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98
Expectant Mothers.
Since Dame Janet Campbell's report on Maternal Mortality
a great impetus has been given to the care of the expectant
mother as a means of reducing preventable diseases
such as eclampsia and albuminuria, and of ensuring a safe
confinement by diagnosing the position and comparative size
of the child. In West Ham there are six clinics where free
advice is given on all matters dealing with the hygiene of
pregnancy.
The Health Visitors, too, visit the mothers at their homes
and give advice. Unfortunately, many cases are not discovered
until the actual confinement.
Eventually the expectant mothers themselves will come to
regard ante-natal care as a routine procedure: direct cooperation
between the Midwives, the Health Visitors and the
Clinics will then be made easier.
The low Maternal Death Rate in West Ham bears evidence
to the first-class midwifery carried on in the Borough.
Deaths of Maternity Cases during 1926.
(a) From Sepsis, 9.
(b) From other causes, 4.
(c) Maternal Mortality Rate, 1.9.
DRIED MILK.
Distribution of Dried Milk to Nursing and Expectant Mothers
and Children under three years of age.
The demand for Full Cream Dried Milk continues, and it
is gratifying to record that it is highly spoken of by a great
number of mothers who are regular users for Infant Feeding.
The supplies delivered by the Contractors during the year
have been quite satisfactory, and no inconvenience has been
experienced as a result of strikes, weather conditions, etc.
Circular 185 of the Ministry of Health is carefully
followed, and the number of persons who endeavoured to
obtain Dried Milk by false pretences during the year was
negligible.
The Distributing Centre at 84 West Ham Lane was
opened on the 8th September, 1924, and continues to prove a
great convenience both from the public and administrative
points of view.