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MIDWIFERY SERVICE
Midwives Acts, 1903 to 1956.
Seventy six midwives notified the Local Supervising Authority
of their intention to practise within the Borough during 1940.
Fourteen ceased practising in the Borough; so that sixty two remained
on the Register at the end of the year. All these were trained and
held the certificate of the Central Midwives Board.
Midwives are compensated if they lose a case through admission
to a hospital or maternity home on the advice of a doctor. The sum
of £l2.12.0d, was paid out during the year.
Confinements attended by Midwives (including Municipal Midwives)
Cases attended by midwives alone 1908 61.9% of total.
Cases attended by midwives when a
doctor was also engaged 792
Cases attended by midwives when a
doctor was also summoned 381
TOTAL 3081
The Rules of the Central Midwives board lay down that the Local
Supervising Authority must be informed within 36 hours, by a midwife
if she has summoned medical help during pregnancy; in a confinement
or within 14 days afterwards. The following table gives details of
the reasons for sending for medical aid;
FOR COMPLICAT IONS DURING PREGNANCY
Abortion 10 Other causes 7
Albuminuria 11 28
FOR COMPLICATIONS DURING LABOUR
Breech 8 Occipito-Posterior 2
Hand 2 Transverse 1
Undiagnosed 2 15
Delayed Labour
Uterine Inertia 4 Prolonged 19
Delayed 8 31
Haemorrhage
Aute Par turn 18 ''Haemorrhage" or
Post Partum 6 "bleeding" 3
27
Other Causes -
Adherent Placenta 1 Illness of Mother 23
Retained Placenta 3 164
Torn perineum 137
FOR COMPLICATIONS DURING PUERPERIUM
Pyrexia 7 Pain in, Breasts 3
Pain in legs 8 Other causes 7
Toxaemia 1 26
FOR COMPLICATIONS IN REGARD TO THE BABY
Inflammation of Eyes 39 Convulsions 1
Still birth 2 Deformities 8
Feebleness 7 Other causes 38
Premature Birth 4 99
In accordance with Rule 33. of the Central Midwives Board, the
following reasons for the discontinuance of breast feeding were
received:-
-60-