The Province of Midwives in the Practice of their Art / Instructing them in the timely knowledge of such difficulties as require the assistance of Men, for the preservation of Mother and Child; very necessary for the perusal of all the sex interested in the subject, and interspersed with some New and Useful Observations.

SHALL pass over the Symptoms of Pregnancy, and the Distinctions of true and false Conceptions, as Things of which Midwives can seldom be expected to be proper Judges, and proceed to their Business, Natural Labours; comprehending, under this Name, all such Cases, which require no further Assistance than Midwives, in a general Way, may easily give; or in their Absence a Nurse, or any sensible Woman, who has attended Deliveries.

After the Woman has gone her due Time of Nine Months, the most usual Term; the Signs preceeding Labour are Pains about the Back, Navel and Loins; a considerable Falling of the Tumour of the Belly, by the Burden’s sinking lower; and incommoding the Woman in walking; a more frequent Inclination to make Water: These Symptoms increase in Proportion as the Birth approaches; but as the most certain Knowledge of natural Births, can only be obtained by Touching the Woman in Labour, after having premised some Things concerning her proper Situation; I shall direct how it ought to be done.