BUT it falls out sometimes, that the MIDWIFE comes too late, and finds one LEG so far through, that the Buttocks are strictly confin’d: In this Condition, I would advise to lay the Woman conveniently upon her Back, with her Head low, that both the Womb and the Child may retreat a little; then taking hold of the right LEG with my Right Hand, I would thrust the INFANT back, till the whole Foot (or at least the Knee) is brought back into the Orifice of the Womb, in order that I may have the more Room for passing my Hand along the LEG: By which means I get hold of the other Foot; and bringing it also into the Passage, I place it along with the other, that both may come forth successfully together.
WHICH Thing, happening so when it will, that both FEET are excluded, whether done spontaneously or by Art, they are never to be repell’d or thrust back again; but, on the contrary, the way is to be duly cleared for their Passage; This being a very commodious Situation, provided the Child be well turned, I mean, with HEELS and BUTTOCKS upwards, and TOES and BELLY downwards: Whereas, if otherways, the CHIN may be easily hooked upon the OSSA PUBIS; which (if not so happily turned at first) I commonly prevent in the most adviseable manner following; viz.
UPON attracting the INFANT, I turn it cautiously at the same time, using both Hands in the ensuing Method; namely, The One I put up under its Body as far as possible, whilst with the Other I hold both FEET together: Insomuch that by this Means I gradually turn, not only the FEET and the LEGS, but also the whole Body; bringing it always forwards in the Interim, till at last it lies with its BELLY downwards, and is out above half way: Upon this I then give my Woman the Motion, to begin her Labour and endeavour her Best; because the HEAD and ARMS must necessarily pass through All at once. For notwithstanding the contrary Opinion of most Authors, who teach us to draw down the Arms one by one, and place them upon the Body, I cannot but agree with Daventer, and positively advise in this and all such other like Cases, to leave the Arms about the HEAD, that they may be excluded along with it: Because, as he says, tho’ the Woman in so doing, is obliged to force her INFANT forwards with all possible Endeavours, yet like a small transient Cloud, it is soon over.
WHEREFORE I commonly make it my Business to prevent the Woman’s PAINS, until I have brought the CHILD this Length; when allowing her a little Time to rest, I heartily encourage and positively promise Her, that, she performing her Part effectually, (by using all her Strength, and behaving herself as if the PAINS were most really pressing upon her, whether so or not) the BIRTH will immediately succeed: And upon this Promise, with the PATIENT’s mutual Assistances concurring, I never yet fail’d; neither will any Persons who faithfully and ingeniously follow this Method, in comfortably helping the Woman upon such an Occasion, by drawing the CHILD cautiously downwards, with whatsoever judicious Force: I mean not downwards, according to the Woman’s Length, but downwards towards the strait Gut. And as I every Moment insinuate to the MOTHER, that her BABE’s Life depends entirely upon her vigorous confederate Labour; so she mutually concurring with me, in endeavouring to do our Best, the Agrippa INFANT is presently brought forth to the great Satisfaction of Both.
BY these Means and Methods, we prevent the Tragical Consequences, which Mr. Portal and many others confess they have often met with in their Practice; viz. That the HEAD has been sometimes pulled-off from the SHOULDERS, or that the CHILD has been frequently stifled, by the Womb’s contracting and shutting-up about the NECK: Which was altogether owing to the injudicious Method of their Practice, in drawing down the Arms awkwardly (as mentioned above) along the Sides of the Body.
CHAP. XVII.
Of Preternatural BIRTHS, by Two, or more INFANTS presenting themselves ill-Turn’d.
THIS Case also happens sometimes remarkably; upon which, if Both or All are contain’d in one and the same SECUNDINE, or when the MEMBRANES are broken, then the right Version is very difficult; not so much for want of Room, as because their HANDS and FEET are commonly interwoven and twisted together: In which preternatural Condition, when so complicated and entangled, they are to be unfolded and cleared off one another with the nicest Circumspection and Judgment.
BUT besides, farther, they are otherways, only to be treated in this difficult Point, as if there was but one CHILD; for turning them always One by One duly, I would bring all their Feet into the Passage, and consequently handle them, as if they had offer’d themselves so at first. The first CHILD being born, I would give it to the next capable Person to tie and cut its String; whilst I directly repass up my Hand, to seek for the other’s Feet, by which I would also draw it forth, after breaking its proper MEMBRANES, in Case the second Flooding is not yet over, and that notwithstanding the Head should present itself First.
BUT and if it happens, that each CHILD has its own proper and distinct SECUNDINE, and That of the INFANT already brought forth chance to be loose and separated from the Womb; In that Case, I would presently fetch it away, and then extract the other INFANT, as long as there is any yet left behind, and that also by the Feet, as aforesaid: Whereas otherwise, the BIRTHS, together with the Constriction of their UMBILICALS, are to be previously accomplished.