IN this difficult Case, the attentive MIDWIFE places her Woman conveniently, as soon as the Waters have flow’d, and sliding her Hand into the Womb, removes the String, and endeavours to bring the HEAD forwards into the PASSAGE; which she easily performs, as long as the Infant is suspended on high, and its Back not too much bent, by putting-in her Hand gently up to the hinder Part of the CHILD’S Head, attracting it gradually downwards. But if in this Condition the BIRTH be fallen too far down, it is more adviseable first to attract the FEET considerately.
I say considerately, because it is not sufficient to penetrate with the Hand to the FEET; which however yet, in this Posture is pretty difficult: But also to know exactly in what manner they are to be drawn down; since it is no indifferent Matter to understand how that is to be rightly perform’d with Success. Wherefore I shall in this place take upon me to set forth two different Ways of Turning the INFANT in this Condition; viz.
I. I would either First pass my Right Hand to the Left Thigh of the CHILD, and taking hold of it near the KNEE, push it upwards with my Thumb, drawing it at the same time downwards with my Fingers placed behind: Thus I would bring down one KNEE to the Passage, leaving the Foot yet above, and then the other KNEE in its Turn; which being done, I would change my Hand, and put the Left up to the INFANT’s Belly or Breast; where, as I thrust back its Body upwards, there is presently Room enough: then I would take hold again of one or both KNEES, to move the CHILD higher, that so the FEET may be more conveniently brought into the Passage one by one, if not Both at once: Or, upon the LEGS being bent with the Right Hand, and the KNEES brought into the Passage (as above) I would take hold of them below the Ham, and bring them past the Orifice of the Womb, till the FEET are before the Passage; whereupon I would then readily endeavour to extract the Infant by the FEET. Or, Secondly,
II. I would put my Right Hand up along the Belly to either Thigh, or Knee, having at the same time a thin Bandage doubled and dipp’d in Oil, upon my Fingers’ Ends, in order to be put about the Knee, that I may attract it gently thereby; which I would draw out again by the Right Hand, whilst my Left holds the Ends of the Bandage, that they may not move out of their Place: Then I would take the Extremities of the Bandage in my Right Hand, attracting it softly thereby, whilst I pass up my Left into the Womb, to thrust the CHILD’s Belly upwards. By which ingenious and regular Means, I think, Dr. Daventer first moved the upper Part of the Body upwards, and the Feet downwards, because the Knees are thereby brought nearer to the Orifice. Now these, in short, are the only safe, and proper Methods to be taken in this present Case, or nice Conjuncture; because, by all other inconsiderate and temerarious Means, the INFANT’s Loins may be twisted, its Hips or Knees disjointed, its Feet lamed, and itself at last quite lost or destroy’d.
IN like manner it happens not very seldom, that the INFANT comes with its Back forwards into the Passage; and in this Posture the Navel-String falls commonly down there, so that besides itself, nothing else is to be felt by the Touch: In this Case, the Midwife is to observe well the Flooding; immediately upon which, she is to seek for the Feet, which are more easily come at than the HEAD, tho’ the same is even also a very difficult Task, by reason that the CHILD’s Back takes up the whole Space of Room; which, notwithstanding, must be cautiously done, and the INFANT discreetly extracted by them.
BUT again sometimes, the BIRTH lies also Transverse, or a-cross the Womb; in which dangerous Case, I confess the MIDWIFE cannot well perceive, so as to distinguish Matters by the Touch, before Flooding: Because the INFANT (swimming in the Waters) is as yet seated high, and then moving its Hands and Feet variously, she sometimes feels one, and sometimes another Member at the Orifice; or, one Moment she finds Something, and another Nothing at all there. However, in fine, she may perceive the Humours most commonly compressed into an acuminated or oblong Form.
WHEREFORE in this difficult Preternatural Condition, the MIDWIFE ought primarily and chiefly to consider and discover the Posture of the Womb, whether it be direct or oblique; since according to That she must proceed in assisting her Woman with true Discretion. As for Example, if she finds it in a streight or natural State, and the Waters sufficiently exuberant, extended length-ways, &c. as aforesaid, She must, without Loss of Time, break the MEMBRANE, and presently, removing all Impediments of HAND, FOOT, or NAVEL-STRING, judiciously direct the HEAD into the Passage; which may be very easily and safely done immediately upon the Flooding. Whereas if this Method be delay’d, or not taken in due Time, and consequently the HANDS (as the readiest) present themselves to the Orifice first: In this Condition, I would lay the Woman discreetly upon her Back, with the upper Part of her Body lowest; after which, I would move the INFANT’s Hands back with my own; whereby at the same time bringing its FEET into the Passage, I would in the next Place gently extract the whole Body with all possible Conduct and Success.
CHAP. XVI.
Of Preternatural BIRTHS, by the Feet presenting first.
IN like manner again, it often happens, that the CHILD offers its FEET foremost; which next to a Natural BIRTH is the most easy and safe Position, however I have been oblig’d to postpone it to the rest, for Method’s sake: In this Case, the MIDWIFE, observing one FOOT presenting itself in the Passage after FLOODING, ought to stop and retain it there, that it may not slide through, until she meets with the other. In order to which Performance, she must immediately seek for it, with either Hand, according as she perceives the INFANT’s great Toe situated, since it is only to be sought for along its Side; and being found, it is to be gently drawn down, and placed near its Fellow in the Passage.