The _Membranes_ closely connected to the _Placenta_, and the _Fund_ of the _Womb_, between both which they seem to take their Rise, contain the _Humours_ in which the Infant swims, the better to preserve it from Injuries, by its Pressure against _unyielding_ Parts, and the _Humours_ before, and after the _Breaking_ of the _Membranes_, commonly call’d the _Breaking of the Waters_, in the Birth, very much facilitate it, by opening the _inward Orifice_ of the _Womb_, and lubricating the _Passage_ for the Child: These _Membranes_ come away with the _Placenta_, under the Name of the _After-birth_, or _Secundines_, indifferently. The _Pelvis_ or _Bason_, wherein the _Uterus_ or _Womb_ is seated, is form’d by the _forward_ Bones, commonly call’d the _Share-Bone_, the _Hip-Bones_ and their Continuation on each Side, and the lower Part of the _Back-Bone_, all which are so contiguous to each other, as to form this Cavity, generally much larger in Women than Men, cloathed with Muscles, between which the _Vagina_ is inserted. The right Formation of the _Pelvis_, is of the greatest Consequence in Favour of an _easy_ Birth; when the _Bones_ forming it, _forward_ and _backward_, and on _each_ Side, both above and below, don’t too much approach each other, and prevent the Exclusion of the Child between, by a free Admission. CHAPTER III. _The Symptoms preceeding_ Natural Labours. I 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. CHAPTER IV. _Of_ SITUATION.