Maternity in Great Britain
A Survey of Social and Economic Aspects of Pregnancy and Childbirth undertaken by a Joint Committee of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Population Investigation Committee.
Commonwealth Fund. London: Geoffrey Cumberlege. 12s. 6d.
Here is a comprehensive study of nearly 14,000 cases of births during the week beginning March 3rd, 1946. The enquiry was sponsored by the Joint Committee of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Population Investigation Committee, under the chairmanship of Professor James Young.
Antenatal supervision, the places of confinement, and care during confinement, the relief of pain in childbirth, postnatal examinations, infant welfare centres, and the cost of childbearing, are discussed in considerable detail. There are chapters on prematurity, infant feeding, the expectant mother in gainful occupation, help in the house, illegitimacy, and a list of recommendations.
Those who are interested in the emotional attitude of mothers to their maternity problems will find little to encourage them. No reference is made to the fact that psychiatric problems can precipitate psycho-somatic complaints. The social work is well carried out but underlines the need of a total approach to the problem such as that of the researchers who are engaged on a four-year investigation of cognate problems in Aberdeen. The mother’s attitude of mind to her coming child, and her handling of it in the first year of life play a very large part in character formation. It is disappointing that this side of the work should have been left out.?
Nevertheless, this excellent survey will be a mine of information for a long time to come for those whose function it is to handle our maternity and infant welfare services. A.T.
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