The Signs and Causes of Difficult Labour

Abstract

When parturition is close at hand and abundant blood-stained fluid is shed from the uterus, but there is inability to give birth and labour pains are infrequent and not severe: then it is with difficulty that the child is brought to birth, especially if there is malformation of the womb, the vigour of the uterus is impaired, the passage of the cervix tight and short, and the assembly of the pubic bones too rigid. The stone, or hardness of the containing belly, disease of the foetus, twins or monstrosities, and excessive waters due to firm membranes: or presentation of one or both hands or feet, or of the buttocks or the chest, but not the head, which ought to exit first in propitious birth: all these make labour difficult.