DIRECTIONS TO BE OBSERVED BY WOMEN, AT THE TIME OF THEIR FALLING IN
LABOUR.
The time of birth drawing near, let her send for a skilful medical man
or midwife; let her prepare a bed or couch, and place it near the fire,
that the midwife and assistants may pass round, and help on every side
as occasion requires, having a change of linen ready, and a stool to
rest her feet against, she having more force when they are bowed.
When the pain comes, let her walk about the room, resting by turns upon
the bed, and so expect the coming down of the water, which is a humour
contracted in the outward membranes, and flows thence when it is broke
by the struggling of the child. Motion causes the womb to open and
dilate itself, when from lying long in bed it is uneasy. If the patient
is weak, let her take some gentle cordial to refresh herself, if her
pain will admit.
If her travail be tedious, she may take chicken or mutton broth, or
poached egg.
In delivery, the midwife must wait with patience till the child bursts
the membrane; for if she tear the membrane with her nails, she endangers
both the woman and the child; for by lying dry, and wanting that
slipperiness that should make it easy, it comes forth with great pains.
When the head appears, the midwife must gently hold it between her
hands, and draw the child at such times as the woman’s pains are upon
her, and at no other, slipping by degrees her forefingers under its
arm-pits, not using a rough hand, lest the tender infant may receive any
deformation of the body. As soon as the child is taken forth, let it be
laid on its back, that it may freely receive external respiration; then
cut the navel-string about three inches from the body, tying that end
which adheres to the body with a silken string; as near as you can; then
cover the head and stomach of the child well.
Let the midwife regard the patient in drawing forth the secundine, by
wagging and stirring them up and down, afterwards with a gentle hand
drawing them forth; if the work be difficult, let the woman hold salt in
her hands, shut them close, breathe hard into them, and thereby she will
know whether the membrane be broken or not.