Mother and Baby Homes

<p>During the 1960s there had been much discussion about the plight of the unmarried mother and her child; but very little of it had been based on fact. At the time Mother and Baby Homes catered for between 11000 and 12000 unmarried mothers each year out of a total of 70000; but there was hardly one generalisation that would be applicable to all the Homes. Some were run by voluntary organisations some by local authorities and some by religious groups. While some still retained the punitive attitude others set themselves with much kindness to help the women – some of them mere schoolgirls to face the difficulties of their position and to plan constructively for their own future and that of their babies. Originally published in 1968 this book gives the facts but even more it gives the feelings and ideas of those most concerned – the mothers-to-be and those who care for them.</p><p>This is a careful and sensitive study. It was unique in putting on record for the first time the views of unmarried mothers themselves about the care they received. Everybody who is interested in the history of the health and welfare of the unmarried mother in residential care should read this book.</p>