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Ante-Natal Clinics.—The following is a summary of the attendances at
the Ante-Natal Clinics during the year:-
Maternity Mayesbrook
Home Clinic
First attendances 1,057 259
Subsequent attendances 9,578 2,481
Total 10,635 2,740
Number of sessions 413 106
Average attendance at each session 26 26
Number of expectant mothers on the rolls on
31st December 1947 436 97
All patients booked for admission to the Maternity Home are medically
examined at the Ante-Natal Clinics, the first appointment normally being
made at the 16th week of pregnancy.
During the year 497 cases other than those booked for admission to the
Maternity Home were examined at the Clinics. There were 2,198 attendances
by such cases.
The Consulting Obstetrician or his Deputy visited the Ante-Natal Clinic
each week during 1947. During the year 53 visits were made, 200 patients
referred from the Ante-Natal and Post-Natal Clinics and 222 patients
referred by private doctors were examined. A total of 1,122 examinations were
made.
X-Ray Examination of Ante-Natal Patients.—114 patients were referred
from the Ante-Natal Clinic to King George Hospital for X-Ray examination
during the year.
Post-Natal Clinics.—All patients confined in the Council's Maternity
Home, and other patients on request are invited to attend the Post-Natal
Clinics for the first time approximately six weeks after confinement.
Two Clinics are held, one at the Maternity Home each week and the
other at Mayesbrook Clinic once monthly. The following attendances were
recorded :—

Supply of Sheets for Expectant Mothers.—In accordance with circular
154 44 of the Ministry of Health of the 3rd November 1944, amended by
circular 25/1947 of February 1947, women holding R.B.2 expectant mother's
ration books are eligible to purchase sheets on coupon equivalent certificates
if the midwife or maternity nurse booked for the case certifies that her patient
is genuinely in need of additional sheets at the time of the confinement.
During 1947 2,533 certificates were issued to 877 expectant mothers.
Maternal Mortality.—The total number of deaths of Ilford mothers
credited by the Registrar-General as due to childbirth during the year was 2,
which gives the maternal mortality rate, i.e. number of deaths per 1,000 live
births, of 0.59 (or 0.58 including stillbirths) the lowest figures recorded in
Ilford.
The causes of death were as follows:-
(1) Confined and died at Ilford Council Maternity Home ; pulmonary
embolus due to phlebothrombosis of the right femoral vein
following upon operation for lower segment Caesarean Section
for central placenta praevia.
(2) Confined in own home and admitted to Ilford Council Maternity
Home 16 hours after delivery. Died 13½ hours later due to oedema
of lungs, post partum eclampsia and toxaemia of pregnancy.