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16
The results of the pregnancies so far as known at the time
this report was compiled were as follow:
(1938)
Full term confinements 379 ... 150
Premature births — ... 6
Miscarriages 11 ... 5
Stillbirths 4 ... 6
Pregnancy terminated — ... 1
Not yet confined 281 ... 45
Left borough (results
unknown) 41 ... 7
Premature Infants.—Of the births belonging to
the Borough, in 76 cases the low birth weight brought
the children within the definition of "Premature infants,"
15 being born at home and 61 in a hospital or
nursing home. One of the former group and 4 of
the latter died before the end of one month but the
majority of the remainder not only survived but
eventually gained normal weight and development.
Illegitimate Infants.—67 of the live births which
occurred during the year were illegitimate, the percentage
being 4.8 which although higher than the
pre-war rate, shows a reduction on 1946. The Council
makes a grant through the Metropolitan Boroughs'
Standing Joint Committee to a local association who
provide the services of an experienced social worker
for the welfare of the illegitimate child and unmarried
mother.
Infant Life Protection.—Only one foster mother,
with one child, was on the register at the end of the
year. For some years, there has been disinclination
on the part of women to undertake this work. To
some extent, the need has been met by the nurseries.