CHAPTER IV.OfSITUATION.
M
ANY in the Country choose to be on theirLegsorKnees, supported by a Woman on each Side, orleanon a Chair or Bed, and pass well enough through the present Scene of their Miseries: But I would preferably advise a Posture betweenlyingandsitting, on aPalletorcommonBed, theHeadandShouldersbeingrais’dby Bolsters or Pillows, the Feathersbeat backfrom the Bed’s Feet, to support the hollow of the Loins, and prevent the Pressure of any Thing against theBottomof the Back Bone, to obstruct the Passage of the Child.
ThisSituationis most commodious, during Labour, for a Woman toassisther Pains with the greater Freedom of Respiration, and the least Fatigue and Expence of Spirits; especially if thelabouringWoman lay hold of afoldedNapkin, held stiffly for that Purpose, drawing her Feetupwardstowards her Seat,separatingher Knees, andfixingher Feet against something that will not easily give Way.
If the Person in Labour will not be in Bed, the End may be answered by hersittinginanother’s Lap, with theBottomof her Back-Bone situate between the other’s Knees, with herownseparated and supported, and Feet fixed as aforesaid, to favour her bearing down.
’Tis inconsistent with the Design of my Writing to describe all theconvenientSituations, necessary in Cases of Difficulty, yet when the Operator has rectified all Obstructions to the Birth, the same Situation of the Body upon aSlope, from the Head downwards is most suitable, even altho’, for Conveniency, she should be deliver’d lying on one Side.
I shall, on this Occasion, observe, what I have found Advantageous in my own Experience, as well as consonant to the Advice of the best Writers on the Subject: That the Delivery on theBack, by the Assistance of one placed oneach Side, supporting her by theHams, with her Kneesseparated, and raising herBack Bonea little from the Bed during theActivityof Pains, and theMidwife’sAssistanceof either Sex, is vastly preferable to the Delivery onone Side, to which I impute the Loss of many Children brought byTurning, as well as a moretediousLabour in other Cases; because this Posture, in some Degree,contractsthePassage, and only admits the proper Separation ofoneKnee.