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44
"The majority of the deaths of mothers from childbearing
are caused by puerperal fever, haemorrhage and
convulsions. Most cases of these conditions are well within the
range of preventive medicine, including in this the early treatment
of illness. The prevention of early infant mortality is
inseparable from that of maternal mortality of mothers in childbearing.
Excessive mortality of mothers in child-bearing
means also an excessive proportion of still-born infants, and an
excessive proportion of deaths of infants in the early weeks
after the birth."
The figures above quoted refer only to the mortality amongst
mothers ; they take no account of deaths associated with, but not
classed as due to pregnancy and child-bearing, the commonest of
which are heart disease, pneumonia and tuberculosis ; nor do they
take account of cases of partial recovery, with subsequent suffering
and ill-health.
The infant before, during and after birth up to five years of age.
The factors influencing infant mortality mav be divided into the
three following classes:—1. Ante-natal, acting through the mother
and dependent on her health. 2. Natal, also to a great extent due to
the condition of the mother, e.g., causes of difficult and delayed
parturition, as well as to want of skill on the part of the doctor or
midwife. 3. Post-natal, due to environmental conditions.
1. Ante-natal period.—The maintenance of the health of the
mother during the ante-natal, or child-bearing period, is of vast
importance to the future of both mother and child. During the
period in question the life of the future child may be lost, shortened,
or permanently affected by neglect of the laws of hygiene ; on the
other hand, care on the part of the mother, and an observance of
hygienic rules, will establish the health of the mother and preserve
the life of the child to the nation.