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on to the Maternity Hospital as necessitous cases are seen
at the Ante-Natal Clinic there instead of at the Station
Road Clinic.
The help and advice given is apparently greatly
appreciated by the expectant mothers who attend, as is
shown by the fact that the same mothers attend for antenatal
supervision in subsequent confinements.
There is still a large percentage of expectant mothers
who do not have ante-natal care at all, and only seek the
services of a midwife or doctor at a very late date in
pregnancy; even sometimes only when labour is imminent.
These cases are difficult and will not be bothered with
examination and advice. If they could be persuaded to
have proper ante-natal care, I am sure the number of
stillbirths and infant deaths in the district would be
considerably lessened.
It would in many respects be of great value if
ante-natal care was in some measure compulsory, for after
all it is not only for the safeguarding of the mother, hut
also for that of the babes—our future generation. The
young expectant mothers of the present day appear to me
to be healthier and do not ail in pregnancy as much as
mothers did in the past. Probably this is due in part to
the healthier life girls now lead with their sport and fresh
air, and perhaps in part also to ante-natal supervision
and advice.
Natal Services.
Six hundred and sixty-five births were known to
have occurred in Bromley during 1933. Of these 14 were
stillbirths. In addition 18 births were found not to have
been notified, and warnings for non-notification were given
in these cases.
The 665 births were notified as follows:—
Notified by midwives 446
Notified by doctors and parents 201
"Un-notified" 18
665