§7.4#1Ὅταν δὲ συλλάβῃ ἡ ὑστέρα τὸ σπέρμα, εὐθὺς συμμύει ταῖς πολλαῖς, μέχρι γένωνται ἑπτὰ μῆνες· τῷ δ’ ὀγδόῳ χάσκουσιν·
When the womb conceives the semen, in most women it immediately closes, until seven months have passed; but in the eighth month they open.
καὶ τὸ ἔμβρυον, ἐὰν ᾖ γόνιμον, προκαταβαίνει τῷ ὀγδόῳ μηνί.
And the embryo, if it is viable, descends in the eighth month.
Τὰ δὲ μὴ γόνιμα ἀλλ’ ἀποπεπνιγμένα ὀκτάμηνα ἐν τοῖς τόκοις οὐκ ἐκφέρουσιν ὀκτάμηναι αἱ γυναῖκες, οὔτε προκαταβαίνει κάτω τὰ ἔμβρυα τῷ ὀγδόῳ μηνί, οὔτε αἱ ὕστεραι ἐν τῷ χρόνῳ τούτῳ χάσκουσιν· ἀλλὰ σημεῖον ὅτι οὐ γόνιμον, ἐὰν γένηται μὴ συμπεσόντων τῶν εἰρημένων.
On the other hand, non-viable, but suffocated eight-month-old fetuses, women in the eighth month do not carry to full term in childbirth, nor do the embryos descend in the eighth month, nor do the wombs open at this time; rather, if birth occurs without these mentioned things happening together, it is a sign that it is not viable.
Μετὰ δὲ τὰς συλλήψεις αἱ γυναῖκες βαρύνονται τὸ σῶμα πᾶν, καὶ σκότοι πρὸ τῶν ὀμμάτων καὶ ἐν τῇ κεφαλῇ γίνονται πόνοι.
After conception, women find their whole body heavy, and darkness appears before their eyes, and pains occur in the head.
Ταῦτα δὲ ταῖς μὲν θᾶττον καὶ σχεδὸν δεκαταίαις γίνεται, ταῖς δὲ βραδύτερον, ὅπως ἂν τύχωσιν οὖσαι τῷ περιττωματικαὶ εἶναι μᾶλλον καὶ ἧττον.
These symptoms occur sooner in some, around the tenth day, and later in others, depending on whether they happen to be more or less full of residual matter.
Ἔτι δὲ ναυτίαι καὶ ἔμετοι λαμβάνουσι τὰς πλείστας, καὶ μάλιστα τὰς τοιαύτας, ὅταν αἵ τε καθάρσεις στῶσι καὶ μήπω εἰς τοὺς μαστοὺς τετραμμέναι ὦσιν.
Furthermore, nausea and vomiting seize most women, especially those of such a kind when the menses have stopped and have not yet been directed to the breasts.
Ἔνιαι μὲν οὖν ἀρχόμεναι μᾶλλον πονοῦσι τῶν γυναικῶν, ἔνιαι δ’ ὕστερον, ἤδη τοῦ κυήματος ἔχοντος αὔξησιν μᾶλλον· πολλαῖς δὲ καὶ πολλάκις καὶ στραγγουρίαι γίνονται τὸ τελευταῖον.
Some women, then, suffer more at the beginning, others later, when the fetus has already made greater growth; and in many women, strangury also frequently occurs at the end.
Ὡς μὲν οὖν ἐπὶ τὸ πολὺ ῥᾷον ἀπαλλάττουσιν αἱ τὰ ἄρρενα κύουσαι καὶ μᾶλλον μετ’ εὐχροίας διατελοῦσιν, ἐπὶ δὲ τῶν θηλειῶν τοὐναντίον· ἀχρούστεραί τε γὰρ ὡς ἐπὶ τὸ πολύ, καὶ βαρύτερον διάγουσι, καὶ πολλαῖς περὶ τὰ σκέλη οἰδήματα καὶ ἐπάρσεις γίνονται τῆς σαρκός· οὐ μὴν ἀλλ’ ἐνίαις γίνεται καὶ τἀναντία τούτων.
