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39
I regret to report that there was one maternal death.
This occurred in a 10-gravida, who was attending a Hospital
on account of shortness of breath when she first attended
the Clinic in the 32nd week of pregnancy. Her general health
was very poor, and she had a history of haemorrhage at her
last confinement. She was repeatedly urged to go into Hospital
for her confinement, but refused to do so, with the result
that she had a long labour at home, and was then transferred
to Hospital, where she was delivered and died shortly afterwards
following a haemorrhage.
There were two Caesarean births with successful results
in both cases. In each case, the mother was suffering from
valvular heart disease, and had a history of instrumental
delivery at her preceding confinement.
With regard to the Miscarriages, all occurred in multigravidse,
in one case the patient was a 15-gravida. In two
cases the patients attended the Clinic on account of a
threatened miscarriage, and the symptoms were so urgent
that they were immediately referred to Hospital for treatment.
In one case the miscarriage was due to a fall down
some steps, and the patient was treated by her own doctor.
In one case, there was no apparent cause.
With regard to the Still-births in one case this was due
to placenta prævia and ante-partum haemorrhage ; in one
case the patient suffered from kidney disease, and labour
was six weeks premature in one case the patient had symptoms
of Grave's disease and the delivery was instrumental;
in one case the patient had bad oedema for six weeks preceding
her confinement, and the child only weighed 4 lb.;
in one case the patient was an elderly primipara suffering
from kidney disease, with oedema and high blood-pressure,
and was urged to go into hospital for treatment, but refused,
There was one premature confinement, which occurred
in a 4-gravida, and was apparently due to the strain of
lifting an older child, as this caused haemorrhage followed by
a 7½ months premature confinement. Both mother and child
made successful recoveries.
There was one case of termination of pregnancy in a
case of Pulmonary Tuberculosis, which was referred to the
clinic by the Tuberculosis Officer in order to diagnose the
pregnancy, and the pregnancy was then terminated in
hospital.
The Borough Midwife has attended regularly to report
upon and enquire about her cases.
Ruth C. Townshend,
March 4-th, 1936,