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This table shows how it has been possible to cover
the work necessary with the increase in the child
population. The number of expectant mothers visited
shows a fall, due to the fact that if the Health Visitor
knows the home, and the mother makes regular antenatal
attendances, it has not always been necessary to
make a call.
The total number of child welfare clinic attendances
has grown, and by the more frequent sessions now held,
there has been no overcrowding. The better attendance
of toddlers is gratifying and there is no difficulty in
dealing with them at the ordinary child welfare sessions.
(xiii) Special Classes.
To further the educational aspects of the Maternity
and Child Welfare Services, classes in needlework and
cookery for expectant mothers, and mothers of children
under the age of five, have been commenced.
The classes are not exactly the same type as provided
by the Education Authority and, being held in
the afternoons when the mother can bring along her
children with her to the clinic, where they can be looked
after by voluntary workers, the mothers find no difficulty
in attending.
A part-time cookery instructress attends on one
session per week and a series of demonstrations over
three months is held at each of the three centres in turn.
At these classes the mothers take turns in doing
practical work under the demonstrator's supervision and
undertake the subsequent clearing up. Two or three
dishes are prepared and cooked, the cost of which is
recovered by sale of the food to the mothers.
The course covers the theory of cooking, marketing,
food values, choosing of joints, fuel and food economy,
food storage, choice and care of utensils, simple menu
making, serving food, invalid cookery and toddlers'
needs.
Sewing classes under a sewing instructress are
similarly held over three months at each of the three
centres in turn. A definite lesson on some feature of
sewing is put forward each week, and part of the session
is devoted to the cutting out and making up of garments,
especially those in which the mothers are interested, a
special feature being renovated garments.
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