Generally, those carrying male fetuses get off more easily and maintain a better complexion, whereas with females it is the opposite; for they are for the most part paler and pass their time more heavily, and many experience edema and swellings of the flesh around their legs; nevertheless, in some the opposite of these things occurs.
Εἰώθασι δὲ ταῖς κυούσαις αἱ ἐπιθυμίαι γίνεσθαι παντοδαπαὶ καὶ μεταβάλλειν ὀξέως, ὃ καλοῦσί τινες κισσᾶν·
It is also customary for pregnant women to have all kinds of cravings and to change them quickly, which some call "kissân".
καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν θηλειῶν ὀξύτεραι μὲν αἱ ἐπιθυμίαι, παραγινομένων δὲ ἧττον δύνανται ἀπολαύειν.
In the case of females, these cravings are sharper, but when they are provided, they are less able to enjoy them.
Ὀλίγαις δέ τισι συμβαίνει βέλτιον ἔχειν τὸ σῶμα κυούσαις.
In some few women, it happens that the body is in better condition when they are pregnant.
Μάλιστα δὲ ἀσῶνται, ὅταν ἄρχωνται τὰ παιδία τρίχας ποιεῖν.
They suffer most discomfort when the children begin to grow hair.
Αἱ δὲ τρίχες ταῖς μὲν κυούσαις αἱ μὲν συγγενεῖς γίνονται ἐλάττους καὶ ῥέουσιν, ἐν οἷς δὲ μὴ εἰώθασιν ἔχειν τρίχας, ταῦτα δασύνεται μᾶλλον.
As for the hair, in pregnant women, that which is natural becomes less and falls out, but where they are not accustomed to have hair, these parts become more hairy.
Καὶ κίνησιν δὲ παρέχεται ἐν τῷ σώματι μᾶλλον ὡς ἐπὶ τὸ πολὺ τὸ ἄρρεν τοῦ θήλεος, καὶ τίκτεται θᾶττον, τὰ δὲ θήλεα βραδύτερον.
In the body, the male also generally causes more movement than the female, and is born more quickly, while females are born more slowly.
Καὶ ὁ πόνος ἐπὶ μὲν τοῖς θήλεσι συνεχὴς καὶ νωθρότερος, ἐπὶ δὲ τοῖς ἄρρεσιν ὀξὺς μέν, πολλῷ δὲ χαλεπώτερος.
And the pain in the case of females is continuous and duller, but in the case of males it is sharp and much more severe.
Αἱ δὲ πλησιάζουσαι πρὸ τῶν τόκων τοῖς ἀνδράσι θᾶττον τίκτουσιν.
Women who have intercourse with their husbands before childbirth give birth more quickly.
Δοκοῦσι δ’ ὠδίνειν αἱ γυναῖκες ἐνίοτε οὐ γινομένης ὠδῖνος, ἀλλὰ διὰ τὸ τὴν κεφαλὴν στρέφειν τὸ ἔμβρυον φαίνεται ὠδῖνος ἀρχὴ τοῦτο γίνεσθαι.
Women sometimes think they are in labor when no labor is taking place, but because the embryo turns its head, this appears to be the beginning of labor.
Τὰ μὲν οὖν ἄλλα ζῷα μοναχῶς ποιεῖται τὴν τοῦ τόκου τελείωσιν· εἷς γὰρ ὥρισται τοῦ τόκου χρόνος πᾶσιν· ἀνθρώπῳ δὲ πολλοὶ μόνῳ τῶν ζῴων·
Now, other animals complete their birth in a single way, for one time of birth is determined for all; but man alone of all animals has many times.
καὶ γὰρ ἑπτάμηνα καὶ ὀκτάμηνα καὶ ἐννεάμηνα γίνεται, καὶ δεκάμηνα τὸ πλεῖστον· ἔνιαι δ’ ἐπιλαμβάνουσι καὶ τοῦ ἑνδεκάτου μηνός.
For births occur at seven, eight, and nine months, and most of all at ten months; and some even reach the eleventh month.
