View report page

Report of the County Medical Officer—General
81
During the year, 224 midwives reported having stillbirths in their practice, the number of Still births.
stillborn children being 602. This represents 2.0 per cent. of the births.
1 midwife reported 13 stillbirths 13
2 midwives each reported 11 stillbirths 22
2 „ „ 10 „ 20
2 9 „ 18
2 8 „ 16
12 „ „ 7 „ 84
9 „ „ 6 „ 54
11 „ „ 5 „ 55
10 „ „ 4 „ 40
27 „ „ 3 „ 81
53 „ „ 2 „ 106
93 „ „ 1 stillbirth 93
224 602
The form for notifying stillbirths provides for information as to (a) sex of child; (b) period of
gestation; (c) whether macerated or not; (d) presentation.
The information obtained under (a) showed that 326 still-born infants were males, 273 females,
and in three cases the sex was not stated.

The presentations were as follows:—
Vertex 386 Hand, arm and shoulder 7
Complicated vertex 36 Funis 1
Breech 97 Placenta prævia 1
Complicated breech 4 Born before arrival and presentation
Footling 27 not known 38
Transverse 4
Face or brow 1 Total 602
Some additional information was obtained as to still-born infants not macerated, of eight or
more months' gestation, as follows:—
Concerning the child— Cord round neck 4
One of twins 2
Hydrocephalus 1 Concerning the mother—
Malformed child 4 Difficult labour 1
White asphyxia 2
The rules of the Central Midwives Board require the midwife to notify to the local supervising Death of
authority all cases in which the mother or child dies prior to the attendance of a registered medical mother or
practitioner. In 44 cases midwives notified the deaths of infants.
By the courtesy of the London coroners, notices are sent of inquests in which midwives are concerned
and one of the Council's inspectors attends the court to hear the evidence and learn whether the
midwife has complied with the rules of the Board.

m