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movements and efforts which she will be required to make during the time
her child is being born. It is unfair and cruel to expect an untutored patient
to respond to orders she cannot understand when experiencing the anxiety
and pain of confinement. Now she calmly prepares in advance, is reassured
and confident that she knows what is expected of her and need not fear any
deterioration in her looks or her physique as a consequence of her pregnancy.
The friendship and association with others dispels that dread replacing it with
a sense of strength in which the event can be regarded as a wonderful experience
and the period of gestation one which can be devoted to improvement both
of health and figure.
The attendances from October until the end of December are tabulated
below:—
Infants M others
First visits 54 23
Re-attendances 155 33
Voluntary Help at Clinics.
The voluntary workers continue to give considerable help in the running
of the Infant Welfare clinics. As has been pointed out before, the help given
greatly aids the efficient running of the clinics and it also saves considerable
expense to the Council, who are deeply appreciative of the work done.
Midwives.
This is the first complete year of the Council's Domiciliary Midwifery
Service, and five midwives have been employed constantly throughout the
period. The borough is divided into five districts, and so far as is convenient
one midwife attends all the confinements in her area. The personal preference
of any expectant mother, however, is respected, and she is allowed to retain
the services of any particular midwife she chooses, if this can be arranged
with expedience.
Leaflets have been issued describing the services provided, and these
are available at the Manor House and the Branch Health Centre.
Midwives attend regularly at the ante-natal clinics, where in consultation
with the doctor any anticipated difficulties can be discussed and a solution
found.
The scheme has resulted in an improvement of the standard of domestic
obstetrics, and an increasing number of bookings is made each month.
32