to be annoyed RE healthy pregnancy grant

[RedRedWine1980]

Especially as someone on facebook has mentioned going to Zara to spend it....is this just another ridiculous waste of public funds or what?

I of course didn't turn down mine. Not wanting to be rude and all that

I will be surprised if it remains when the new budget comes in

But in principle I sort of think it is a good idea. If it means money is a bit less tight for people who are expecting, then maybe they will be more able to spend more money on fruit and veg etc throughout their pregnancy. So even if the £200 goes on a pram/ maternity clothes, its £200 you've not had to scrape together my scrimping on grocery bills. That said, it does get misused and healthy food vouchers or something would probably be better. The same goes for the sure start grant though, I saw someone (on another pregnancy website) saying their whole £500 sure start grant would be going on a fancy pram, not the point of it really!

pootles my local authority (southampton) do offer free swimming for pregnant ladies, it does seem like a really good idea

I'm hoping I'll get this, but wouldn't be surprised if its gets scrapped. I'm only 8wks pregnant, you can apply for it from 25weeks and its £190. I think I would use mine to help towards some healthy things, I'd like to do antenatal swimming classes - did these with dd and they were brilliant for my aching back, also buy a birthing ball. But some is bound to go towards baby things.

Most people I know used it either for a big baby item like a buggy, or for a private nuchal scan as the NHS doesn't provide one in this area (midwife actually advised us to do this!). But as SirBoobAlot says, don't think it will be an issue soon!

The £190 thing? Everyone gets that. I think it is a total waste of money but of course sent my form. I read on here someone putting it towards a very expensive nappy bag. It's not like fiddling the system. I am using mine to buy all of DS3s clothes/body suits and bits and bobs. What exactly is it for anyway?

I bought a chest freezer with mine. It means we can all eat properly after the baby is born. It's already stocked with meals I've been merrily cooking plus a load of stuff I know DH will be able to cook for our 2DDs and the rest of us.
It did feel slightly wrong spending it on stuff for me.

Either it should be means tested, or it should be in voucher form, have seen many things on facebook as part of the new pram fund etc etc. I am due it now (although my midwife has been putting off signing the paperwork for it so I doubt I will get it) will be narked off if I miss it now but then equally would have been happy to have it in voucher form as I am spending loads of money on fruit and vegetables, far more than I did pre pregnancy as it is one of my cravings, so hoping its also keeping me healthy.

Point being though, and I have said this before - I would like it, but I don't need it and I survived my last pg without it. Although have just found out my smp is going to be way less than standard as the tax office have fucked up (even though I have chased and chased and chased them....) so I am going to recieve less per week than if I hadn't bothered working in the first place

However I think most who recieve it don't actually spend it on groceries (shame as seem to have spent waaaaay more than that on fruit and yoghurt and I am responsible for the food bills in our house!)

mine was pre-spent on the gas bill.

though i rather like veg anyway, and looove milk...

i do think it is just a 'throw money at it' approach to public health (and public finances)

I feel similarly about this as I do about the CTF, I don't think that this is appropriate for everyone either. I think its a brilliant idea for some but equally I think it should be better invested as so many people have lost so much money on it. I would have preferred a voucher to open up something like a cash isa for my dd that I could add into easily and we could see what was going on. But you can't open a cash isa for a child apparently and I think I would have very much preferred tax free money for her in the future than someething that might] be worth nothing as from experience so far it hasn't been worth adding into it because its value has decreased so much - imho that is a bit of a waste, if it had been put in the bank and you couldn't touch it at least then you would know where you were with it. But that is just my small gripe about it, and sorry for hijacking! [wink

Yes waste of public money. Understand the nice idea behind it but a waste.

I was going to kit out the baby with it, but then it turned out I was too foreign.

I suppose I rationalized my nursing tops as part of the grant and not DH's hard-earned cash but I've been swimming lots and eating tons of fruit cos I can't get enough of melons and strawberries. I could just swap it in my head and equally validly claim I spent it all on fruit and swimming and not on some over-priced tops with nipple holes cut in I agree that free swimming/aqua-natal classes would be a far more appropriate idea though.

Monday you say? Damn, could I test and then see a mw all on Monday if applicable and get my name down before it goes? Never had this when I had dd.

I used mine for private counselling to help treat my antenatal depression, pretty good use of it I thought.

will they back date this?! - I was in hopital for 3 months so husband on unpaid leave during my pregnancy - hospital cost a bomb, parking, tv /phone cards, trying to supplement rubbish food, petrol, childcare etc etc - crippled us and we're still paying two years on - no money for us from anyone else. Apparently I was'nt in long enough to get free tv - go figure

I would like to point out to everyone though that if the country was in a good financial situation I would be clammering at the door for mine - just feel a bit guilty that I might get it (although unlikely after next week!) when we are so far in debt. I do however think that it would be good in vouchers - except I would probably complain about that as I wouldn't be able to spend it on chocolate!

i applied for mine 2 weeks ago, not heard yet.. its paying for my pram, i already eat healthily

Thats what I mean though- its obviously not necessary if people are healthy anyway

just to add... i walk for at least 2 hours a day pushing a 24lb toddler in a pram.. plus carrying her,soft play, music and movement classes and gymtots so i'm ok for excercise as well lol

If its for healthy eating etc it should be handed out per week in the run up to giving birth for people to add to food shop etc
I think its silly i didnt get it and people i know who did put it towards a pram with their maternity grant

If its for healthy eating etc it should be handed out per week in the run up to giving birth for people to add to food shop etc
I think its silly i didnt get it and people i know who did put it towards a pram with their maternity grant

xkaylax-you think its silly so you didn't get it or you think its silly that you didn't get it?

It's a ridiculous waste of money, I hope they do get rid of it. And I say that as a pg person!

i missed out with dd.. she was born 16th march, it started 1st april...

tbh either way i need to buy a pram and buy shopping... so if i get the 190 and use it for healthy food them i can use my food shopping money to buy a pram... iyswim?