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Blood grouping/Hæmoglobin estimation and Rhesus and Kahntests
were carried out for all patients attending Ante-Natal Clinics.
All Rhesus negative results were verified at a second laboratory
and repeated at the 20th and 34th weeks of pregnancy. Facilities
were also available at Thorpe Coombe on Sunday mornings (by
courtesy of Miss Rodway, Consultant Obstetrician) for Rhesus
tests to be carried out on the husbands of Rhesus negative women,
i.e., when they were unable to attend at the ordinary weekly
clinic
All Rhesus negative expectant mothers attending ante-natal
clinics were and are advised to have their confinements in
hospital. Blood pressure estimations were done at every examination,
in order to obtain warning of possible toxaemia.
Midwives in domiciliary practice may in extreme urgency,
and when unable to obtain immediate medical aid, summon
the Obstetric Flying Squad direct. Except in doctors' booked
cases, patients with any serious abnormality can be referred to the
Consultant Obstetrician at Thorpe Coombe Maternity Hospital.
A letter of advice was sent to every Rhesus negative expectant
mother enclosing an explanatory booklet. The latter stressed the
need for the examination of the husband's blood and the special
steps necessary if a home confinement was insisted upon.
There were 22 Rhesus negatives and all Kahn tests were
negative.
The total of blood tests was 196—first tests 147 mothers and
9 fathers with 29 confirmatory tests and 11 for haemoglobin only.
The groupings were 0.75, A.50, B.13 and AB.9. Haemoglobin
estimations showed the following results :—
100+ = nil 60—69 = 11
90—99 = 19 50—59 = 2
80—89 = 70 40—49 = 2
70—79 = 48
i.e., 15 or 9.8% were under 70.