sure start grant cut...i now have nothing for my unborn baby

[witter]

Hi everyone,,,
I'm looking for some advice as i dont know what to do anymore just as i get back on my feet something else seems to knock me back down.

Does anyone know is there any help out there as ive missed the sure start grant and now have nothing for baby due in april 2011.

I had to claim income support late last year as my partner left us and i was not working so had no income what so ever.
I have recently gone self employed and dont really have much income at the moment with starting up and everything.
I am due to have another baby in april 2011 but i have nothing i was told i could claim a sure start grant months ago but when i went into the jobcentre they said no first child only now.
I do have another child who is 1 year old but have never claimed this before as myself and partner worked before.
I have a few bits that baby could use but my son is still in his cot and only have his buggy now which i use for him as he cant walk the next baby is a girl so dont have mamy clothes either nether mind bottles, blankets, or anything else.
i really dont know where to turn next..i cant claim a loan because i need to be claiming benefits.
is there anything at all i could do??
thanks for reading xx

Due dates are never, ever changed if dated from a scan between 11-13.6 weeks in the two hospitals where I have worked. A fundus measuring large would flag a growth problem rather than redating the pregnancy.

Between 11 and 13.6 weeks, embryos grow pretty much predictably within a small range. This is because they are basically cells dividing - the placenta has not taken over yet and so the large discrepancies between individuals have not become apparrent. This has been demonstrated by thousands and thousands of scans on women who have had IVF and so we can be certain how "old" thier embyos are, and these early scans are very accurate. (Not perfect, of course).

I have just read most of the thread, and am a bit about the wrath vented at longwalk for voicing an opinion - and fairly well argued opinion at that. As far as I can see she wasn't claiming anyone should have their children taken away etc, etc....just pointing out that there are some situations where having a baby is less than ideal. Yes, shit happens and sometimes you end up in that situation, but it ISNT ideal...and where possible if avoidable, then it probably should be. I support a civilised society that looks after those in need....however I also think that Planned Parenthood and Early Intervention programmes that educate people and attempt to break the cycle of poverty by heightening self-esteem and skills should also be far more widespread. It should not be an outrageous assault on someones civil liberties to get them to think about how they could best plan their lives, and how they can develop skills to support themselves before they become parents.

Interesting, but how come it is possible to be scanned at the end of pg and dates to be declared a week out (on grounds of things like amount of liquor)?

I've never heard of that happening. I have only been a midwife for six years though. But I have never come across that happening or heard of it happening or been involved in a case where it happened in the two hospitals where I have worked. I think it would be negligent to do that, actually, and if it did ever happen to one of my clients (it wouldn't, because of our dating policies) then I would arguing about it with the consultant involved.

If you are planning on bottle feeding then I have a pack of 4 bottles never been used and a microwave steam steriliser.
You can have them for £10 + postage.
I can't help with clothes as my last 2 dc's are girls.
Inbox me if you are interested

Scruffyhound - the Health in Pregnancy grant is £190 and available to everyone. The Sure Start maternity grant is £500 and available if you are on certain benefits or low income.

Notyummy I think the main problem with Longwalk is that she came onto a thread where someone is obviously desperate for help and decent advice and contributed nothing except slating people in the OP's situation and trying to show how self righteous she is!

That is my personal opinion anyway.

I don't think she was wrong as such but it's where she posted that opinion, it is not relevant to this discussion and has quite possibly made the OP feel a hell of a lot worse.

OK - fair point Mamadiva.

I've read the whole thread and really feel for the OP. It's so sad she was scared off.

Just for information:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/10374475

"Health in pregnancy grant to be abolished from April 2011, the Sure Start maternity grant will be restricted to the first child."

OR look here for final confirmation:

www.direct.gov.uk/en/.../HealthinPregnancyGrant/index.htm

And you do have to have been 25wks or more by 1 January 2011.

As this is my second, although 13 years apart and I'm currently 24wks pg, I don't qualify for either grant.

Such is life I guess!

Whoops second link doesn't work that I posted above. Try this one instead:

www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/HealthinPregnancyGrant/DG_173502

Hi,

When abouts in April 2011 as the new rules don't kick in until the 11th April 2011?

It might be a long shot but just check out this information on direct gov as there may be a chance that you still qualify

www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018854

Good luck

Sorry for the OP that this thread got hijacked by various posters. I apologise for doing it again but couldn't let ExpatinScotlands incorrect information stand. OP feel free to ignore this post entirely.
Yes Expat I AM saying that breasted babies get ill less often. It's a fact I'm sorry if you find it upsetting. Numerous scientific studies prove it - looking at hundreds of babies not your anecdotal evidence of one family. Every time a child suckles any viruses or bacteria present in its mouth, from a wider infection in its body, get passed through the skin via the nipple into the mother's own body and she tailor-makes antibodies to fight them. Isn't that amazing!! Can you tell me which one of Aptimil or SMA does that? Neither, obviously. Why on earth do you think the NHS pushes bfing? Do you think they're a load of earth mother lentil weavers? Or could it be they'd like to save money, so encourage anything that reduces the need for acute and longterm medical care. Bfing also reduces the risk of allergies, asthma, obesity and tummy bugs as well as ear infections and other more mundane ailments. Breastmilk also contains anti cancer factors that reduce lifelong risk of the big c. No formula can replicate any of these properties.
I also think that suggesting bfing for a women trying to save money and deal with little support was a very valid point. Given she's not going to get any practical help with feeding from her partner what's the point in using bottles? She might as well feed her child in a way that lets her maximise sleep at night... and I don't think you can bottle feed while you sleep. The fewer illnesses her baby has the less stress she'll have and also the less cash she'll have to find for prescription charges when her little darlings' pass on their illnesses to her. And finally in her cash strapped state I think she should be keeping every penny she can for herself and her family - not handing it over to a corporate multinational like Nestle.
I'm truly sorry for the less than 1 per cent of women who can't produce milk for medical reasons. And I'm truly thankful that articial milks exist to keep their babies alive as well as those babies with allergies to milk proteins. We also live in a society that gives healthy women a 'lifestyle' choice whether they want to use their own milk or an articial replacement. That's their choice. But to say it's a neutral choice between equally good substances is just not true. You might wish it, truly and genuinely wish it, but it doesn't make it so.

