BUT to return from this pardonable Digression to what is here proposed; as I come first to speak of Preternatural BIRTHS on the part of the Infant, I would observe that all ill Postures of the Child, in a Womb well situated, are the only Causes (meant in this place) of Preternatural BIRTHS on its own Part: Which Postures being very various and different, and each requiring a different peculiar Operation; I shall state them particularly (as above-mentioned) and that in their respective Chapters, after the manner following: viz.—
CHAP. XIII.
Of Præternatural BIRTHS, by the FACE’s being turn’d upwards; or bent forwards, and the CROWN backwards.
AMONG the many various Preternatural Positions of the INFANT, I cannot but reckon This One: First when, tho’ the CHILD offers itself Head foremost, yet the Face is turn’d upwards; and that because the INFANT in such a Posture can never be commodiously bent and adapted to the Form of the Pelvis.
IN this Case, the MIDWIFE ought to take special Care, that the Head fall down directly and safely, without being hurt, whilst she endeavours to bring it forward: For this Purpose, she is to enlarge the Passage as much as possible, dilating the Privities, and depressing the Os Coccygis; which however must be done, without lifting the Head with her Hand, for fear of bruising the Face against the Os Pubis. By this Method the BIRTH (how Preternatural soever) may be pretty well and easily perform’d.
BUT because the CHILD can only be said to be well turn’d, when it comes with its Chin leaning upon its Breast, and its Top or Crown of the Head tending directly to the Orifice; I reckon This another Preternatural Position, when the INFANT presents itself with the Crown bent backwards, and consequently with the Face forwards: By reason that in this Case, the Orifice itself and all the rest of the Passage must be much more dilated, than in the natural Condition; and the Head (being thus bent backwards) requires more severe Pains and hard Labour, to make it slide through the Passages.
IN which Case, the MIDWIFE, having timely discover’d this Situation by the Touch, ought immediately (upon the flowing of the Waters) to bend the Head gently forwards to the Breast, all the while adverting to handle the Face, especially the Nose and Eyes, very tenderly: And to this End, the Woman may be laid down on her Back, with her Head low; by no means labouring with the PAINS, before the Head of the CHILD is so conveniently turned: which may be thus most properly perform’d; viz. By laying the Palm of the Hand on the INFANT’s Breast, near its Throat, pressing it entirely back towards the Fund of the Womb; by which means the Head falls forwards of its own Accord upon the MIDWIFE’s Arm, and she with-drawing her Hand, will find the Head well turn’d.
BUT supposing the Head to be very strictly bent or pressed back, then the MIDWIFE is to attract it gently forwards by her Thumb, or Fore-Finger thrust into its Mouth; or by the Points of all Four thrust betwixt the Womb and the back Part of the Head. And thus, in fine, the Head being well Turned, and dextrously brought into the Passage; the Woman is then to be placed commodiously for BIRTH, and to labour her Best as in other Cases.
HOWEVER to this Case, I must add, by way of Remark for the MIDWIFE’s farther Information and better Government, that, if the Head is not brought into the Passage, as soon as the Waters have flow’d, it commonly happens, that the Hands offer themselves first; which if she do not instantly repel, the Head is turn’d up forwards with the Face, near the Chin, upon the Os Pubis; in which Condition, by reason of the Siccity and Contraction of the Womb, the only Expedient is to thrust back the Arms, and so passing the Hand under the CHILD’S Breast, to take hold of, and extract it by the Feet.
