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Centres. Sewing classes and Health talks are given, and at some
Centres Infant foods, Cod Liver Oil preparations and Virol are
supplied at cost price.
Private midwives are encouraged to refer their patients to
the Municipal or Voluntary Antenatal Clinics for advice and supervision.
The midwife is notified after each visit of her patient, as
to the general health, and the results of particular examinations.
The majority of women who present themselves for examination
are sent by midwives or by the Health Visitors, while a few come
on the advice of friends who know of the Clinic. Attendances
are regular and the women themselves are interested and eager
to attend after the aim of antenatal care has been explained to
them. An opportunity is taken at the visits to teach the women
something in the early care of infants by instructions as to breasthygiene,
with a view to breast-feeding later: model baby garments
are displayed and help given to the cutting-out and making of
such garments.
The Municipal Infant Welfare Centres continue to be so well
attended that it has recently been found necessary to start an
additional session at the Infant Welfare Clinic in West Ham
Lane.
Dental. A Lady-dentist was appointed and began work on
June 17th, 1927, with one half-day session per week. Her work
amongst the toddlers is proving of great value, so much so, that
recently two additional dental sessions were commenced. Fillings
and extractions are done, the latter under nitrous oxide gas.
This work was urgently required, and in addition to its curative
value, is most helpful in the task of teaching mothers the importance
of dental care from the earliest years.
The work is carried out at the School Dental premises while
the School Dentists are engaged at the schools.
Stratford Day Nursery, Welfare Road.
A day nursery is an invaluable complement to a Maternity
and Child Welfare Scheme, particularly in a district where many
of the mothers are forced to go to work. The attendances at
this voluntary nursery during 1927 were :—
Whole days 6708
Average weekly attendance 149
(A sum of 8d. per day is charged to the mothers.)
Sunlight Clinic.
Treatment by artificial light was first started in 1925 by the
Women's League of Service for Motherhood at the Welfare Road
Clinic. The treatment has proved of great benefit to certain
rachitic and weakly children. An arrangement was made by the
Maternity and Child Welfare Committee of the Borough and the
Committee of the above League for the increased use of the Sunlamp,
so that in February of this year two additional sessions
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