The Midwife, having her Nails well pared, and very smooth, and her Fingers anointed with Oil or Lard, must introduce the two _fore Fingers_ of either Hand into the _Passage_ or _Neck_ of the _Womb_, as far as its _inward_ Orifice, directing them with a _gentle_ and _easy_ Motion, somewhat upwards, as it were with a Tendency through the _Passage_ towards the _Navel_; in this Search she will find the _internal_ Orifice, joining the _Passage_ or _Neck_ of the _Womb_ more or less open, relaxed, and thinner than usual; and cautiously protruding her Fingers farther, she may possibly touch the _Crown_ of the Child’s Head; she will easily, by the _Sutures_, or _Opening_ between the Bones of the Skull, distinguish the _Crown_: Keeping her Fingers in this Situation, _during_ the Beginning, and Continuance of _strong_ Pains, she will observe the _Waters_ contain’d in the _Membranes_ including the Child, and After-birth _forming_ within the _inward_ Orifice, as if something like a Bladder _blown_, or _distended_ with Water, presented to the _Touch_, dilating the _Orifice_ with each _Throw_; these Appearances presage a _speedy_ and _easy_ Birth. CHAPTER VI. _Of a natural_ Birth, _and the_ Office _of the Midwife._ As the _Birth_ approaches, the Woman grows _hotter_ and _red_ in the Face; the Pains bear more _strongly_ down; the _internal_ Orifice _opens_; the _Vagina_ or _Passage_, at its _Entrance_, becomes more swell’d, as the Child’s Head advances; and the _Membranes_ are more and more _tensely_ stretched; before the _Birth_, the Person is often seized with a _Vomiting_, and _universal_ Tremor, without the Coldness of an _Ague_; and very often a _Humour_, _discolour’d_ with _Blood_, immediately preceeds the _Breach_ of the _Membranes_; when these Symptoms, or several of them, become urgent, ’tis Time to put the Woman in a proper Situation, as describ’d in the preceeding Chapter: The Midwife ought by no Means to break the _Membranes_, but _encourage_ the Woman now to make the best of her Pains, by _strongly bearing down_, as if going to Stool; the Midwife with her Fingers well anointed, putting them gently within the _internal_ Orifice, may cautiously, by separating them, assist its _opening_, and Removing it more behind the Child’s Head, thereby gradually promote its more easy Transmission, and at the same Time prevent, if necessary, the Womb from being too far protruded: After the _Waters_ are _broke_, as it is called, and the _Head_ of the Child comes into the _Passage_, the Midwife may lay hold on each Side of it, taking Care not to bruise it by rough Handling, and drawing it, by _Waving_ her Hands, if necessary, to loosen it, when fixed, rather than in a strait Line, assist the Birth; and if obstructed by the Shoulders in the Passage, inserting a Finger under each Arm-Pit, extricate them by the like Action.