Bf is all very well and good but if you are on your own and there is nobody to share the domestic load, it's a lot easier to have a bottle-based routine at the beginning than faff about with a toddler and the house at the same time as trying to sit down and feed. Which is why people do it. I speak as someone who has spent several years of her life bf four children, by the way. Luckily I had people around to do the running around while I put my feet up each time.

Really? I found it far, far easier to breastfeed than I would have done to bottle feed.
Just plonk them on in the night, no need to get up etc. Having to sterilise and wash bottles etc is a pain in the bum.
Each to their own though.

BoffinMum please do not take this the wrong way, I am not having a go I am seriously asking for an expansion on your post.

How is it better at the beginning to have a bottle based routine? When surely you still need to sit down and feed whether it's bottle or breast in the beginning?

I can see where you are coming from if you are talking about BFing a toddler but I don't understand about having a bottle based routine 'in the beginning' being better.

A new born babe (and for quite some time onward) cannot hold it's own bottle, you still have to sit down and feed.

I have four children and I have NEVER had anyone to do the faffing around. All EBF until over a year. We survived!

witter i have some boys/ unisex bits i can send them if you pm me your afress

'It's a fact I'm sorry if you find it upsetting.'

I don't find it upsetting. That's pretty fun that you think random strangers can be arsed to get upset by BS you post on the internet. Do you really think you have that much power over random people?

BF doesn't work for some people, others don't want to do it. So what? It's no one's business.

And no, I'm not incorrect, plenty of those who don't aren't any more ill than any other baby.

But go on ranting and making this thread about your personal agenda because if you've read this far you'll know the poor OP has already buggered off so you just look like even more of an arse ranting away on a thread that was about a poor woman who has nothing for her kid.

Oh, also, paragraphs are a good thing.

Try using them. I couldn't be arsed to read most of your post.

I came on here and posted something to Witter regarding benefits etc and now i'm in shock as to what i am reading!!! This poor girl is going to come back on here wanting some advise and find everyone else at each others throats! Not what a pregnant girl should be hearing at this stage in her pregnancy...i mean come on you lot put yourself in her shoes. I have a 4 year old and am currently 6 months pregnant with number 2 and i find that hard enough. God knows how i would be coping if i had her problems on top of her pregnancy. I find all the comments disgracful and feel you lot should too. I havent even seen a post from Witter since all of this started. This is suppose to be a webpage for mums that help each other, i know hormones are high at the minute but jesus!!!!

Serious, please stop this thread. I feel so sorry for this poor girl.

Happy to expand. My personal view is that all babies should be bf for at least the first year, in order to promote mother/child closeness and health outcomes. However in our society, breastfeeding can be a real problem for some people, especially if they have more than one child to care for, and no other adult around to look after them while they feed, particularly in the early months when everything is dripping and leaking and the like all the time. Rather than any mother feeling she has to do this for fear of wrecking her baby's health, with all the guilt associated with that, I think in some cases it might be better to ff as opposed to the mother overloading herself with even more stress and anxiety. At the end of the day, baby milks are a reasonably good alternative when prepared properly, and it may be that this is an appropriate solution to a complex social problem in some cases, until we sort society out.

AAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH

well, after reading thru these posts i'm not surprised the op hasn't returned i quite agree with Savannah.
i seem to have been lucky then to have had support from this website in the past and am quite saddened by the seemingly lack of support from some posters for the op

witter - my advice is that I would put a halt on your business for the short term. You will have 2 babies under 18 months and it's hard enough nevermind being on your own as well. You don't want to be worrying about a business with sleepless nights etc

I would claim Income Support and everything else you are entitled to just now. It's just short term and it's not your fault your partner has left you up the creek.

Give BFing a go, read up on it as much as you can but have bottles etc in case it doesn't work out.

Agree try car boot sales and ebay for bundles of clothes. Car boots are fab. Load of people are loking to offload nearly new baby bits. The cheapest cot I found new was £70 in Ikea but if you got a free one second hand a new mattress would be £30.

Double buggies - my experience is that people are always looking to offload them and as they are expensive to post you can get a bargain. I have seen good side by side twins for about £40-70.

Do you have many Mummy friends? The reason I am asking is that I have met many friends from toddler groups etc and we pass things around depending on who needs them. My DS is 6 months older than my friends and a year younger than another's so we get clothes and then we pass them on. Have also given a friend a car seat recently, a cot, a swing and a baby gym.

What about family? Surely if you were to explain the situation they could perhaps club together and get a big thing like a cot instead of individual presents.

Best of luck with your new baby.

I have used paragraphs dear, do you see what some of those gaps in the blocks of text are? Jolly good. You get them to break up long blocks of texts in books and things. Less so in things like Closer so you might be unfamiliar with them.
Oh and I'm not typing BS on an internet forum, that would be your contribution, you being unable to distinguish between 'ff infants are more likely to get ill' and 'every single ff infant that has ever lived and will ever live is sicker than every single bf infant' Can you see the difference there? Seriously, are you actually unable to differentiate between those two statements? I'm using long words again so I apologise if your attention span has wandered.
Oh and if two postings in a 10 page thread is me and my personal agenda (another big word, do try to keep up, and if you can read silently without moving your lips so much the better) then I can only apologise.