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. V. Rules for Child-bearing Women, and how to prevent Abortion.

MId. According to your promise, I be∣seech you, Doctor, lay me down some Rules to be observed by Child-bearing Wo∣men.

Dr. Good Midwife, I shall, and that very necessary ones too, that she may know how to go on safely through (by Gods blessing) to the last hour, or by neglecting them, may make her delivery the harder: and I shall re∣duce them under ten heads.

First, let her be chearful; for this doth ex∣hilarate the Infant, and stirs up all the facul∣ties, and confirms it in its parts and Mem∣bers.

Secondly, let her avoid all violent moti∣on, and ahstain from all hard labours, not rising up too hastily, not leaping, running, dancing, riding; not lacing her self too streight, or carrying too heavy a burden; but surely moderate sleep and rest, is very fit for her. And all this especially toward the lat∣ter end of her reckoning; for though it be

allowed them by most Authors to facilitate the Birth, yet if we well consider the point we shall without doubt find it to be the cause of miscarryings, and hard labors, and death of many Women and Children. For you must know that the Birth of a Child ought to be left to the work of Nature well regulated, and not to provoke it, by shaking and jolting, as in a Coach, or by a trotting Horse, and to dislodge it before its full time, which happen∣ing though it be but 7 or 8 days sooner proves sometimes as prejudicial to the Infant, as we see it sometimes to Grapes which we find 4 or 5 days before they are full ripe, to be yet almost half verjuice; But to explain this more clearly, consider the Infant is na∣turally seated in the Womb, with Head up∣permost and the Feet downwards, with its Face towards the Mothers belly, just till it hath attained the 8th Month; at which time and sometimes sooner, and sometimes later, its head being very great and heavy, it turns over its Head downward and its heels up∣ward; which is the sole and true posture in which it ought to come into the World. Now just when the Child is about to turn according to custome into its intended po∣sture, instead of giving her self rest, she fall a jumping, walking, running up and down staires, and exercising her self more then or∣dinary,

which very often causes it to turn cross, and not right, as it ought to be; and sometimes the Womb is depressed to low, and engaged in such sort towards the last Month, in cavity of the flanks by those jolt∣ings, that there is no liberty left the Infant to turn it self naturally; wherefore it is con∣strained to come in its first posture, to wit by the Feet, or some other worser: more∣over it would be very convenient that the Woman should abstain from having to do with a Man carnally, during the 2 last months of her reckoning, forasmuch as the body is thereby much moved, and the belly pressed in the action, which likewise causeth the Child to take a wrong posture. Now I believe that those that will seriously reflect and confider of these things, will be ready to quit this their old error, which hath certainly caused the death of many Women and Children, and much pain to divers others.

Thirdly, let her beware of sharp and cold winds, of excessive heat, anger, troubles of the mind, affrights and terrors, over-much venery, and of intemperancy of eating and drinking.

Fourthly let her diet be frugal, and mode∣rate, abstaining from gross meats, hard of di∣gestion; let her eat Eggs, Chickens, Land∣fowl, birds of the Mountains, &c. variety

of broths, grewels, panadoes, Mutton, Veal, Lamb, Kid, Rabbets; she may use in her meats Nutmeg and Cinnamon; she may drink wine moderately.

Fifthly, in the first four Months let her open no vein, use no cupping or scarrificati∣ons, fontanells, nor use any pills, or other Physick, without the advice of a prudent Physitian; for in these Months the liga∣ments of the Child are very tender, soft, and feeble; and therefore the easier destroyed, and the nourishment kept from it.

Sixthly, if it shall happen that the Woman be too costive (by which many miscarry) let her boyl Spinage, and Lettuce, in Veal broth well buttered, with salt, or wine; which, if they will not move the belly, let her use suppositories, with honey and salt, or of Castile-soap: and if these common things will not do, let her advise with an expert Physitian.

Seventhly, if it happen that she conceive with grievous symptoms, and after concep∣tion is troubled with faintings, let her take this Cordial following. Take of Sorrel-wa∣ter, and red-Rose-water, of each one ounce; of Cinamon-water one ounce; of Manus Christi pearled, half an ounce, or as much Diamargariton: this may be taken as need requires.

Eighthly, if she fear that she may come (be∣fore her time) as in the seventh Month, or some other unseasonable time, and feels throws, as of Child-bearing, let her sit over a fume of Frankincense; for that contributes no small strength both to the Womb, and to the Infant also.

Ninthly, if she nauseate her meat, she may use a plaister of Mastich to her Stomach, and take this following Cordial every morning, fasting, to strengthen her Stomach.

Take Syrup of Pomegranates one ounce and half; of Mosch and Ambergreece, of each two grains; of Lignum Aloes finely powdered, one scruple; of Cinamon half a scruple; the water of Sorrel three ounces; let these be mingled, and drank off blood-warm.

Lastly, if, whilst she go with Child, she per∣ceive her terms, let her eat milk, made boyl with red-hot steel, and in that let Plantain and Comfrey be boyled. But, in all these cases, let her advise with learned Physitians, which will direct her with medicines from time to time.

I shall hereafter treat of some distempers incident to Child-bed; and leave you some choice Remedies in the following Sections; and then wind up all.