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13
During Labour and Confinement.
Furnishing of skilled and prompt attendance at home.
The treating of difficult cases, e.g. mothers with contracted
pelvis, diseases of the womb, heart or kidney. The treatment
of complications, such as white leg, and puerperal fever.
The above work would tend to attain two objects—
1. The safe delivery of the pregnant mother and her
subsequent good health.
2. The birth of a healthy child.
The other direction in which the extension of the work is
desirable is the welfare of the child after its first year, until
such time as it enters a school and is taken over by the
education authorities.
The Local Government Board suggest that the foregoing
objects should be attained by the establishment of maternity
and child welfare centres or institutions. It is also desirable
to have home visitations paid both to expectant and nursing
mothers, and to infants and children up to the age of 5, by
the staff of the institution.
To carry out the scheme it will be necessary to have—
(a) Malernity centres to which expectant and nursing
mothers may come for advice and treatment,
and where children up to the age of 5 years
may be brought for the same purpose.
(b) A medical officer to be in charge of the centre.
(c) An adequate staff of health visitors.
(d) Co-operation of midwives and local hospitals
having obstetric and gynaecological departments.
(e) Records which must be carefully kept.
A complete scheme would comprise the following elements, each of which will, in this connection, be organised in
its direct bearing on infantile health:—
1. Arrangements for the local supervision of midwives.
(This is done at present by the London County Council.)
2. Arrangements for—Ante-natal:
(i.) An ante-natal clinic for expectant mothers.
(ii.) The home visiting of expectant mothers.
(iii.) A maternity hospital, or beds at a hospital, in
which complicated cases of pregnancy can
receive treatment.
3. Arrangements for—Natal:
(i.) Such assistance as may be needed to ensure the
mother having skilled and prompt attendance
during confinement at home.