View report page

11.
problem was being more acutely felt by the County Council, as the majority
of births were teking place in the hospitals maintained by that Authority.
There was, however, a local problem in the rehabilitation of the mother.
The cases to be dealt with fell into three classes, (a) those in which the
girl is able to return home to her parents with her baby, (b) those in which
adoption of the child is advisable on account of the extreme youth of the
mother, or of the fact that she is a married woman, and (c) those for which
there is need of shelter to which the mother, after confinement, may go with
her baby and stay for a time in an atmosphere of security, until with sympathy
and help she is able to re-establish herself, and make a permanent home for
herself and child. The matter was felt to be one in which adequate provision
could only be made on a wider basis than that of the individual local authority,
and for this purpose the County Council decided to establish hostels and to
provide a Social Worker with special experience in this work, whose services
would be available to any of the participating authorities. The Borough
Council agreed to participate in this scheme.
EXERCISES FOR EXPECTANT MOTHERS.
In view of the growing volume of evidence to the effect that training
in relaxation combined with exercises is of value in promoting easier labour in
selected cases, the Council decided to establish a weekly class for this purpose.
The class did not commence until the 3rd January, 1945.
With a view to ascertaining the result of these exercises, special
enquiries are being made as to the nature and duration of the confinement in
each case.
PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT.
In view of the increase in the number of psychological difficulties
found amongst school children, and of the fact that the earlier such problems
are tackled, the better are likely to be the results, it was decided in
collaboration with the National Council for Mental 'Health to undertake the
treatment of these conditions in children of pre-school age, and for this
purpose arrangements were made for the attendance of a psychologist to whom
children in need of treatment were referred from the Child Welfare sessions.