Pregnant woman to get 'healthy eating' grants

[DSM]

Did anyone see this on the news?

Pregnant women are to be given £190 in grants. The money is intended to be spent on healthy eating, but will be paid into bank accounts and the spending will not be regulated.

WTF?

This is possibly the most ridiculous scheme I have heard of.

My MW said they were going to start paying child benefit to pg woman weekly from 25 weeks but changed their minds and decided to make it into one lump sum.

It is supposed to be a healthy living grant and on a leaflet I had said it was to make life easiar in the last few weeks in pg.

Still a bit to be giving away all this money especially when the sure start grant for people who really need it is available.

Can I admit that I am putting mine towards a new double bed 'cos mine is knackered .

Thisisyesterday my MW said no payments are going out until May .Not sure why.

I got £300 (I think) when I was pegnant with DD1 and DD2, that was 12 and 8 years ago. It was just called a maternity grant, I thought every where did it.

oh well crazy govt stuff I expect.

I didn't get a grant, choco. Surprised to hear about it

I'm sure it was that much, but I might be wrong, I'm in N Ireland so maybe it's different over here.

Was that a surestart type grant - i know you can get about £500 if you really need it and meet the requirements.

I think this new payment is crazy but i'll be claiming mine and putting it towards double pushchair costs.

Would like to see it used to provide healthier food for women who struggle but just don't see how they'd regulate that to be honest.

Isn't this in addition to the Surestart maternity grant of £500 which IS means tested?! Why not just increase that, especially as it hasn't gone up in years.

While the consultant was telling me off for being fat, the midwife mentioned this grant. All the info I'd seen about it called it Health in Pregnancy and didn't say it had to be used for food. Thus I voiced my intent to spend it on a pram--MW and consultant were not impressed!

Mine wasn't means tested, I was working at the time. All pregnant women got it.

I'm using mine for a baby bean bag and a maxi cosi base

I am vegetarian and eat a permanent diet of chick peas and lentils.

I don't need no healthy eating grant- this mum doesn't go to iceland.

My understanding of the grant is that it is to encourage women to get ante-natal care (and not for food). Obviously if you are avoiding HCPs you are not going to get anyone to sign the form for you.

I agree that it is silly to give a non-means tested grant but am not one to turn down free money. One thing I have seen that I think is a bit disingenuous is the hypnobirthing people's claim that "the government will pay you £190 for attending a hypnobirthing class". It's actually put me off hypnobirthing! My money will be going on things for the baby and perhaps a nice pregnancy massage for me!

On the news, it said that the money was to be used to buy healthy food in pregnancy.

link to the story

It also seems, it is only in England. Oh well.

I got a form and im in Scotland

Why not spend the money to hire more midwives, maternity nurses and provide better post-natal care on wards?

FFS.

I agree, RIDICULOUS and I've already complained to my MP about it.

The BBC story is out of date.

The government says the grant is to help mothers stay well in pregnancy and to cover costs of later pregnancy - no mention of healthy eating etc. The only health-related criteria is that you should seek ante-natal care.

You have to be ordinarily resident in the UK. The grant is not limited to England, so good news for you, DSM. See here.

Completely agree Expat - £190 per woman spent on post natal care might improve things quite a bit.

I agree with the scheme. It was part of a budget way before the recession so the government have at least fulfilled their promise. It was originally intended to pay it as Child Benefit before the baby was born, they then decided to pay it a lump sum.

Its about time more help was available to people on a low income but still just above the help level for the Sure Start maternity grant, housing benefits etc.

agree with expat the money should go to the nhs

Mrs Happy is also right in what she posted, its intended to cover the additional cost of later pregnancy.

The cost of later pregnancy?

I'm still low income.

I'd rather have seen more midwives and nurses on the ward after each child, a decent bed, etc.

That would benefit women, babies AND the over-worked staff much more.

Stupid, stupid, stupid utter waste of funds when many maternity units are dangerously understaffed.

Agree it is bizarre. Although have obviously claimed it.

My midwife suggested I use it to buy some new clothes.

Am going to use it to pay for birthing pool, so sort of what it is intended for I guess - but would have found the money snyway, so it's just a weird bonus for having a baby.

Would rather they spent £190 on post-natal care and support as a means to reduce levels of PND personally.

It is going to cost the taxpayer a fortune at a time when public spending cuts need to be identified if we are not to saddle all these babies with exorbitant rates of tax as adults.

www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_123_07.htm

agree with expat. Far better to use a relatively large sum of money to improve one specific aspect of maternity care rather than giving a small lump sum to all and sundry, whether they need it or not.