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132
Meals for Expectant and Nursing Mothers.
Circular 1,290, issued by the Minister of Health in October,
1932, states that:—
"it is of the utmost importance that the diet of pregnant and
nursing mothers should include a sufficient supply of calcium,
phosphorus and Vitamin D. Of these, Vitamin D is the most
likely to be deficient, especially during pregnancy and lactation.
The aim, therefore, should be to secure an increased consumption
of foods containing that vitamin. The main foods containing
Vitamin D are fat fish, fish fivers, egg yolk, milk and
butter.
"All Medical Officers, and particularly those in charge of
Welfare Centres, Ante-natal Clinics, etc., should, therefore,
take all possible steps to ensure that expectant and nursing
mothers are advised of the importance in the diet of an adequate
supply of foods containing Vitamin D."
The common defects in the diets of expectant and nursing
mothers are deficiencies in vitamins, calcium, iron and iodine;
and these are obtainable in milk, egg yolk, cod liver oil, green
vegetables and fresh fruit. Milk, cod liver oil and iron are already
supplied on the recommendation of the Clinic Medical Officer to
expectant and nursing mothers who are considered to be in need of
extra nourishment. As no adequate facilities exist in this area
for the provision of meals at feeding centres, the Maternity and
Child Welfare Authority proposed to supply eggs, fresh fruit and
vegetables on the recommendation of the Medical Officer of Health,
such articles being in the nature of accessories to supplement
deficient diets in necessitous cases.
In May, 1933, the Maternity and Child Welfare Authority
decided that application be made to the Ministry of Health for
sanction to provide extra nourishment in the form of eggs, vegetables
and fruit for expectant and nursing mothers in cases where the
Medical Officer of Health is satisfied that such extra nourishment is
advisable on medical grounds, the same scale of necessity to be
applied as that in operation in connection with the assisted milk
supply. As no adequate facilities exist in the area for the provision
of meals at feeding centres the Local Authority proposed that the
articles of diet recommended by the Medical Officer should be
purchased by means of vouchers.