Lying-in Home (1890 - 1920)

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The State Children Act 1907 defined a lying-in home as:

' a place for the accommodation of females during their confinement and lying-in, and includes any home maintained for such purpose by the Government. (Section 4)' This Act had carried over some of the infant life protection elements in section 7 of the Health Act 1898 which had failed so dismally to protect infants and their families from the practice of baby farming. Licensing the premises where infants were born was a natural step forward in regulating the care of children and young people in the State. In 1918, registration for lying-in Homes became the responsibility of the Commissioner of Health, through the Health Act Amendment Act 1918.

The Health Act 1911 made it compulsory for all midwives to be registered and set up a Midwives Registration Board to ensure formal qualifications were developed for future midwives. These requirements came into effect on 1 January 1912. The number of lying-in homes fell as the requirements of midwifery training became more rigorous.