REPRODUCTION 100 



The head then passes along the vagina, and the child 

 i-s thus born; for as a rule the birth of the child takes 

 place head foremost. Occasionally, however, it may 

 be born breech (i.e.) buttock) foremost. Since the child 

 is attached to the womb by the umbilical cord, this 

 has to be severed; it is cut off to within an inch or 

 two of the child's body. The short remaining end 

 dries up and falls off in a week or so, leaving as a 

 mark the navel. The placenta and the umbilical 

 cord are also expelled after a short time as the after- 

 birth. The act of birth is technically known as par- 

 turition; in everyday language, however, a woman 

 who is giving birth to a child is said to be " confined," 

 or going through her " confinement." For, as some 

 time is needed for the womb to return to its normal 

 state, it is necessary for the mother to lie up, 

 generally for about ten days. This period is called 

 the lying-in or puerperal period. Milk begins to 

 flow on about the second or third day, and steadily 

 increases in quantity, lasting as long as the child is 

 suckled. Every mother should suckle her child for 

 about ten or twelve months. The taking the child 

 from the breast is called weaning. Menstruation 

 generally remains in abeyance during the period of 

 suckling (lactation), though this is by no means in- 

 variably the rule. 



Lying-in does not take place among some of the 

 savage races. Thus the nomadic tribes have no 

 settled abode, but wander about, pitching their camp 

 wherever convenient. There is no opportunity 

 for the woman to go to bed for the confinement; 

 many births, therefore, take place whilst the tribe 

 is on the march. When the woman feels the com- 



