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-7-
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE
There were 20,858 attendances at the three Infant
Welfare Centres in 1945, nearly 1,000 more than In 1944.
After the end of the War in Europe, families started to
return from evacuation, and the cessation of aerial
attacks allowed the Clinics to be conducted in safety.
The Voluntary Workers continued to carry out their
valuable work at the Centres, as they have done so
faithfully throughout the whole war period, and have
earned the gratitude of all who attend these Clinics.
The Ante-natal Clinic was attended by 772 expectant
mothers, as compared with 601 in 1944. This increase
presaged a rise in the number of births in 1946 and at
the same time rendered the task of placing mothers in
hospital for their confinements more difficult than
ever. Owing to the lack of beds in the London Area
the Government Evacuation Scheme for expectant mothers
continued to operate after the termination of hostilities.
Out of 926 cases in which the place of confinement
was known, 699 births took place in Hospitals or Nursing
Homes and 277 at home.
The Council's Midwives attended 168 births.
ANTE-NATAL EXERCISES.
Classes for expectant mothers were started on the
24th October, 1945; they are conducted by Miss Barbara
Rooke, CS.S.PT.
The aim of the ante-natal exercises is to teach
mothers muscular relaxation, with a view to getting
shorter and easier labour, and to encourage good posture,