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46
MATERNITY OUTFITS.
Outfits were issued as follows:—Free, 153; Sold,
90. Total, 243.
BREAST FEEDING CLINIC.
(CORNWALL ROAD CENTRE).
Dr. Horton reports:
This clinic has been held on Tuesday mornings every week.
All mothers attending have been found by the doctors at
infant consultations to be in serious difficulties with breast
feeding. They attend in small numbers and in surroundings
that are as quiet and comfortable as possible. They feed
their babies under skilled supervision. Test feeds are given
and Complementary feeds ordered as required and the technique
of individual management quietly explained. When necessary
they are seen by the doctor.
The average attendance is lower than last year, 13.2 per
session as against 16.2 last year, but this year's better results
indicate the value of more time for the patients and personal
observation essential at such a clinic. A certain number of
test feeds have been arranged in the afternoon and those
results have justified the effort made. Results for the year
are satisfactory. On discharge from the clinic 48% of the
infants were entirely breast fed and 36% breast fed with small
Complementary feeds, i.e., breast feeding was maintained in
84% of the total. Definite failure occurred in 3%, while in
the remaining 13% the results are not known as they have
either removed from the borough or are carried forward to 1935.
We continue to estimate the value of the work by a visit
of six months. It was found that 66.7% of the infants were
entirely breast fed or breast fed with a Complementary feed
and 26.7% were not. The probability is that all these infants
would have been bottle fed if they had not attended the clinic.
It is satisfactory to report that the number of mothers
who refused to breast feed is less than half as compared with
last year. Care was taken to discover any reason for this
refusal but no definite conclusion could be reached. It is
possible that advice or influence outside of the clinic is responsible
for some cases. In others it seemed as if there were
little maternal instinct in the individual mother.
Breast milk failed in 13 cases and on analysis bad management
and worry seemed to be the factor mainly responsible,
while 10 mothers weaned their babies although there was no
failure of the breast milk because of worry about themselves,