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133
An Analysis of 83 Still Births Occurring During the Year.
Of the 83 still births investigated 40 were males and 42 females,
while in one case sex was not stated.
STILL BIRTHS, 1938.
Attended by Midwives alone 31
„ Doctors alone 8
,, Midwives and Doctors 42
Occurred at 9 months 56
„ 8 months 18
„ 6-7 months 9
Type of Delivery In 39 cases the confinement was difficult
or prolonged. Normal confinement was noted in 33 cases; no
information was obtainable in 11 cases.
Age of Mother Under 20 years, 2 ; between 20 and 29 years,
36 ; between 30 and 39 years, 35 ; between 40 and 49 years, 8.
The Health of the Mother during her pregnancy was stated
to be good in 56 cases and indifferent or poor in 21 cases; no
particulars were obtained in 6 cases. In 3 cases, however, the
mother had had a shock or fall before the still birth. In 51
instances the mother had attended the Ante-Natal Clinic. 32 cases
had never attended the Clinic.
Attendance at Confinement. Twenty-seven of the still births
investigated occurred in the Mayday Hospital; 9 in St. Mary's
Hospital; 18 were attended in their own homes by a private medical
practitioner either alone or in conjunction with a midwife; 18
were attended by a midwife alone, and in 1 case the information
was not available; 10 occurred in private nursing homes, etc.
Forceps were reported to have been utilised in 17 of the cases.
In 56 cases the baby was born at full term ; in 16 during the
8th month of gestation; in 9 during the 7th month. The baby
was apparently a normal child in 64 cases, abnormal in 9, whilst
in 10 no record was available.
The still birth was the first pregnancy in 43 instances; the 2nd
in 14 ; the 3rd in 8; the 4th in 5 ; the 5th in 7 ; the 6th in 2; the
7th in 3, and the 8th in 1.
Previous still births had occurred in 4 cases.