Ὅσα μὲν οὖν γίνεται πρότερα τῶν ἑπτὰ μηνῶν, οὐδὲν οὐδαμῇ δύναται ζῆν· τὰ δ’ ἑπτάμηνα γόνιμα γίνεται πρῶτον, ἀσθενῆ δὲ τὰ πολλά (διὸ καὶ σπαργανοῦσιν ἐρίοις αὐτά), πολλὰ δὲ καὶ τῶν πόρων ἐνίους ἔχοντα ἀσχίστους, οἷον ὤτων καὶ μυκτήρων· ἀλλ’ ἐπαυξανομένοις μένοις διαρθροῦται, καὶ βιοῦσι πολλὰ καὶ τῶν τοιούτων.
Those that are born before seven months cannot live under any circumstances; seven-month births are the first to be viable, though most are weak (wherefore they wrap them in wool), and many of them have some of their passages unslit, such as those of the ears and nostrils; but as they grow, they become fully articulated, and many of this kind also survive.
Τὰ δ’ ὀκτάμηνα περὶ μὲν Αἴγυπτον καὶ ἐν ἐνίοις τόποις, ὅπου εὐέκφοροι αἱ γυναῖκες καὶ φέρουσί τε πολλὰ ῥᾳδίως καὶ τίκτουσι, καὶ γενόμενα δύναται ζῆν, κἂν τερατώδη γένηται, ἐνταῦθα μὲν ζῇ τὰ ὀκτάμηνα καὶ ἐκτρέφεται, ἐν δὲ τοῖς περὶ τὴν Ἑλλάδα τόποις ὀλίγα πάμπαν σώζεται, τὰ δὲ πολλὰ ἀπόλλυται·
But eight-month births, in Egypt and in some other places where women are easy in childbirth and bear many children easily and give birth, can live even if they are born monstrous; there eight-month births live and are reared, but in the regions around Greece very few survive, and most perish.
καὶ διὰ τὴν ὑπόληψιν, κἂν σωθῇ τι, νομίζουσιν οὐκ ὀκτάμηνον εἶναι τὸ γεγενημένον, ἀλλὰ λαθεῖν ἑαυτὰς αἱ γυναῖκες συλλαβοῦσαι πρότερον.
And because of this opinion, even if one survives, they do not think the child born is an eight-month one, but that the women had conceived earlier without realizing it.
Πονοῦσι δ’ αἱ γυναῖκες μάλιστα τὸν μῆνα τὸν τέταρτον καὶ τὸν ὄγδοον, καὶ ἐὰν διαφθείρωσι τετάρτῳ ἢ ὀγδόῳ μηνί, διαφθείρονται καὶ αὐταὶ ὡς ἐπὶ τὸ πολύ, ὥστ’ οὐ μόνον τὰ ὀκτάμηνα οὐ ζῇ, ἀλλὰ καὶ διαφθειρομένων αἱ τίκτουσαι κινδυνεύουσιν.
Women suffer most in the fourth and the eighth month, and if they miscarry in the fourth or eighth month, they themselves also for the most part perish, so that not only do eight-month births not live, but even when they are miscarried, the mothers are in danger.
Τὸν αὐτὸν δὲ τρόπον δοκεῖ λανθάνειν καὶ ὅσα φαίνεται τίκτεσθαι πολυχρονιώτερα τῶν ἕνδεκα μηνῶν· καὶ γὰρ τούτων ἡ τῆς συλλήψεως ἀρχὴ λανθάνει τὰς γυναῖκας· πολλάκις γὰρ πνευματικῶν γενομένων ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ὑστερῶν, μετὰ ταῦτα πλησιάσασαι καὶ συλλαβοῦσαι ἐκείνην οἴονται τὴν ἀρχὴν εἶναι τῆς συλλήψεως, δι’ ἣν ἐχρήσαντο τοῖς σημείοις ὁμοίοις.
In the same way, those births that seem to be of longer duration than eleven months also seem to escape notice; for in these cases too, the beginning of conception escapes the women's notice; for often, when the womb has previously been filled with wind, and they have afterwards had intercourse and conceived, they think that was the beginning of conception, because they experienced similar signs.