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151
THE MUNICIPAL MIDWIFERY SCHEME.
1st July to 31st December, 1937.
The Croydon Domiciliary Scheme was started on the 1st July,
1937, with six midwives, three of whom were not general trained
nurses, but midwives who had practised in Croydon for some years.
The other three were general trained nurses and certificated midwives.
They were assigned to different districts and were given half
the cases of the midwives who were already practising. Two of the
midwives made good uses of the advantages afforded thereby, but
the other left the service after six months.
The patients have booked well and the midwifery has been on
the whole normal, except for booked doctor's cases and emergencies.
The Ante-natal Clinic attendance of district patients is not all that
could be wished, but the nurses have given every home attention
to this important phase of the pregnant woman's life. Two cases
were sent into Mayday Hospital in labour or Caesarean section,
one breech, the other disproportion.
The Superintendent Muncipal Midwife took up her duties on
19th July and the service under her guidance has worked smoothly
and efficiently.
The district is probably unique in that sterilized sheets, towels
and gowns are taken to every case. So in the poorest and most
unclean homes the mother has the advantage of a Hospital Labour
Ward for her confinement. The special gowns worn by the nurses
have a mask attached, thus preventing any infection of the throat
of the attendant being spread to the mother.
There have been no maternal deaths and no neo-natal deaths.
Twenty-one cases were sent to Mayday Hospital for delivery.
180 deliveries.
150 normal.
19 abnormal emergencies (i.e., forceps).
20 maternity cases.
6 miscarriages.
3 still births.