Toxaemia in pregnancy.

Date:
1958
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Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

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Credit

Toxaemia in pregnancy. Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). Source: Wellcome Collection.

About this work

Description

A film narrated by a fictional mother and doctor about toxaemia in pregnancy. The doctor explains the symptoms and methods of care, and the types of women who are susceptible to toxaemia, including women who smoke 'too much'. Dietary advice is also given. 2 segments.

Publication/Creation

England, 1958.

Physical description

1 encoded moving image (12.22 min.) : sound, color

Duration

00:12:22

Copyright note

British Medical Association

Terms of use

Unrestricted
CC-BY-NC
Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 2.0 UK: England & Wales

Language note

In English

Creator/production credits

Funded by Pfizer Ltd. Produced by Jean Burton-Brown at Boleyn Films. Photographed by Mary Bullen and directed by William A. Bullen. Filmed at the Kent and Canterbury, Margate and Ramsgate General Hospitals.

Contents

Segment 1 A woman is seen baking in a busy kitchen. A female voiceover describes how she has three children and as such is very busy. A pregnant friend comes to visit and the narrator notices that her friend has very swollen ankles and the narrator wonders if she is attending the ante-natal clinic. The narrator is then seen at the ante-natal clinic, during one of her pregnancies, being examined by doctors and nurses. She asks the doctor why this is necessary and he explains they are checking for signs of toxaemia. He explains that in 1900, 5 in 1000 women died during pregnancy from toxaemia, and now it is 1 in 1000. An animation shows a house with a sad face, as it has poor hygiene and no access to healthcare. Another house is drawn; this house has a happy face because it has access to ante-natal care and a trained midwife. The doctor describes the care that a mother with toxaemia must receive. Time start: 00:00:00:00 Time end: 00:06:13:08 Length: 00:06:13:08
Segment 2 A nurse is shown taking care of a mother with toxaemia. A baby born prematurely due to toxaemia is shown. The doctor describes various types of women who are especially at risk. He gives them nicknames: Mrs Stout (a woman with an ample figure who overeats), Mrs Jitters (a nervous and stressed woman), Mrs Pale (an anaemic woman who smokes 'too much' and doesn't eat enough) and Mrs Weary (a very busy woman who already has a large family). The doctor then describes how pregnant women can try to avoid toxaemia. One piece of advice is 'fathercraft', i.e. making sure the father shares the work. Finally, dietary advice is given. Women are encouraged to consume two pints of milk and one egg each day. However, the film also advises not to eat too many root vegetables. The reason for this is not given. The female mother seen at the beginning of the film is seen again, playing with her husband and children in their garden. Time start: 00:06:13:08 Time end: 00:12:22:12 Length: 00:06:09:04

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