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Announcing ... Mumsnet’s inaugural Bumpfest

51 replies

SarahMumsnet · 11/07/2014 13:22

Without wanting to blow our - ok, your - trumpet, it's a fact that Mumsnet is a repository of wisdom on the subject of babies: how to produce them, how to look after them when they arrive and, crucially, how to remain sane during the process. Any time of the day (or night), you can come on and ask for help with any and all of the problems you encounter when suddenly in charge of a small, screaming human. It occurred to us that it'd be a neat idea to idea to turn the virtual support group into a real-world one - which is why, on Saturday September 27th, we're hosting our very first Bumpfest.

The day is designed to be a one-stop shop for parents-to-be, covering everything from birth (the myths vs the reality) to bonding, and all points in between. Unlike other antenatal courses, the aim of Bumpfest is to make sure you're armed with information on how to cope after the birth, as well as during: there'll be dedicated, practical workshops on routines, development, baby-led weaning and - of course! - sleep; take a look at the full programme here. As well as providing first-time parents (partners are very welcome, too) with unsugarcoated advice from those who've been through it before and survived to tell the tale, attendees will get to meet others in the same boat. And you'll leave the day with a marvellous goody bag, filled with baby-related loot.

Tickets go on sale today, priced £65 for early birds, and with a special discount for partners - two tickets for £95. So if you're about to be plunged into parenthood, and feel the need for a rundown of what's really in store - book now. We'll see you there (with hot water and towels at the ready, just in case).

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ViviPru · 15/07/2014 11:21

I really enjoyed Blogfest and would consider attending this too, but having looked at the programme, one of the things that I found infinitely frustrating about Blogfest appears to be an issue here too.

That problem being the clash of sessions. I found myself spending half of blogfest trying to choose which would be the most beneficial session to attend, then spent half of each of my chosen session fretting that I might have made the wrong choice and wondering what was going on in the concurrent talk next door. throw in the workshops and one-to-ones to the schedule and I found I spent half my time running around the venue trying to take everything in.

Looking at the programme for bumpfest, I can see that it will be a similar situation here, if not worse. HOW does one even begin to choose between these breakout sessions? It almost seems harder to choose between these sessions (which all sound interesting and relevant) than blogfest inasmuch as there seemed to be bigger differences between the thrust of the sessions programmed concurrently at Blogfest.

I understand that you are keen to include as many speakers/topics as possible in a limited time, but surely there must be a way of offering a broad programme without forcing delegates to make difficult choices like this? I'm getting stressed out just thinking about it!!!

ViviPru · 15/07/2014 11:22

(I said "half" a bit too much in that post. Should really have attended the creative writing session at Blogfest. SEE?! )

GetKnitted · 15/07/2014 11:38

coppertop no not the onlye one.... thought it had something to do with friday night

ThisBitchIsResting · 15/07/2014 11:46

Glad to see you're getting tiktok in board.

Tiktok if you're reading this, please can you try to squeeze in a talk on how to safely prepare formula, and how HCPs so often get it so very wrong when advising new parents how to do so? It's a real bugbear of mine (and quite a few other MNers) every week there are posts by new mums on here who have been given wrong information, or have been told by friends and family to do it wrongly and unsafely. I disagree with HQ that it's not worthwhile providing info on this at the Bumpfest, and it would really be a breath of fresh air to have it out in the open, rather than the dirty secret we have to work out ourselves if we fail at the thing we're told is the pinnacle of motherhood. /rant

DownstairsMixUp · 15/07/2014 20:53

It sounds good. Sadly I'll be out of action by then, c section is on 29th of august so I doubt I'll be doing an awful lot!

tiktok · 16/07/2014 15:48

ThisBitch, someone has directed me to this thread.....there is tons of stuff out there (and on here) about preparing formula safely.

It is on the packet of every formula powder you buy.

The NHS has tons of info on it www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/bottle-feeding-advice.aspx and leaflets www.nhs.uk/start4life/documents/pdfs/start4life_guide_to_bottle_feeding.pdf.

NCT has pages on it www.nct.org.uk/parenting/introducing-formula-milk....and so on and on.

I don't think the issue is that formula feeding parents don't how to find out how make up a bottle of powder safely - there may be conflicts between what they hear in the world and what they see other people doing, and the information they can read, but that's a different issue.

I think you are expressing feelings of being excluded and marginalised and if you wanted to breastfeed, feeling sad and confused that it hasn't worked out for you. That's why you refer to something - how to make up formula - emblazoned on every formula packet, and in millions of leaflets, and in a zillion trusted places on the internet as a 'dirty secret'. How can it be a secret? You are describing what it feels like :)

This isn't the thread to expound on this at length but start a thread elsewhere and I'll contribute :)

MrsLeHat · 19/07/2014 19:40

This sounds great but I can't make that date :( any plans for additional dates?

cookielove · 24/07/2014 07:13

I would have loved to go, it really caught my eye when reading the emails, but i am due on the 23rd, so can't see it happening!

RowanMumsnet · 30/07/2014 09:21

Really sorry we've stressed you out ViviPru!

We try to arrange as broad a range of content as possible to ensure that it's relevant to a wide audience and it gives value for money. The aim is to enable people to pick and choose the programme to find the right content for the day to best suit their needs and interests (although we appreciate you're saying that you think there's a bit too much choice here.)

At Bumpfest, some sessions - such as the breastfeeding session - will be repeated throughout the day so that all delegates have a chance to attend at some point. We're doing it this way as some topics work better in smaller informal workshops rather than one big lecture that everyone attends in one go.

We haven't allocated the groupings for breakout sessions just yet (as we're still signing up speakers and sessions and working out timings) but the format of the day will allow for 3 sets of breakout sessions, with 3 choices in each group (of which will be breastfeeding), which we hope will allow people to pick and choose what they want to find out about.

