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4i
Occupations, and out of 11 deaths from Congenital Debility, two of
the mothers were so employed.
It is doubtful if work is injurious to the expectant mother,
provided it be not heavy or prolonged. Possibly, the improved food
and greater comfort which their work means, more than counteract
its disadvantages.
But if the antenatal effect of married female labour is not
obvious, the conditions under which the child is brought up as a
result, do affect the infantile mortality. Out of 111 infant deaths
inquired into last year, in 38 instances, the mother was occupied in
some industrial occupation, the majority being employed in laundry
work.
In former years the mother had no option but to leave the
child in the charge of a "baby minder." The mother did not select
the house where the baby was cared for, on sanitary grounds, and
the standard of cleanliness which usually obtained in the " babyminder's
" house was below that of the average for the neighbourhood.
In January, 1908, the South Acton Day Nursery was
opened, and undoubtedly it has fulfilled a long-felt want.
One of the objections raised against creches is their liability to
encourage premature weaning, and in many creches it must be
admitted that this danger is not sufficiently appreciated. In Acton
every safeguard is adopted to obviate this. The creche is not too
large, and is so situated as to be convenient for the mothers to leave
their work twice a day for the purpose of suckling their children.
The creche has 28 cots and all the mothers work at laundries within
easy reach. Every encouragement is given at the creche to the
mothers to suckle their children. A glass of milk, or a cup of
cocoa and a biscuit are given to the mothers free whenever she
comes to suckle her child. In addition, the Notification of Births
Act enables the Sanitary Authorities to advise mothers in time
against premature weaning. Formerly many mothers weaned their
children before the latter had reached the age of one month.
Another objection urged against the establishment of creches
is based upon their liability to act as foci in the spread of infectious
disease. This objection refers almost entirely to Measles.