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12.
Post Natal Care is designed to ensure that the mother's health returns
to the highest possible level after confinement. This is covered in a
large measure by the Maternity and Child Welfare Centres, but in addition
every mother should have a special medical examination about six weeks after
her delivery. Mothers who enter hospitals or nursing-homes and those
attended at home by their own doctors are covered accordingly. Patients
delivered at home without a doctor may attend the Borough Clinics, where
they are seen during ante-natal sessions. Unfortunately only a small
proportion of these patients do attend for post-natal examination. Doubtless
many conditions which require attention go untreated in the mothers who
fail to attend for post-natal examination, and further efforts are required
to educate the mothers about the importance of this examination.
CARE OF PREMATURE INFANTS.
The scheme established under Ministry of Health Circular 20/44 has
worked smoothly, and more attention is now being devoted to the babies whose
birth weight is 5½ lbs. or less.
The total number of premature babies notified during 1945 was 81, of
whom 75 were born in hospital and only 6 at home. This disparity is largely
explained by the fact that prematurity is often the result of some complication
of pregnancy for which the mother has been admitted to hospital.
None of the 6 babies born at home were transferred to hospital but were
nursed entirely in their homes. One died during the first 24 hours. The
other five were alive at the end of one month.
Of the 75 born in hospital 6 died during the first 24 hours and 15
subsequently before the end of the first month. 54 were alive at the end of
the first month,
CHILD LIFE PROTECTION.
38 foster mothers were on the Register at the end of the year, with 52
children in their care. 1 foster child died during the year.
ADOPTION OF CHILDREN.
During 1945, 32 persons fave notice of thoir intention to adopt in
respect of 32 children. Careful visiting of these cases is carried out by
the Health Visitors and the results are generally satisfactory.