Hopefully it's mostly a nice position to be in (a bit like Glastonbury where it's impossible to choose which band to see...) - better than not really fancying any of the sessions?

ViviPru · 30/07/2014 11:12

S'pose so.

I'm going now anyway so I shall keep an open mind and let you know!

Justgotosleepnow · 31/07/2014 12:01

I totally agree with tiktok. The instructions for formula are on every single packet. Read them. Not your responsibility for what everyone else does.

Breastfeeding however is totally unsupported and marginalised in our society. With tons of misinformation from supposed experts with zero bf qualifications.

Tik tok on the other hand is fully qualified and will be there- terrific!
Need to get you at the Baby Show too tik tokWink

bronya · 02/08/2014 21:11

I feel someone should comment on the price - I'm sure the powers that be see it as good value, with free food (not much use if you have allergies though), goody bag etc. The problem is that it's a lot of money for the majority of the population. You can buy a buggy for less, or a week's food shopping for two adults and a toddler.... I'm sure it's a great price for London, and for the many people who spend several hundred pounds on each piece of baby equipment, but it does exclude an awful lot of people, who could probably really do with something like that. Just a thought.

Camsie30 · 05/08/2014 07:01

SarahMumsNet I have pm'd you. Could you advise re food in the day please and what will be available, I am gluten intolerant and need to know whether I'm best to bring my own food or if that might be catered for in a small way
Thanks

tinycassie · 07/08/2014 18:23

Id would love to offer to do an hypnobirthing session for you and perhaps other childbirth and parentcarft topics? I have emailed in but have to yet recieve a reply.

My company offer our services FOC in / around the midlands area, but we would be happy to pop down and help out. Always looking for ways to give women confidence and choice!

Ps our last lady to hypnobirth with us just had an amazing 3 hr labour/birth with baby born in his sac. No requirement for pain relife - Birth story on our website shortly. (Oh and yes she was "high risk")
www.partnersinpregnancy.co.uk

plinkyplonks · 26/08/2014 13:05

When is the last date we can book tickets? I've only just found out I'm pregnant but nervous about booking it just in case I miscarry :/

RebeccaWMumsnet · 08/09/2014 14:21

@plinkyplonks

When is the last date we can book tickets? I've only just found out I'm pregnant but nervous about booking it just in case I miscarry :/

Congratulations on your news. Best to book now to guarantee a place - but we are offering refunds up to 24 hours before because of the many reasons why pregnant women might not be able to attend the event. Here's some more info on our FAQs page.

healthymama5 · 09/09/2014 17:23

blaaaaaaaaaah! sounds so fantabuuuuulous, but i am nowhere even remotely close to this venue.... in fact i am more like alien miles away. i live in gaborone, botswana. wish we had functions like these, but in my home country south africa we do have plenty and its a mere 3 hours drive across the border to enter johannesburg. ;)

Amateurjuggler · 15/09/2014 13:56

This looks like a great event - I'm pregnant with number two but we've had a bit of a break (5 years) and muddled through a bit first time round so some expert guidance definitely sounds good. One question though, can we bring our 5 year old daughter with us and do we need a separate (full price) ticket for her?

Obviously we will keep her with us and my husband will be on child entertainment duty but we're struggling to find childcare plus quite like the idea to keep her involved in the pregnancy.

I couldn't tell from the Bumpfest information whether children were permitted so would be helpful to receive some guidance on this.

Thanks!

RebeccaWMumsnet · 15/09/2014 17:31

@Amateurjuggler

This looks like a great event - I'm pregnant with number two but we've had a bit of a break (5 years) and muddled through a bit first time round so some expert guidance definitely sounds good. One question though, can we bring our 5 year old daughter with us and do we need a separate (full price) ticket for her?

Obviously we will keep her with us and my husband will be on child entertainment duty but we're struggling to find childcare plus quite like the idea to keep her involved in the pregnancy.

I couldn't tell from the Bumpfest information whether children were permitted so would be helpful to receive some guidance on this.

Thanks!

Hello,

It's absolutely not a problem at all to bring your 5 year old daughter along. You don't need to buy another ticket for her either.

Amateurjuggler · 16/09/2014 08:35

Thanks Rebecca, I'm going to book up for me and my husband right now then!

Looking forward to the event.

jewels3000 · 22/09/2014 15:16

Is the 'New dads: A survival guide' breakout session for men only or can i go along with my husband?
Thanks Smile

jewels3000 · 23/09/2014 09:09

How many people roughly will be in the breakout session groups?

RebeccaWMumsnet · 25/09/2014 13:55

@jewels3000

Is the 'New dads: A survival guide' breakout session for men only or can i go along with my husband? Thanks Smile

Hello! This session is open to everyone, you are more than welcome to attend.

RebeccaWMumsnet · 25/09/2014 13:57

@jewels3000

How many people roughly will be in the breakout session groups?

The breakout sessions will range from 20 people up to 50, depending on which session it is.

EsmeGreene · 29/09/2014 10:00

Hi, I went and it was great, but...

  • I am lactose intolerant, I didn't see any options when booking regarding food preferences, but assumed that as it was held at a London conference centre (who should be used to dealing with all manner of clientele) I'd be ok, I normally pick the vegan option so I'm fine, so I was very disappointed that the only hot food I could have was the roast vegetables. When I queried the options with the man serving, his English wasn't good enough to understand me. I can't be the only one who was stuck like this. Pregnant and hungry makes me grumpy!
  • and my friend had things (potions and creams) in her goody bag that I didn't get in mine. Now I don't wish to sound too difficult but the whole day (including travel and the extra food I had to buy) cost me about £150, so the little things matter. Things to consider Mumsnet for your next event.
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