CHAP. XXII. Of a Delivery, when a Shoulder offers, the Back or Buttocks.
FOr relief in these, the part presents must be softly thrust back from the Orifice•… an Hand introduced, and past alongst the In∣fants Body the Way may best reach its Feet, to turn them to the Passage, and so roll about the Infant and bring it forth thereby: And thus the Shoulder is the worst of these three, Page 207 being farrest from the Feet; beside that the Infants Neck being thus wryed, and its Head turned aside, it is more painfully constrain∣ed and lockt in this Situation then in the other.
When it comes upon the Loins, Breech, or Ars-ward, it oftimes cannot be born so, and not unless it be very small, the Mother big, the Way wide: Yet is then alwayes brought with great stress, pain and detriment to both Mother and Infant: Which Way ought therefore to be ever avoided if possible: So that assoon as the In ant is perceived to come thus, the But∣tocks must be thrust back, an Hand intro∣duced, and slid up alongst the Thighs to the Legs and Feet, which One must work about to the Orifice, the one after the other, by folding, stretching, wagging, and draw∣ing them toward the Side, and still with all the industry and ease possible, lest they be hurt, or dislocated, if pinched too much, or winded rudely: Yet sometimes the Breech is pressed far down, and so strongly en∣gaged in the Passage, that it cannot be put back, but must be brought forth in this Po∣sture: Which yet hath great difficulty, pain and danger, wherein the Belly is so pressed, Page 208 that oftimes the Ordure is expressed: One may however help in this Birth, by crook∣ing some Fingers inwards into each Groyn, and so draw it through to the Thighs, and then by drawing and wagging it from Side to Side, disingage them from the Passage, as also the Feet and Legs one after the other, still careful of any hurt or Dislocation: Fi∣nishing the rest as Footling.
When an Infant falls to the Passage upon its Back, the Body is folded inwards, and made almost double, its Breast also and Belly are so prest together, and the more if there be strong Pains, as it goes near to be choked, unless quickly turned to either end; for thus it can never be Born.
