The Female Physician / Containing all the diseases incident to that sex, in virgins, wives, and widows; together with their causes and symptoms, their degrees of danger, and respective methods of prevention and cure: to which is added, the whole art of new improv'd midwifery; comprehending the necessary qualifications of a midwife, and particular directions for laying women, in all cases of difficult and preternatural births; together with the diet and regimen of both the mother and child.

by John Maubray

CHAP. XIX.
Of Preternatural BIRTHS, from the WOMB’s inclining Forwards.

IN speaking to this critical Point, I shall first give the Reason of such a BIRTH, occasion’d by this Position; to wit, The WOMB hanging much forwards, especially in Women carrying it too low in the Abdomen, the INFANT (betwixt the Pains) must needs be forced upon the Os Sacrum, or the Vertebræ bending inwards; which stops the Head that it cannot conveniently or without Obstruction fall into the Pelvis.

HOWEVER, in this Condition we suppose the INFANT to be well turn’d, I mean (both here and elsewhere) well turn’d in respect of the WOMB, with the Crown of the Head lying against the Orifice; than which nothing can be more Right or Natural in regard of the WOMB itself, nor more Wrong and Preternatural in respect of the PELVIS and Vagina of the WOMB, in this forward Situation: Because by reason of this Posture, the INFANT falls transverse upon the Ossa Pelvis, especially upon the Os Sacrum or hindmost Vertebræ; upon which it commonly offers itself with the Face prone or turn’d Downwards, tho’ it is not brought forth, but with the Face Supine or Upwards. For as it passes, it must be turn’d round, partly in a Circle, with its Head prone, and Feet drawn up under it; which happens not in the WOMB, but only as it passes the Orifice into the PELVIS or VAGINA.

NOW what I mean is more plainly This, that as soon as the Infant comes into the Turning (which it must pass) it necessarily bends and crooks itself, as it finds its Passage bent or crooked; by which means the Face is sometimes turn’d down, and sometimes upwards: And This proceeds from That, in short, as soon as the Head begins to enter the Orifice, it presently fixes upon (and sticks fast to) the last Vertebræ of the Loins standing forwards, or to the Os Sacrum; so that it cannot naturally or possibly go forwards, except the Head is bent downwards, and the Neck and whole Body be accommodated to that Bending.

HENCE it is, that THAT which just now was situated prone upon its Belly in the WOMB, now passing through the VAGINA, is bent upwards supine upon its BACK; and from thence it’s evident, that That Inversion is not properly in the WOMB, but in the VAGINA, or (if you please) in the Confines of Both: And, in fine, this forward Inversion (as it happens) occasions a most difficult Preternatural BIRTH.

BUT this, in short, happens to the Woman with CHILD, because her WOMB hangs forward, or is resupin’d, according to the Depression made on the WOMB by the Intestines, forcing it this or that way; or to either Side, as will by and by more fully appear[^[173]]. But——

SINCE it is most requisite to know presently in the Beginning of LABOUR, whether the WOMB be placed forwards, in order that the Means of Help may be taken accordingly; I shall in the second place add the SIGNS, or Tokens, by which the MIDWIFE may know this Position of the WOMB, and what she has best to do in such a nice ticklish STATE of Affairs.

FIRST then, She may know it, principally, by the Hanging forwards and Thickness of the Belly, or perhaps by the good Woman’s Information of the Place, where she chiefly feels the INFANT stirring; for it cannot move but where ’tis placed.

HOWEVER yet a prudent MIDWIFE will have no great regard to such Uncertainties, but betake herself immediately to that which cannot fail her, the Touch; which (in this Case) affords her the following certain SIGNS; viz.