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

SECT. VI.

CHAP. I.
Of the DIET and REGIMEN of the Puerperial or Child-Bed-Woman.

THE Good Woman being now delivered, and laid in Child-Bed, may rightly be compared to a Ship, which, after a dangerous nine or ten Months Voyage, rides at Anchor in her Port; where, tho’ arriv’d with great Security, yet if not well moor’d against sudden Winds and Storms, she may perhaps at last drive from her Anchors and suffer Shipwreck: So in like manner if both the Mother and the Child be not duly taken Care of after the BIRTH, Both may be still expos’d to the Danger of DEATH. Wherefore, to prevent all such melancholy Accidents, I shall first point out the proper REGIMEN of the One, and then successively direct That of the Other, in the following Manner; viz.——

I. THEN, immediately after the BIRTH, a soft gentle Closure may be apply’d to the Womb for repelling of the cold Air; of which we must be now very cautious, if we will avert the fatal Consequences that may thereby happen: As also a small Plaister of Galbanum with a little Civet in its Center, may be applied to the NAVEL for attracting, or rather retaining the Womb in its proper Place, where the MIDWIFE’s careful Hand has fixed it after the DELIVERY.

II. THE Patient having her Body wrap’d about with a warm Cloth, and her Hips girt round with the same, is to be placed conveniently in a warm Bed; that is, directly upon her Back-Bone, with her Head and Body a little elevated, for her breathing and cleansing the Better; as her Thighs and Legs also are to be stretched down close together: Whereupon now, if not before, she ought to have a little good Chicken or Pullet-Broth for her Refreshment; which being done, all Doors and Windows are to be shut, and the Bed-Curtains drawn close, that she may rest and sleep quietly.

III. IN the next place, the Closures are to be remov’d, and the clotted Blood taken away; which being diligently done, the BELLY, LOINS, and PRIVITIES are to be anointed with the Oil of sweet Almonds, or white Lillies, mixed with a little warm Wine, which may be repeated at pleasure, for allaying the PAINS of these Parts: And as the Woman is to be carefully kept always very warm, as well as disposed to Rest and Sleep; so every now and then, she is to be comforted with some small Matter of any convenient Food; abstaining however chiefly from strong Meats, as well as from all hot or strong Liquors.

IV. A Decoction of Barley, Linseed, and Chervil, or Marsh-Mallows and Violet-Leaves, with a little Honey of Roses, may be afterwards used Milk-warm three or four times a Day, by way of Fomentation for the first five or six Days of CHILD-BED: Or, instead of these Things, fresh warm Milk, or Barley-Water only may be properly used; always remembring that the Parts be duly cleansed from the clotted Blood, &c.