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79
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.