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
Richmond upon Thames 1965
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond upon Thames]
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Some of the midwives and health visitors have attended the course arranged by
the National Childbirth Trust on the psychoprophylactic method for childbirth. This
method of preparation for motherhood is becoming increasingly popular and expectant
mothers in the Borough are most anxious to attend classes at local health authority
clinics.
At the end of the year a further Seminar was being arranged in the Borough for the instruction of midwives and health visitors in this method of childbirth.
Domiciliary Deliveries
| Number of domiciliary confinements attended by midwives under N.H.S. arrangements. | Number of cases delivered in hospitals and other institutions but discharged and attended by domiciliary midwives before 10th day | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| (1) Doctor not booked | (2) Doctor booked | (3) Total | (4) |
| 17 | 711 | 728 | 360 |
This table relates to women delivered, and not, in the case of multiple births, to infants.
All midwives in the domiciliary midwifery service have been advised that patients,
who are to have a domiciliary confinement, should be referred to their family doctor
either for booking or for the latter to refer the patient to a practitioner on the obstetric
list.
Notification of intention to practise
Under the rules of the Central Midwives Board, 32 midwives notified their
intention to practise within the Borough.
Medical Aid
Medical aid was required for 117 natients as follows:—
During Pregnancy
Mild Toxaemia 4
Antepartum
haemorrhage 8
Hydramnios 2
Post-Maturity 1
Malpresentation 2
Ruptured vulva 1
Infant
Prematurity 1
Asphyxia 2
Ophthalmia 14
Vomiting 1
Pyrexia 1
Early jaundice 1
General illness 4
In Labour
Foetal Distress 7
Premature
Labour 2
Malpresentation 3
Delay in Labour 12
Retained
placenta 3
Ruptured
perineum 17
Post-partum
haemorrhage 9
Dr. wished to
be present 2
Puerperium
Secondary
p.p.h. 3
Pyrexia 11
Thrombophlebitis
3
Suppression of
lactation 1
Mastitis 1
Retained
products 1
Early Discharges
The domiciliary midwives nursed 360 mothers and babies discharged from hospital
early in the puerperium. The majority of these mothers had planned discharges.
22