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To reduce excessive infant mortality, theories about mothercraft were being taught to teenage girls.   Practical lessons in mothercraft, held in nurseries and infant welfare centres, were attended by girls aged between twelve and fourteen (the school leaving age).  Classes not only helped older girls in the day-today dealings with their younger siblings, but directed their instincts and emotions towards future motherhood.  Infant welfare superintendents taught the lessons, using babies – rather than a doll. 

‘Mothercraft for School Girls’ 1914¹, published by Macmillan, covered a range of topics.

On the importance of sleep and fresh air, it was suggested that a baby should sleep alone in a cot from the day it is born since a baby might be suffocated through overlaying in a bed with its parents.   A baby sleeping alone rests and sleeps better because it is not disturbed by other people moving.   Baby should never be rocked to sleep; it should be put in its cot and left alone; it will soon get into good habits and go to sleep. 

It was noted that cots and cradles were relatively cheap, but some mothers could not afford these, so a banana crate, which was the ideal shape of a cradle was suggested, and could be bought from a fruiter for as little as 2d.  The banana crate could be made into a very pretty cradle for very little money; two and half yards of  green and white muslin as covering, at 2d a yard, and two yards of unbleached calico at 3d could be stitched up and filled with finely chopped straw.  This would make a comfortable, clean soft bed, and could be renewed every week by emptying out the old straw, washing the cover, and filling it freshly with straw.  In this way the bed, which was likely to be wetted, could be kept sweet.  A banana cot was cheap, light and easy to carry up and down the stairs, where it could be placed on two chairs close to the mother’s bed at night.

Where there was a choice of rooms for the baby to sleep in, it was recommended that the room should be the most airy and sunny room in the house, and the windows of the room should always be kept open.  It was essential for babies to have plenty of fresh air –“… like plants, they thrive in sunshine and air!” ¹

¹  Mothercraft for School Girls’1914, published by Macmillan. 

Anne Hornsby – Born in Birmingham 1914-24 Project Volunteer

Jan chose to focus on the increase in working woman who visited women and children in their homes and in infant welfare centres to facilitate improvements in their health.

The 1914-1924 period saw a large increase in the number of health & infant visitors as a result of concern about infant mortality rates, but also in response to the Notification of Births Act in 1915 requiring that the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) be notified of all births within 36 hours.

The increasing number of infant welfare centres (IWCs) became the focus for infant health visitors, working entirely with mothers and their infant children.  By the end of the war there was a well established staff of 61 infant visitors attached to infant welfare centres and 33 health visitors who worked with mothers and infants outside of the welfare centre boundaries as well as with older children.

The development of health visiting in Birmingham can be discovered in the Minutes of the Birmingham Health Committee.  In October 1898, Dr Alfred Hill, the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) was asked to obtain information from several towns about the engagement of women officers who were working to prevent infant mortality.  Based on his findings, agreement was reached to appoint 4 lady health visitors in 1899 to work almost entirely in the 4 poorest districts of Birmingham.  The successful 4 candidates would earn 25/- a week and be provided with a uniform.  The local authority would fund them.  These first health visitors developed from the existing role of sanitary inspectors or visitors.  They worked primarily to promote health and provide health education – working at the level of the infant, their family, and community.  Their priority was to improve sanitation and reduce infectious disease – a clear distinction from nursing.

In a newspaper report in 1901, Dr Hill spoke of the ‘capital and successful results of these appointments’ and his intention to increase the number of posts.  He noted that ’the lady health visitors have duties quite distinct from sanitary inspectors but they also report defects in housing and gently induce the poorer classes to comply with sanitary edicts.’  He cited ventilation as being a stumbling block often leading to ‘House Sickness’.  Health visitors identified and referred 1,000 chimneys that needed unblocking, as well as 3,000 windows that needed repair.       

By 1902 with an increase of staff, 12 districts within Birmingham were formed and health visitors were required to visit all houses of 3 rooms or less where a birth had taken place, making repeat visits where necessary, enquiring into the circumstances of all infant deaths, and reporting any cases of cruelty.  They distributed hand bills explaining management of the house and yard and precautions to be taken against measles, diarrhoea, typhoid and consumption and stressed the importance of breast feeding.  They carried disinfectant powder and emphasised the need for cleanliness and also of thrift and temperance.  They should be ‘well educated’ and physically strong women.  The key was to go into the home as ‘a friend and not to find causes for reproach’.

In 1903, Dr John Robertson became the MOH for Birmingham.  His annual reports contain details of health visiting activity provided by the Superintendent Health Visitor, Blanche Gardiner.  In 1912, she was pleased to announce that the number of health visitors had risen to 19, one visitor for each of the 19 districts and 4 infant visitors.  The 4 infant visitors focused their work entirely on infant welfare.  The 19 health visitors also worked with mothers and infants but had other responsibilities at this time including receiving all the names of babies born in their district and visiting jointly with the infant visitor if required.   Blanche Gardiner visited every household where an infant had died of diarrhoea or contracted ophthalmic neonatorum.  She assessed housing conditions, and if dirty or insanitary housing was detected, she would make suggestions for improvement.  She also worked with older children and families.  She had a duty to report any negligence or malpractice shown by midwives.  In 1913, there were 16,219 visits made by infant visitors and health visitors.

Jan Wright

Today, crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project by raising small amounts of money from a large number of people, usually via the Internet.  Some would see this as a redefinition of the fundraising landscape.  But looking at the history of the Children’s Hospital in Birmingham we see a much earlier experiment of a similar kind.

An effective fundraising campaign in the early twentieth century was “the Children’s Hospital Brick League, which allowed children to purchase and even participate in the laying of bricks which were engraved with each donor’s initials”.  The hope was that such a scheme would foster close and continuing links between children and the hospital.  A new children’s hospital was planned in Ladywood and initialised bricks were laid by 476 children themselves ahead of the opening in 1916.

Local newspapers and suburban magazines included reports of the ‘throughput’ of the children’s hospital and regular fundraising events were held to promote the Children’s Hospital Brick League for many years to come.

Alison Smith

Quote from:     J Reinarz, ‘Charitable bodies: The funding of Birmingham’s voluntary hospitals in the nineteenth century’, 2006.

An audience of friends, family, FoBAH members and interested parties joined Born in Birmingham 1914-24 project volunteers for an informative evening at The Gunmakers Arms last night.

Topics talked about included Birth Control, Infant Mortality, Adoption, Midwives, Infant Welfare Centres, Baby Week and Health Visitors.

The evening revealed a whole host of fascinating information discovered during researchers’ sessions in the Archives and Collections of the Library of Birmingham.

Thanks to Liz for coordinating a wonderful evening.