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confinements was 98 or 1.37 per cent. for 7,040 first births and
64 or 1.46 per cent. for 4,397 second or later births. The total
number of infants recorded as premature, according to the International
Standard of lb. or less birth weight, was 809 or 7.1 per
cent. relative to 11,437 confinements.
Post-Natal Work.
"All mothers having their confinements at Thorpe Coombe
were invited to return six weeks after their confinement for an
examination, and if necessary medical advice and treatment. The
highest proportion of women attending the post-natal clinic was in
1943, when 86.3 per cent. attended. The lowest proportion was in
1939, when the figure was 45.8 per cent. of those women who were
confined in Thorpe Coombe that year.
Infant Welfare Service.
"For the supervision and care of the health of the infant, all
mothers were visited, as far as possible, within two weeks of confinement
in their own homes by a Health Visitor employed by the
Borough. The mothers were encouraged to take their babies to
one of the Welfare Centres. In this way a follow-up of mothers
and babies was continued.