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59
Maternal Mortality.—The number of maternal deaths in Westminster
during the year ended December, 1937, was 9, which gives a maternal
mortality rate of 8.4 per thousand (live and still) births, as compared
with the rate for the whole country of 3.11 per thousand (live and still)
births.
Notes on Cases of Maternal Mortality in 1937.
1. M.A.W. Died early in pregnancy from paralysis of bowel following
an operation for haemorrhage due to rupture of extra-uterine pregnancy.
This paralysis may follow any abdominal operation.
2. H.J. Suffered from disease of one kidney, and the extra strain
placed on the other kidney caused pyelitis. This was followed by bronchopneumonia
and empyema, from which the patient died. The patient had
full ante-natal supervision, and hospital treatment for some weeks before
labour.
3. N.A.V.L. Died of puerperal septicaemia after difficult labour.
Under hospital supervision throughout pregnancy.
4. V.T. Patient had made no arrangements before onset of labour.
A dead child, illegitimate, was delivered. Death was due to pulmonary
embolism two days after confinement.
5. K. Died of septicaemia following septic abortion. No evidence of
effort to secure ante-natal attention.
6. K.S. Died as a result of abortion. Patient concealed pregnancy
and delayed in seeking treatment after abortion.
7. G.R.A. Died from toxaemia and paralysis of the bowel following
an operation for rupture of extra-uterine pregnancy.
8. Patient was in poor health during pregnancy, and had a difficult
labour, which was impeded by a contraction ring. Caesarian section was
performed. Patient died from septicaemia following a pelvic abscess.
9. Patient suffered from toxaemia during pregnancy. She died under
anaesthesia for craniotomy operation during difficult labour. Myocardial
degeneration and toxaemia were contributory factors. Had full ante-natal
care.
Thus in two cases death was due to a fairly uncommon sequel to an
operation for abnormal pregnancy. Two cases were due to abortion,
while in a third, concealed pregnancy, pulmonary embolism followed.
In two cases death from septicaemia followed difficult labour. In one of
these cases, and in the remaining two, health during pregnancy was bad,
and full ante-natal care did not succeed in saving the patient's life.