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156
Type of Delivery.—In 32 cases the confinement was difficult
or prolonged. Normal confinement was noted in 24 cases; no
information was obtainable in 5 cases, and one was a precipitate
labour. In three instances it was a twin pregnancy. The fact
that a large number of the labours were stated to be prolonged
or difficult is of some importance, besides being of interest when
compared with the small number of cases of still birth for which
this factor was stated to be responsible.
Age of Mother.—Under 20 years, 3; between 20 and 29 years,
22; between 30 and 39 years, 24; between 40 and 49 years, 11. In
two instances the age of the mother was not stated.
The Health of the Mother during her pregnancy was stated
to be good in 45 cases and indifferent or poor in 11 cases; no
particulars were obtained in 6 cases. In 17 instances the mother
had attended the Ante-Natal Clinic more than one, and in 6 cases
on one occasion only; 39 cases had never attended the Clinic.
Attendance at Confinement.—Thirteen of the still births
investigated occurred in the Mayday Road Hospital; 9 in St.
Mary's Hospital; 30 were attended in their own homes by a
private medical practitioner either alone or in conjunction with a
midwife; 9 were attended by a midwife alone, and 1 birth occurred
before any skilled help was available.
Forceps were reported to have been utilised in 20 of the cases,
while in 6 no record was available.
In 44 cases the baby was born at full term; in 9 at the 8th
month of gestation; in 6 at the 7th month; and in 2 under 7
months. One case was stated to be over the 9th month. The
baby was apparently a normal child in 53 cases, abnormal in 4,
whilst in 5 no record was available.
Number of Child in Family.—The still birth was the first
pregnancy in 22 instances; the 2nd in 12; the 3rd in 4; the 4th
in 5; the 5th in 5; the 6th in 1; the 7th in 2; the 8th in 1; the
10th in 1; and the 11th in 3. In 6 cases the information was not
obtained.
A history of injury to the mother during pregnancy was given
in 10 cases, and in 4 no details were available. A history of
previous still births was obtained in 10 cases; no previous still
births in 41 cases and no details given in 6 cases; a previous miscarriage
had occurred in 5 cases. Movements of the foetus were
stated to have been felt up to the time of labour in 40 cases; some
days previous to labour in 10 cases; never felt in 1 case; and the
facts were uncertain or not stated in 11 cases.