View report page

181
An Analysis of 89 Still Births Occurring During the Year.
Of the 89 still births investigated 51 were males and 36
females.
The causes assigned by the doctor or the midwife in attendance,
for the still birth were:
Type of Delivery.—In 45 cases the confinement was difficult
or prolonged. Normal confinement was noted in 39 cases; no
information was obtainable in 5 cases, and one was a precipitate
labour. There was an abnormal presentation in 13 cases.
Age of Mother.—Under 20 years, 2 ; between 20 and 29 years,
39; between 30 and 39 years, 31; between 40 and 49 years, 15. 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 69 cases and indifferent or poor in 19 cases; no particulars
were obtained in 1 case. In 30 instances the mother had
attended the Ante-Natal Clinic; 58 cases had never attended the
Clinic.
Attendance at Confinement.—Sixteen of the still births
investigated occurred in the Mayday Road Hospital; 13 in St.
Mary's Hospital; 37 were attended in their own homes by a private
medical practitioner either alone or in conjunction with a midwife;
17 were attended by a midwife alone, and 2 births occurred before
any skilled help was available ; 4 occurred in private nursing homes.
Forceps were reported to have been utilised in 28 of the cases,
while in 8 no record was available.
In 53 cases the baby was born at full term ; in 12 at the 8th
month of gestation ; in 19 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 60 cases, abnormal in 19, whilst
in 10 no record was available.
Number of Child in Family.—The still birth was the first
pregnancy in 36 instances; the 2nd in 15 ; the 3rd in 16 ; the 4th
in 8; the 5th in 2 ; the 7th in 4 ; the 8th in 2 ; the 9th in 1; the
11th in 2 ; the 13th in 1 and the 15th in 1. In 1 case the information
was not obtained.
A history of injury to the mother during pregnancy was given
in 11
cases, and in 1 no details were available. A history of previous
still births or miscarriages was obtained in 6 cases.