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MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
Notification of Births.
The birth rate for 1928 was 19.2. There were 6(671 live
births and 189 stillbirths officially notified in accordance with the
1907 Act.

These figures represent the net number of births of U'est Ham
residents.
All children born in the Borough are visited at
intervals during infancy and the first 5 years of life, when the
child usually passes over to the care of the School Medical
Service. Summary cards are made out by the Health Visitors
for all children at 5 years of age or at the age when the child
•enters school—which may be as early as 4 and 4^ years. These
summary cards note the method of feeding in infancy and any illnesses
from which the child has suffered, and are of great service
at the first and subsequent School Medical Inspections.
On receiving a notification of birth, the Health Visitor of
the district visits the Mother and Baby on the eleventh day: i.e.,
after the doctor or midwife has ceased to attend. Quarterly visits
are paid during the first year; visits at intervals of 4 months
during the second year, and every 6 months from 2—5 years of
age. In cases of delicate or ailing babies, extra visits are paid.
Home visiting is of the first importance in Maternity and Child
Welfare Work. Advice is given on general hygiene and the care
of infants and toddlers, special stress being laid on the importance
of breast-feeding. In necessitous cases the expectant or nursing
mothers can obtain extra nourishment, e.sj. Dried Milk, free or
at a cheap rate. (See page 113.) In addition, these visits form
the basis if the work carried on at the Clinics. Mothers are
encouraged to attend the Infant Welfare Centres so that the child
may have the benefit of continuous medical supervision.