; although there have been Women as Hippocrates acknowledgeth who

have gone 10 or 11 whole Months with Child, which is so much the rarer, by how much it exceeds its limits.

These things happen also to Women ac∣cording to the different dispositions, either of their whole body, or Womb alone, as well as according to their rule of living, and more or less exercise they use, and may also happen on the Childs part, as if at 7 months it be so big that the Womb can no longer contain it, nor stretch it self more without bursting, it is then provoked by the pain which this violent extention causeth to dis∣charge it self of it; and so in the 8th month if there be the same reason, and some weeks sooner or later according to many other cir∣cumstances; as also by an outward occasion, as a violent shaking of the whole body, blow, fall, leap, &c. hasting the pains; and that which makes these Children live a longer or shorter time, is according as they are at that time more strong and perfect, and the Wo∣man nearer her time which is at the end of the 9th month.

There have been many Women that have believed they were brought to bed at the 7th and 8th Month; and others that they went 10 or 11 whole Months; which may some∣times be when notwithstanding they are ef∣fectively delivered at the due time: that

which deceives them usually is their believing themselves with Child from the retention of their Courses, having had them the 2 first Months, yea and sometimes longer, and o∣thers misreckon when their Courses are stopt 2 Months before they conceive: And a Wo∣man, though well regulated, cannot exactly know by the suppression singly the certain time of her being with Child; as for exam∣ple, if she lye with her Husband upon the coming down of her Courses, and she con∣ceive upon it, then she may make her account from their suppression, which may be very near the truth; but if she conceive immedi∣ately after she hath had them, which happens oftnest, and that during the Month she Copu∣lates with her Husband, at the end of which time her Courses not coming down, she may very well reckon her self with Child, yet for all this she cannot know by this sign which Night she conceived on, and so for 3 weeks or a Month, more or less, she may be mista∣ken in the time.

Here note there hath often been great con∣tests amongst Physitians, whether a Child born the 11th or 12th Month, after its pre∣tended Fathers death, can be legitimately born, and so admitted to inherit, or be disin∣herited, as a supposed Child; but this having been debated by the Romans as well as us, and

being parties for and against, I shall leave it undecided, and shall not add any thing more concerning this point to what I have said be∣fore.

And now the Midwife is to take care, that she be timely prepared for the reception of any birth, with all her necessary conveniences and instruments, as with a fit stool, a sharp knife, astringent powder, a spunge, swathes, &c. warm oyl of Lillies, with which she may aptly anoint both the Womb of the Woman and her own hands, but of that more here∣after.

And now in the next place let us make en∣quiry for the fittest and best Midwife, for this great work, and now I remember my self there was a good Woman call'd Mrs. Eu∣trapelia with me last night, for my advice and counsel in a very difficult concern, whom I found by that little discourse I had with her to be a very rational and understanding and expert woman in her art, and one that was not self conceited of her self, like many of her Sisters, that think they know all, and be∣lieve 'tis below them to ask any advice of the learned Physitian or Chyrurgion, when in∣deed they are oftenest the most ignorant; for 'tis the Physitian and Chyrurgion that they must be obliged to for the chief part of their Art, and in France 'tis the Chyrurgions

employ to help Women in Child-birth, an•• she promised to be with me very early th•• morning to give me account how it fare•• with her Patient, and of the success of m•• directions, and heark I believe 'tis she knock¦ing at the door at this instant.

Here note by the by, that 'tis romantic▪ to say, that the Males are generated in th•• right side of the Matrix, but Females in th•• left, out of the left Testicle; for the righ•• side, by reason of the Liver, is hotter, bu•• the left cooker; for when there are Twins▪ sometime they are of the same Sex, but prin¦cipally the abundant heat of Seed is the caus•• of the generation of Males.

[illustration] depiction of the baby in the womb, and the surrounding anatomy, near to the time of birth

This figure sheweth the Womb Anatomized and how the Infant lyeth in it.

The parts are descri∣bed in the following page.

• CC Denotes the Kidneys of each side.
• DD The emulgent Veins on the righ•• side.
• EE The emulgent Arteries on the righ•• side.
• F The trunck of the hollow vein.
• HH The emulgent Arteries on the left side.
• LL The Spermatick Veins on the right side.
• K The Spermatick Arterie on the right side.
• M The Spermatick Veins on the left side.

• aa The Ureters cut off.
• oo The Feminine Testicles.
• PP The broad ligament like Batts wings.
• qq The trunck of the great Arterie.
• BB Vessels like Vine-branches.
• Y The shaft of the Womb.
• R The bottom of the Womb where the Infant lieth.