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62
There was a record of one previous stillbirth in
7 cases, while there were 3 cases of one previous miscarriage,
1 of two previous miscarriages, and 2 of three
previous miscarriages. Previous infant deaths had
occurred: 1 in six cases; 2 in two cases, and 3 in three
cases.
The possible causes of the stillbirths do not admit
of very clear tabulation, but include the following
assignments, with or without other complication:—
Small pelvis (2); Large child (2) 4
Abnormal delivery 9
Falls during pregnancy 5
Ante-partum haemorrhage 6
Eclampsia 1
Fright (3); Domestic worries (1) 4
Albuminuria 2
A glaring sidelight upon the housing conditions
of the people is afforded by the statistics as to accommodation
in 58 of these cases :—
Persons per room.
0—1 1—2 2-3 3—4 4—5 5 and over.
8 17 19 9 3 2
In the last cases referred to there were five and six
persons, respectively, living in single rooms. The
prospects of a satisfactory live birth, to say nothing of
the child's after life, in such conditions can surely be
appreciated by the most limited imagination.
Thirteen mothers are shown as having attended the
Council's Maternity Clinic, and ten other mothers
attended other ante-natal clinics. Three of the mothers
attended the Council's Post-Natal Clinic after the confinement.
The foregoing facts emphasise the desirability
of making better known to expectant mothers
the facilities open to them for getting sound advice as
to their condition, and as to the precautions which need
to be taken to ensure the safe birth of a live and
healthy child.