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
Holborn 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough]
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| Two-room homes—53 confinements. | |
| Separate bedroom | 14 |
| Separate bed in living room | 1 |
| Separate bed in bedroom shared with child | 1 |
| Shared bed in living room with adult | 10 |
| Shared bed in living room with child | 1 |
| Shared bed in living room with adudt and child | 1 |
| Shared bed with adult | 11 |
| Shared bed with child | 3 |
| Shared bed with adult in room in which children also slept | 9 |
| Shared bed in room in which also other adults and children slept | 2 |
| 53 | |
| Separate bedroom | 3 |
| Separate bed in living room | 1 |
| Separate bed in room shared with child | 1 |
| Shared bed with adult | 7 |
| Shared bed with child | 1 |
| Shared bed with adult in room shared with child | |
| 18 | |
| Separate room | 3 |
| Shared bed with adult | 2 |
| Shared bed with adult in room also used as bedroom for child | 3 |
| 8 |
A mother who enters a hospital as a primipara is not as a rule eligible for
admission to the same hospital for subsequent confinements; she often prefers to
receive attention as a multipara in the extern practice of the same institution
rather than seek admission elsewhere.
In a number of cases the husband was said to be unwilling that his wife should
leave home; in some instances the arrangements for staying at home had already
been completed before the notification was received and there was reluctance to
alter them; in others the mother was either unable to make arrangements for
looking after the children, or had to remain at home in order to contrive ways and
means of living on the very small family income.
These enquiries emphasise the need for an increase in the number of hostels
which admit children for a definite period, such as the mother's absence from home
for a fortnight during confinement, or while she enters hospital for observation or
rest during pregnancy, or post-natal care,