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Confinements at Home : Amongst the women who attended
the ante-natal clinic regularly and who were confined at home,
302 had normal uncomplicated deliveries. A further 12 were
delivered by forceps, one being a persistent R.O.P. and one a face
presentation. A slight rise in temperature followed in three cases,
and two cases of puerperal fever followed normal deliveries, while
one patient had an A.P.H.
There were 8 stillbirths. Three of these were due to A.P.H.,
one to a prolapsed cord in a breech case, one due to craniotomy
performed for a persistent R.O.P. ; and three cases in which the
cause was undetermined. One patient was removed to hospital
for a successful caesarian section following a face presentation.
There were 19 miscarriages and one premature infant died.
There were complications amongst 9 cases who did not continue
attendance at the clinic, some of these being cases who were
referred to their own medical attendants on account of some
abnormality. In two of these premature induction of labour was
successfully performed. Two had a P.P.H. following forceps
delivery, and another two were delivered by forceps on account
of face presentation. Of three stillbirths, one was due to an
A.P.H., one to an extended breech, and in another the cause was
not known. One patient by whom the advice of induction was
not accepted was delivered of a stillbirth due to intracranial
haemorrhage.
Hospital Cases : Of the 114 eases referred to hospital, 57 were
sent in on other than medical grounds. The commonest sole
reason for this was unsuitable domestic circumstances which
accounted for 18, followed by 17 sent in on economic grounds.
5 were admitted because it was their first pregnancy, and two
single women were sent in. In the remaining cases, more than
one factor operated, domestic circumstances being the part reason
in 12 and first pregnancy in another 11. Apart from one case of a
presenting cord in which a stillborn child was delivered, the confinements
were normal in these cases, though three were followed
by complications, one being due to phlebitis, one to a P.P.H., and
one case of adherent placenta.
57 cases were referred to hospital on medical grounds.
instances the reason was some pelvic abnormality ; most of these
had normal confinements. 10 were successfully induced, 6 were
delivered by caesarian section and one by forceps. 8 eases were
sent tp hospital because of some cardiac condition ; 4 of these had
normal confinements, 2 were delivered by caesarian section,
one by forceps and in one case pregnancy had to be terminated.