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77
Two pupil-midwives engaged during the year were successful
in passing the C.M.B. Examination.
During the year many rooms of the Maternity Home have
been redecorated, the drainage completely overhauled, and minor
improvements effected.
During the year 1920 169 women were admitted into the
Home, as compared with 139 in 1919.
Of this number 165 were confined in the Home, 3 were admitted
for curettage and were discharged cured, 1 was admitted
hut found not to be pregnant.
Of the 165 confinements 76 had engaged their own doctors and
89 were attended by one or other of the midwives of the
Home.
Owing to various complications it was necessary to call in a
Doctor in 19 of the latter cases.
24 children were circumcised in the Home.
In 7 cases twilight sleep was administered.
In 6 cases the electric incubator was used for prematurely born
infants.
1 such infant, which was born during the twenty-fifth week
and weighed only 2½ lbs., is now attending one of the
Infant Welfare Centres, and is making satisfactory progress.
There were no deaths of women in the Home.
There were four deaths of infants in the Home. One died
three days after birth from convulsions. Three died within a few
hours after birth, being prematurely born. Three children were
stillborn.
The causes of stillbirth were as follows :—
1 difficult labour.
2 macerated foetus.
At the present time the circumstances of those unable to pay
a fee of two guineas per week are enquired into by the Health
Visitor, and a fee is decided upon by the Medical Officer of
Health, subject to confirmation by the Maternity and Child
Welfare Committee.