CHAP. XX. Of the Weight or bearing down of the Womb.

THe Distention of the Big Womb hinders its Prolapse: Yea, hath Cured it in Some when far out, being then gradually drawn up: It does however slip and bear much down in Some, whiles so far as to in∣commode their Walking, and Coition, and which they have found so weighty at the Bottom of their Belly, as to fear all ready to fall out: Causing also (chiefly towards the Rec∣koning) a Numness and Sleeping in the Hips and Thighs, difficulty of Stool and Ʋrin. And then putting a Finger into the Sheath, the Womb and its inner Orifice is felt there, fallen very near the Water-gate, chiefly while the Woman stands upright.

This proceeds from great Stretch, Relaxa∣tion, or Solution of the Ʋnity of its Ligaments, chiefly the flat Ones, whereby it hangs su∣spended on each side to the Loins, and that either from the appending Weight, and hea∣vy Page  95Carrìage of the Burden, and so much the more the bigger it is: Or if then there hap∣pen Stumble, Fall, any Shake or Concussion thereof: From Violence also, and Stress in the preceeding Labour: And very oft from a redundancy of Humors moistening and re∣laxing the same, in Women Phlegmatick, or troubled with Whites.

These Ligaments are easier fortified, and the Trouble Cured after Delivery, when eased of that Weight, and Pessaries got kept there∣in, to stay it up in its natural Seat. Her best in the time is to keep Bed, or must stir litle, and softly: Keep slack in her Cloaths, and may bear up the weight of her Burden in a fit Swath: Must avoid Coition, all Com∣pressions and Shakes of her big Belly: Or whatever may occasion violent Expulsion. And in the case of abounding Humors, use a drying Dyet, good Food of Meats roasted rather than boiled. And above all, she must be so skilfully laid, as neither her forcing downwards to exclude the Child, nor Ex∣traction thereof, or of the After-Birth, procure its praecipitation, which easily may, and oft does in this Case.