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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. cover

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.

Chapter 89: CHAP. II. Of Natural BIRTHS.
By John Maubray
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A practical medical manual addressing illnesses and reproductive conditions affecting females across life stages, outlining causes, symptoms, degrees of danger, prevention, and treatment. It combines theoretical discussion of embryology, fetal development, membranes, and the afterbirth with guidance on infant nutrition and care. A large portion presents midwifery technique and recommended qualifications, giving step-by-step directions for normal, difficult, and preternatural births and for postnatal diet and regimen for mother and child. Separate chapters consider virgin-specific disorders, menstrual and related afflictions, and the physiological aspects of sexual intercourse, blending clinical observation with procedural instruction for both practitioners and informed readers.

CHAP. II.
Of Natural BIRTHS.

BY a Natural BIRTH, I mean nothing else, but that which is perform’d without any ART or Artificial Means; which BIRTH (of itself) strictly observes the Order and Appointment of Nature: That is, in the INFANT’s coming Head foremost, Face downwards, Arms following, extended (along the Sides) strait upwards, towards the Thighs.

HIPPOCRATES’s Reason[163], in short, for the CHILD’s thus turning and presenting itself, is very good; viz. Because of all the Parts, the Head is the Heaviest about the Time of BIRTH, as appears more at large from Sect. I. Chap. 10.

BUT besides this Argument, I believe Wise Nature has also order’d it thus; because This indubitably is the most safe and easy Manner of EXITION both for the Mother and Infant: Insomuch that by all other Methods of EXTRACTION, One or the Other, and sometimes Both Lives are, or may be, endanger’d, if not very dextrously perform’d, according to the best Laws of Art and Judgment, as by and by will more manifestly appear.

BUT because I have generally observ’d most Authors to treat promiscuously of BIRTHS, not only accounting some, which are really Natural, to be Preternatural; but also both handling and writing of them as such, only because attended with some difficult Circumstances: I shall (in this place) take Leave to make an agreeable Distinction betwixt the different Sorts of Natural BIRTHS, in order to make every thing the more clear and obvious to the Conception of the Reader. Upon which Account therefore, I shall reduce These to two Heads, and that under the Titles of Natural Easy, and Natural Difficult BIRTHS.

THE FIRST of which I include in this Chapter; but because in this Case (which I call a Natural Easy BIRTH), Nature alone always performs the Work, without any Help of ART or Artful Means; and because also the Midwife (upon this Occasion) has but little or nothing to do, save only to observe the concluding Chapters of the last preceding Section; and upon receiving the Child, immediately to manage and provide both for the Mother and the Infant according to their several Necessities, as hereafter shall be inculcated in the respective Chapters of the next following Section: I say, for these Reasons, I have no Room here to insist farther on this present Head; wherefore I proceed in course to the SECOND Sort of these BIRTHS. Namely——