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149
Post-Partum Hemorrhage, Puerperal Pyelitis, Pregnancy and
large Fibroids, Pregnancy following Cesarean Section for
Eclampsia, Puerperal Pyelitis, Inevitable Abortion, Puerperal
Mastitis, Puerperal Septicæmia.
In addition, he was asked by the Medical Superintendent of
Mayday Hospital to give an opinion on the obstetric and gynaecological
aspects of 35 cases in the medical and surgical wards of
the Hospital.
The Retreat, Ross Road.
This is a home for unmarried mothers and their babies conducted
by the National Free Church Women's Council, and aided
by an annual grant of £650 from the Croydon Council. Besides
the Matron and Nursing Staff, an honorary lady medical officer
attends the Home when necessary.
The following figures give the main details regarding the
work carried out in 1934, and I am indebted to Dr. Sutherland,
the Hon. Medical Officer of the Home, for them :—
No. of beds for patients 20
No. of cases admitted 31
Average duration of stay 3/4months
No. of cases delivered by (a) Midwives 23
(b) Doctor 4
No. of cases in which medical assistance was sought by
a midwife 18
No. of cases notified as (a) Puerperal Fever, (6) Puerperal
Pyrexia Nil
No. of infants not entirely breast fed while in the institution
2
No. of cases notified of Ophthalrqia Neonatorum 1
No. of cases notified as Pemphigus Neonatorum None
No. of maternal deaths 1
No. of infant deaths (a) Still-born 3
(6) within 10 days of birth 1
(Two still-births followed long labour, and 1 was a breech
presentation; one died an hour after birth due to prematurity).
As is seen the duration of stay much exceeds that in ordinary
maternity homes. The girls are kept, with their babies, until
suitable situations can be secured for them, and when necessary
foster-mothers are found for the babies. Whilst the girls are in
the Home they are employed in domestic work. Some of them
go out to daily work, but reside in the Home.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to get the girls to stay
the requisite period; many of them wanting (to take up their
former work or new work after two months' stay.