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(b) Attendances of Expectant Mothers at Welfare Centres.
During the year, 531 expectant mothers received advice and
assistance at the various Welfare Centres, and made a total of
2,870 attendances.
(c) Home Visits to Expectant Mothers.
870 visits were paid to the homes of expectant mothers by
health visitors or medical officers.
(d) Feeding of Expectant Mothers.
In a considerable number of cases where the provision of food
was necessary, on medical grounds, during the last three months
of pregnancy, fresh or dried milk was provided, at or below cost
price, or free, according to the circumstances of the family.
(e) Maternity Outfits.
Maternity outfits are provided at two of the voluntary Infant
Centres (West Croydon and St. Alban's), consisting of sheets and
other articles required at the confinement, and clothing for the
infant.
3 AT BIRTH.
(a) The Work of Midwives.
D uring the year, 56 midwives notified their intention to practise
within the Borough—an increase of 9 over the number for the
previous year. 46 of these held the certificate of the Central Midwives
Board, 4 of the London Obstetrical Society, while 6 were
in practice in 1901.
No midwives in the Borough are subsidised by the local
authority.
During the year midwives notified a total of 1,733 live births
and 41 still births. Of the total births registered during the year,
50 per cent, were attended by midwives.
In 160 instances the midwives summoned medical help for a
variety of conditions affecting mother or child, while 25 other notifications
in connection with still births, artificial feeding, etc., were
received from midwives.
The Superintendent of Midwives paid 273 visits of inspection
during the year, in addition to special visits for enquiry into cases
of sepsis, ophthalmia neonatorum, etc.