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69
3. This woman was reported to be in comfortable circumstances
and had had no previous pregnancies; she originally booked
for her confinement on 4th April, 1938, when she was considered to
be 38 weeks pregnant. She therefore had no ante-natal care.
Previous Health.—She was suffering from well-marked Exophthalmic
Goitre (Graves Disease), and could therefore not be in a
good condition to withstand the strain of pregnancy. When seen
at the Ante-Natal Clinic she was found to be suffering from Bronchitis,
marked Graves Disease, swelling of the lower limbs, a high
blood pressure and rapid pulse. Her urine was loaded with albumin.
She was admitted immediately, as she was clearly suffering from wellmarked
pre-eclamptic toxaemia. Intensive treatment was given for
the condition found, but in spite of this she had three eclamptic fits
on 8th April, when labour began, lasting twelve hours. She was
delivered by means of forceps on 9th April under gas and oxygen
anaesthesia.
The child was stillborn as was to be expected. Her condition
improved somewhat after delivery, but the heart condition became
more acute with increasing respiratory difficulty. She died suddenly
on the same day.
A Post-Mortem examination was conducted and revealed that
she had Broncho-pneumonia in addition to the other conditions
found.
Summary.—This woman was suffering from marked Graves
Disease, and although 38 weeks pregnant and suffering from headaches
and swelling of the limbs, at this late stage had made no
arrangements for her forthcoming confinement; no ante-natal care
had been arranged for, and she was admitted to Hospital on her own
initiative in an advanced stage of toxaemia.
She had therefore very little chance of survival, her death being
aggravated by the pre-existing Graves Disease. Ante-natal care,
with possibly earlier termination of preganacy, would probably have
saved her life.
Unmarried Mothers and Babies.
There is one Home in the Borough for the admission of
unmarried mothers and their babies, viz., the St. Faith's Home,
2, Myddleton Square. It is controlled by the Holborn Deanery
Association and is grant aided by the County Council.