London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

Croydon 1939

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]

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MIDWIFERY SERVICE.
Midwives Acts. 1902 and 1918.
111 midwives notified the Local Supervising Authority of their
intention to practise within the Borough during 1939. 40 ceased
practising in the Borough; so that 61 remained on the Register at the
end of the year. All these 61 wero trained and held the certificate
of the Central Midwives Board.
Midwives. are compensated if they losena case through admission to
a hospital or maternity home on the advice of a doctor. The sum of
£12.12.0. was paid out during the year.
Confinements attended by Midwives,(Including Municipal Mftdwives},
Cases attended by midwives alone 2782 75.4$ of total.
Cases attended by midwives when a
doctor was also engaged 439
Cases attended by midwives when a
doctor was also summoned 471
TOTAL 3,692

Table: The Rules of the Central Midwives Board lay down that the Local Supervising Authority must be informed within 56 hours, by a midwife if she has summoned medical help during pregnancy, in a confinement or within, ten days afterwards. The following table gives details of the reasons for sending for medical aid:

The Rules of the Central Midwives Board lay down that the Local Supervising Authority must be informed within 56 hours, by a midwife if she has summoned medical help during pregnancy, in a confinement or within, ten days afterwards. The following table gives details of the reasons for sending for medical aid:

FOR COMPLICATIONS DURING PREGNANCY
Abortion7Other causes6
Albuminuria10—23
FOR COMPLICATIONS DURING LABOUR
Breech3Occipito-Posterior2
Extended Breech1Transverse3
Hand2 1Undiagnosed5
—16
Obstructed Labour2—2
Delayed Labour -
Uterine Inertia8Prolonged37
Delayed25—70
Heamorrhage
Ante partum22"Haemorrhage" or5
Post Partum8"bleeding"
-35
Other Causes-
Adherent Placenta3Illness of Mother30
Retained Placenta6Eclampsia2
Torn Perineum139—180
FOR COMPLICATIONS DURING PUERFERIUM:
Pyrexia26Pain in Breasts6
Pain in legs15Other causes11
Toxaemia6—64
FOR COMPLICATIONS IN REGARD TO THE BABY
Inflammation of Eyes51Convulsions2
Still birth4Deformities9
Feebleness14Other causes29
Premature Birth8-117