View report page

"Mothers are taught to pay attention to the little things,
which, ,if neglected, interfere with healthy development. Children
requiring treatment are referred to their private medical
practitioners or to hospital.
The Welfare of the Expectant Mother.
"At the Ante-Natal Clinics, routine inspection is carried
out for the purpose of finding out and dealing with any abnormal
symptom which may arise. The mothers are given
simple instructions as to their mode of life and clothing during
the period, and an endeavour is made to help and encourage
them.
"As elsewhere, the housing question is still very acute. It
is no uncommon thing for husband, wife, and two children to
be living in one room. The pregnant mother is the one to
suffer most through these conditions, and she is always advised
to go to a Maternity Home or Hospital for her confinement. Unfortunately,
she cannot always do this on account of the additional
expense and the reluctance to leave her young children in
someone else's care. Sometimes she has to endure the misery of
living with a quarrelsome neighbour in the same house, and not
infrequently she is given notice to leave as soon as the landlord
discovers that another baby is coming. She cannot always be
turned out of her house, but the miserable feeling of being
there on sufferance affects her health. After the birth of her
child she is so frightened that the baby will cry and disturb the
neighbours, that the most important early training of the child
is neglected, and he often acquires bad habits which are sometimes
injurious to health.
"Pregnant and nursing mothers and children needing dental
treatment are referred to the Dental department at Southey
Hall and the cases dealt with there.
"The Day Nursery at 176, Haydons Road has been visited
every week, and any child examined whose condition was
not considered satisfactory."