CHAP. VII.
Of Difficult BIRTHS, proceeding from Causes of the MEMBRANES.
SUCH Difficulties as These, in BIRTH, may arise, FIRST from the Strength and Firmness of the Membranes; when they happen to be so gross, callous, or thick, that the INFANT cannot easily break through them.
In this Case, when the MIDWIFE finds the Orifice of the Womb sufficiently dilated, for the Circumference of the Head, and the Child so forward in the Passage, that it is ready for BIRTH, and only impeded by the rigid or stiff Membrane; then she has just Authority to break it gently with her Nails and Fingers; taking Care in the Act not to draw the Membrane towards her, because thereby the Secundine (of which the Membrane, tho’ distinguish’d from the Placenta, is in Effect, but the Thinner Part) would be untimely separated from the Womb, and the INFANT undone, unless presently Born.
BUT the MIDWIFE, after All, must always remember, not to attempt This, before these mentioned Signs are obvious to her Touch; otherways the Waters being too soon discharged, the CHILD is left behind, the Passages grow dry, and that which might have been an Easy and Speedy, proves a Difficult and Lingring BIRTH.
AND the self-same Consequences arise from the Weakness and Tenuity of the MEMBRANES; when they are so thin and soft, that they break, and the Waters (which are destin’d to lubricate and moisten the Passages) flow before their Time: In both which Cases, the Office of the Waters must be supply’d by proper Fomentations, and Oils, which (however costly) falls far short of the Effect of what is so Natural. However, in short, neither of these Conditions, under the diligent Hand of the expert Midwife, can differ far from the Case of an Easy BIRTH, as already defin’d; wherefore I proceed regularly to——