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18
With the exception of the supervision of midwives, a duty
of the Middlesex County Council, the Harrow Maternity and
Child Welfare centre meets the requirements of all the elements
of the complete scheme formulated by the L.G.B. in 1914 for
the preservation of maternal and infantile health, viz.,
Ante-Natal:
(a) Ante-Natal clinic for expectant mcthers.
(b) The home visiting of expectant mothers,
(c) A maternity hospital in which complicated
cases of pregnancy can receive treatment.
Natal: (a) Such assistance as may be needed to ensure
the mother having skilled and prompt
attendance during confinement at home.
(b) Confinement of cases of contracted pelvis,
etc., at a hospital.
Post-Natal: (a) Treatment of complications arising after
parturition in mother and infant.
(b) The provision of systematic advice and
treatment for infants at a Baby Clinic.
(c) Continuance of such clinic so as to be available
for children up to school age
(d) The systematic home visitation of infants
and children below school age.
In addition to the visitation of infants and expectant
mothers at their homes, and their regular sessional work at
the maternity and child welfare centre, the Health Visitors
also Visit and report on cases of measles.
Ante-Natal work has for its object the application of
preventive medicine to pregnancy in the common interest of
both mother and infant. It secures the saving of infant life
and the prevention of chronic diseases in childhood. Both
ante-natal care and skilful midwifery are required in most
instances to secure a healthy mother able to nurse her healthy
infant. Lack of these may result in the death of the mother
and infant or one of them ; or chronic invalidism of the
mother and impairment of the health of the infant.
At the ante-natal clinic the expectant mother is advised
concerning the special hygiene of her condition and how
best to meet the so-called minor troubles of pregnancy such
as constipation, dyspepsia, defective teeth, varicose veins,
etc.; and also the more serious troubles such as cardiac and
pulmonary diseases, albuminuria, etc. This work supplemented
by the sympathetic home visiting of the trained