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

THE first Duty then, that the INFANT requires of us after BIRTH, whether born by the Head, or extracted by the Feet, is the tying and cutting of the Umbilical Vein, or NAVEL-STRING; which being a thing generally well known, I shall have no Occasion to insist upon it, especially since tho’ the common Gossips may differ in the Performance, yet they always agree in the Fact.

HOWEVER, that we may not pass this essential Point by in Silence, in case a notable Word may drop by the By, I would,——

I. OBSERVE, that, until the STRING be cut, the Child is to be carefully laid on one Side, not on its Back, for fear that the HUMOURS, running to its Mouth or Nose, may choke it, for want of free Evacuation.

II. I would take notice, that, if need require, while the MIDWIFE is busy about the Mother, in extracting the AFTER-BIRTH, cleansing the WOMB, &c. the most capable of the Gossips should tie and cut the STRING, especially if the INFANT is weak or ill; otherways it may be deferred until the Woman be entirely delivered, and fairly laid. Then,——

III. AS to the Performance of this Matter, it may be tied with a good strong Thread, laid four or five-fold, according to its Strength; and the Knot tied close within two Inches of the CHILD’s Body: Tho’, I say, that the Knot is to be tied close, yet it must not be so strictly tied as to cut asunder the STRING; which might easily happen, especially to the INFANTS of a tenderer Constitution. And the Reason that I would have the Constriction made two Inches from the Body, is this, That in case any Blood should happen to drop out afterwards (as it often happens) there may be room enough to tie it again nearer the NAVEL.

IV. THE STRING is not to be cut off close to the Knot, but also two or three Inches from it; so that, if it happens to swell with Wind (as is very common) after being tied, it may be loosed again, the Wind discharged, and itself conveniently retied. But the far better and preferable way is, to tie this Vein in two Places, and cut it asunder betwixt the Ligatures; being thereby secure from losing Blood. Some (I know) will not have the Vein to be tied before the CHILD cries or makes Water; but, however, long Delays in this Case are no ways convenient, nor without Danger.

V. THIS Vein or String being cut, must be wrapped up in a three or fourfold Rag, to defend the BABE from Cold or Pains of the Belly; which otherways might ensue from the naked Vein’s lying upon its Body: Which being done, this Part of the String is to be laid on the upper Part of the Belly, with a small Boulster on the Top of it; and then swathed with a Linnen Swath of about four Inches broad, to keep it firm and steady.

VI. THE first time that the CHILD is unswathed, a new Knot ought to be made or tied, and that to prevent all Danger by Loss of BLOOD, which may readily happen by the first Knot’s relaxing, as the STRING begins to wither away or contract.

THIS being so duly taken care of, it remains only in general, that the Infant be presently washed, cleansed, and examined all over, and at last orderly swaddled. All which if the MIDWIFE does not perform with her own Hands, she ought at least to see it carefully accomplished: Upon which she may then say, she has faithfully discharged her Duty to both the MOTHER and the CHILD.

VII. BUT more particularly, in the seventh Place, I must take notice, that as soon as the NAVEL-STRING is thus duly handled and provided for, the INFANT is to be tenderly cleansed of the adhering Excrements, and washed all over in a little warm Wine, Milk, or Ale; especially its Head, Arm-Pits, Groins, Cods, or Privities, &c. are to be softly cleansed and gently bathed with a soft Spunge or Rag, dipt in the same Liquors: But if the viscous Matter sticks too fast or close to the tender Body, a little Oil of sweet Almonds, or fresh Butter, may be added to either of the foresaid Liquors. As also the Ears and Nostrils ought to be well cleansed and unstopped with small Tents of fine Rags wet therein; and the Eyes wiped with a soft dry Cloth; as the Mouth, Tongue, and Jaws may be cleans’d by the Finger.