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CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
Section 22
Care of the Expectant Mother
The supervision and care of the expectant mother in this district is a
comprehensive service provided in local centres and is designed to
ensure that each mother is fit and equal to contend with her confinement
as a normal function of her family life.
Difficulties and disorders are dealt with as soon as possible so as to
avoid unnecessary strain and anxiety.
Arrangements are made for regular examination (more frequently
towards the end of the pregnancy) to ensure the physical well-being of
the mother and child.
The Service also provides means for securing a hospital bed or the
services of a domiciliary midwife as required. Arrangement for either
of these is made during the mother's attendance at the ante-natal
clinic and so save her time and travelling.
Special transport is arranged for those who have some disability
which prevents them from travelling by ordinary means.
We welcome the practice of some general medical practitioners who
send their patients to these clinics for examinations and other services.
The average attendance at ante-natal clinics continued the decline
that was noted in the annual report for 1952, as will be seen from the
following table. In spite of this progressive decline, it is apparent,
from the most recently published statistics, that this Area does not
compare unfavourably with other parts of the County.