Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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mothers should know by instinct how to make it successful. In
point of fact there are innumerable little difficulties which, if not
dealt with expertly in the early days of lactation, lead to early
weaning of the baby and all its unpleasant sequela; both to mother
and child. To help in this effort to promote natural feeding the
Maternity and Child Welfare Committee sanctioned the purchase
of an electric breast pump during the year. The machine has proved
to be invaluable in cases of engorged, painful breasts, cracked nipples
and scanty milk secretion, the three primary causes of early weaning
of the baby from the breast.
From the fifth day after confinement onwards, mothers are
encouraged to carry out postural exercises with a view to restoring
the musculature to normal as soon as possible.
Before discharge from the Home every mother and baby receives
a complete medical examination and a definite appointment is
given each mother for her post-natal examination. She is also urged
to take her baby without delay to the nearest welfare centre.
The particulars of the cases admitted to the Home during the year are as follows:—
Number of Patients delivered | 281 |
Number of Primiparæ | 143 |
Number of Multiparæ | 138 |
Number of Infants born (6 sets of twins) | 287 |
Vertex | 272 |
Pelvic | 13 |
Footling | 1 |
Born before arrival | 1 |
Forceps | 1 |
Minor Operations | 114 |
Manual Removal of Placenta | 3 |
4 |
(All Recovered)