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MNHQ

Announcing ... Mumsnet’s inaugural Bumpfest

12 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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MNHQ

SarahMumsnet · 14/07/2014 10:13

Hey everyone - thanks loads for the response and suggestions - glad you think it's a good idea! Will come back with answers to the specific questions asap Smile

MNHQ

SarahMumsnet · 14/07/2014 13:18

Ok! have spoken to the Bumpfest authorities; back with answers Grin

@rootypig

That sounds brilliant.

But I hate the name. Sorry to be a grump. I hate the word bump and I hate the focus on one part of the woman's body as though the rest of is has disappeared and I hate the focus on the woman's body anyway because right from the off, the non pregnant parent is let off the hook excluded.

I also think that there should be a lower ticket price for single people attending and just double for the partners. Lone parents in pregnancy need this stuff the most - they shouldn't have to pay more.

See, told you I was a grump Grin

Hey rootypig - I think the name-ship has sailed, alas Wink Do take your point re societal obsession with bumps to the exclusion of all else - although if there's one time in a woman's life when a focus on the physical is merited, there's a case to be made for pregnancy being it (speaking as someone at the 20-week mark, I know I'M obsessed with my body Grin). Honestly, though, we picked the name because it's a convenient shorthand - sorry it rankles a bit.

Ticket-wise - apologies if it wasn't clear, but partners don't have to be co-parents. If you'd like to attend with your mother, sister, friend or whomever - anyone who's helping support you through pregnancy - that would be absolutely fine. We'll make sure that's clarified on the Bumpfest site - thanks for flagging Smile

MNHQ

SarahMumsnet · 14/07/2014 13:24

@MrsWombat

What sort of food and drink will be available at the venue, as it's not mentioned? Very important for pregnant mums! Some of us would be travelling far and won't want to bring a packed lunch.

Excellent question Grin We haven't finalised the menu details yet, but there'll be a hot lunch, and snacks in the morning and afternoon - we'll make sure you don't go hungry. And all food will, of course, be pregnancy-friendly: the original menu of sushi followed by rare steak and chocolate mousse with vodka chaser has been regretfully abandoned Grin.

MNHQ

SarahMumsnet · 14/07/2014 13:26

@Fram

Can't you get tiktok there too?

Thanks for the suggestion - we've mailed tiktok today. We're still signing up speakers, and will be adding them to the programme for the next few weeks.

MNHQ

SarahMumsnet · 14/07/2014 13:33

@TheFantasticFixit

Even though i'm a breastfeeder, PLEASE do something on formula feeding as well - ie. safe prep etc. there is no support out there for first time formula feeding parents that isn't in some way connected to the brands out there

Hey TheFantasticFixit - thanks for the comment. We have content on the site covering safety, switching from breast to bottle and dealing with any negative feelings you might experience around bottle-feeding if you'd planned to breastfeed, but we didn't think, looking at it, that there was enough to learn to sustain an entire workshop. Hope you can see where we're coming from.

MNHQ

SarahMumsnet · 14/07/2014 20:13

All included, MrsWombat. Tuck in! Grin

MNHQ

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?

MNHQ

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.

MNHQ

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.

MNHQ

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.

MNHQ

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.

MNHQ

PatrickMumsnet · 29/09/2014 14:18

Hi EsmeGreene, thanks very much for the message. We're really sorry you encountered problems at the event. We did ask everyone to let us know if there were particular dietary requirements in our pre-event emails and, of course, had we known on the day that you were struggling with the food we would have tried everything possible to rectify the situation.

As for the goody bag, we can only apologise! All the bags were supposed to contain the same goodies but with so many to pack, mistakes can happen. If you let us know exactly what you were missing, we'll do our best to send it on to you. We hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well.

Best wishes, The Bumpfest Team

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