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34
The Committee agreed to meet financial responsibility for
the stay of unmarried mothers in Mother and Baby Homes for a
period of three months. For girls up to 18 years of age the
period was extended to an average of six months. These younger
mothers normally went to Homes specialising in their care. Of
these younger mothers, their ages when they applied for help
were: -
14 years old - 5
15 n n 15
16 n n - 7
17 n „ - »
18 if n - 8
Total - 45
During 1962 the ages of the younger mothers when their
babies were born were:-
Age 14 4
n 15 14
n 16 9
n 17 10
n 18 8
Total 45
Of these babies 2 died.
Domiciliary Midwifery
The rising birth rate increased the work of the midwives in
coping with home confinements and with early discharges from
maternity units. Even with the rigid selection of all mothers
asking for a place in hospital, local maternity departments cannot
deal with the heavy demands during February, March and April.
All mothers being admitted were warned that they might be required
to go home earlier than anticipated, and their case notes
had a comment on the suitability of home conditions for maternity
nursing. Part-time midwives have been recruited for these duties,
and provide relief assistance at other periods to the domiciliary
midwives. Increase in the establishment of municipal midwives
was authorised to allow more generous off-duty periods and fewer
nights "on call". It was possible, but difficult to recruit
staff to fill vacancies.
For detailed figures see Appendices, pages 101 - 104