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80
Of the 71 who went into hospital:—
22 (12 primigravidæ) lived in a one-roomed home;
48 (26 primigravidæ) lived in a two or more roomed home.
Of the 78 who remained at home: —
8 (1 primigravidæ) lived in a one-roomed home;
45 (4 primigravidæ) lived in two rooms;
25 lived in more commodious premises.
A mother who enters a hospital as a primipara is not as. a rule eligible for
admission to the same hospital for subsequent confinements; she often prefers to
receive attention as a multipara in the extern practice of the same institution
rather than seek admission elsewhere.
In a number of cases the husband was said to be unwilling that his wife should
leave home; in some instances the arrangements for staying at home had already
been completed before the notification was received and there was reluctance to
alter them; in others the mother was either unable to make arrangements for
looking after the children, or had to remain at home in order to contrive ways and
means of living on the very small family income.
These enquiries emphasise the need for an increase in the number of hostels
which admit children for a definite period, such as the mother's absence from home
for a fortnight during confinement, or while she enters hospital for observation or
rest during pregnancy, or post-natal care.
Baths.
The baths provided at the John Street Centre for expectant and nursing
mothers were used 416 times during the year 1931.
Ante-natal Centres.
During the year, enquiries were made of mothers as to their attendance at an
Ante-natal Centre immediately previous to the birth of the child visited. Of 354
mothers, about whom information was obtained, 285 (80.5 per cent.) were found to
have attended Ante-natal Centres or received ante-natal care as under: —
Number of enquiries made 375
Centre Attended: —
Holborn Centre, 10, John Street 33
Holborn Centre, Short's Gardens 4
Royal Free Hospital 27
Middlesex Hospital 24
Charing Cross Hospital 33
University College Hospital 36
Myddelton Square Institution 28
St. Bartholomew's Hospital 24
City of London Hospital 15
Queen Charlotte's Hospital 3
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital 7
Other Centres 13
Ante-natal care from private doctors 28
Ante-natal care from midwives 10
285