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380
"A summary of cases attending the Clinic from its inauguration
may be of interest. Of the 142 new cases who attended the Clinic
from January, 1919, to the end of December, 1920—128 names have
been removed from the list of current cases—six because on examination
the patients were found to be non-pregnant; 122 because of the
termination of the pregnancy. Two only of these miscarried.
With 120 mothers the pregnancy progressed favourably for at least
seven months. We have no knowledge of seven of these cases later
than this because of their removal from the district, etc. In the
other 113 many details are available through the courtesy of the
midwives and also from the Health Visitors' and Infant Welfare
Records. The cases, therefore, which we know and can classify
are 113 in number; 110 of these mothers gave birth to 111 living
children, i.e. one case of twins occurred. The confinements were
normal. One only needed instrumental assistance. In the remaining
three cases the confinements were normal but the children were
still-born, although all were full-term. In two cases the children
were well developed and only still-born because labour was rapid
and the children were born before the arrival of the midwife. In
the third case no details could be obtained from the patient or the
midwife.
"Of the live births, five were premature. Twins were born in
a Maternity Hospital. Both babies were very small and both died
within a month. The other three premature babies are alive and
well. Of the full term births one only died (of jaundice) at 10 days,
in a Maternity Hospital.
"Advice is given to the mother to encourage breast-feeding
and promote this possibility; and in cases of necessity, assistance
is provided under the Milk Order to improve the mother's general
nutrition; 10 such cases have been helped during the year. Babies
who are known to have been entirely breast-fed for nine months
number 70 (out of a possible 108 of which we have complete records),
and in many other cases mixed feeding was successful.
"It has been found necessary to advise trusses in four cases,
and bandages for varicose veins in 10.