Grants for expectant mothers!!

9 Sep 2007

I've just been watching the news and seen that the government have decided they are going to give £200 to each expectant mother when they get to the 7th month of there pregnancy to buy food for a healthier baby...
I personally do not agree with this.. I feel that the unborn children will not benefit from this but the parents weekly cigarette and alcohol habits will.
What are your thought on this???

9 Sep 2007

Yep I agree Lilmiss - and I remember from my A level biology days that the fetus actually does all it's growing and developing in the first three months so eating better food after month seven is actually pointless. Any deficencies will have already had their affect on the growing baby. Months seven to nine is simply fat depositing time...
Another ill-thought through idea me thinks! rolleyes

9 Sep 2007

Just seems like encouragement for young girls to have a reason to get pregnant if you ask me dunno

10 Sep 2007

I heard this also and couldn't help but smile ironically rolleyes

. A hand out at 7 months pregnant to encourage the mother to be to buy some healthy food is 7 months too late. A cash hand out of any amount to 'some' mothers will not go on healthy food.
The governments idea maybe a thoughtful one but come on where's your brains lads? Vouchers at monthly intervals from day one of pregnancy for shopping would be far more useful than cash at 7 months!
And in any event, even if the money helps the mother to be healthy in pregnancy, when the money stops at birth who will help the mother and baby thereafter??
And where will this extra funding come from??

10 Sep 2007

And in any event, even if the money helps the mother to be healthy in pregnancy, when the money stops at birth who will help the mother and baby thereafter??
For low income mothers a voucher scheme called Healthy start is in place,it provides 1 voucher a week in pregnancy and 2 vouchers a week after birth at each voucher. The vouchers can be used for cow's milk,fruit,veg or baby milk. Its the modern version of the old milk token. The new healthy start vouchers are hoped to be less open to abuse as milk token's were very easy to abuse with supermarkets,milkman ect all accepting them for sales other than for milk. Under the new scheme anyone accepting a healthy start voucher for payment which breaks the rules can be fined.
I agree that a £200 payout at 7 mths for healthy food is a silly idea imo,it will be open to abuse and will not be of any great benefit to the unborn baby at that stage in its development.
The mothers that would abuse the scheme would abuse any scheme, i have seen mothers trying to sell their healthy start vouchers for each to use the money for other less than healthy items.
Sometimes i do wonder where goverment get there idea's from and this one is definatly not one of their best.
Nicky
xxxxx

10 Sep 2007

Quote by bunnyk
Yep I agree Lilmiss - and I remember from my A level biology days that the fetus actually does all it's growing and developing in the first three months so eating better food after month seven is actually pointless. Any deficencies will have already had their affect on the growing baby. Months seven to nine is simply fat depositing time...
Another ill-thought through idea me thinks!

:thumbup: my thoughts excatly.

10 Sep 2007

Quote by Lilmiss
I've just been watching the news and seen that the government have decided they are going to give £200 to each expectant mother when they get to the 7th month of there pregnancy to buy food for a healthier baby...
I personally do not agree with this.. I feel that the unborn children will not benefit from this but the parents weekly cigarette and alcohol habits will.
What are your thought on this???

I must say that this statement is very offending. Generalising in ths way is just wrong.
Ok, so some, maybe alot of people on benefits do smoke and drink but then there are alot that dont. People that are on benefits are not always on them just for an easy life confused

Maybe they are on them due to illness, relationship breakups, lack of work experience, lack of qualifications, lack of confidence.
What will be next, stop the pensioners winter fuel payment because they too may spend it on smoking and bingo dunno

I think expectant mothers should get all the help that they can, whether they work or not.
If not giving them the cash, them give them some sort of voucher to use for fruit and vegetable produce etc.
Of course this scheme is open to abuse from some, but not all.
Louise

10 Sep 2007

Soup kitchens? sad

10 Sep 2007

I'm with u lilmiss, what a total waste of tax payers money why not go in to the local schools and tell all the young girls if they get pregnant for every baby you carry passed 7 months we will give you £200 it just gives more people reason not to get a job bad enough that they get more money for not working then they do for working. I remember watching a program on TV about a mother with 13 kids and the presenter even said she was a sponger cause she had no eduction was pregnant in school and if it wasn't for the tax payer she would never afford 13 kids this sort of think does piss me off and the government works more for the bums then the working ffs mad

10 Sep 2007

Quote by louise_and_joe
I think expectant mothers should get all the help that they can, whether they work or not.
If not giving them the cash, them give them some sort of voucher to use for fruit and vegetable produce etc.
Louise

But why Louise? Can common sense not prevail? I agree some expectant parents may need advice and I 100% back that but you cannot pay someone to be healthy and you can certainly not pay them and even if they were given financial help for the pregnancy they cannot expect that for the rest of their lives.
When I had my daughter 16 years ago, there was nothing, no FIZZ (as it was called then), no WTC, FTC, no back to work schemes, no lump sum when the child was born, no nutritional advice, no tokens for me, nothing because I was penalised for working full time and received a salary.
I did however receive a 'bounty pack' consisting of free samples of baby food and money off coupons.
No on this occasion I disagree with you Louise, people need to be educated on healthy eating and they should want to do it not paid to do it and I'm sorry I don't buy this "being healthy is too expensive" because eating fruit and veg is by far cheaper than most convenience foods! smile

10 Sep 2007

Quote by louise_and_joe
I've just been watching the news and seen that the government have decided they are going to give £200 to each expectant mother when they get to the 7th month of there pregnancy to buy food for a healthier baby...
I personally do not agree with this.. I feel that the unborn children will not benefit from this but the parents weekly cigarette and alcohol habits will.
What are your thought on this???

I must say that this statement is very offending. Generalising in ths way is just wrong.
Ok, so some, maybe alot of people on benefits do smoke and drink but then there are alot that dont. People that are on benefits are not always on them just for an easy life confused

Maybe they are on them due to illness, relationship breakups, lack of work experience, lack of qualifications, lack of confidence.
What will be next, stop the pensioners winter fuel payment because they too may spend it on smoking and bingo dunno

I think expectant mothers should get all the help that they can, whether they work or not.
If not giving them the cash, them give them some sort of voucher to use for fruit and vegetable produce etc.
Of course this scheme is open to abuse from some, but not all.
Louise
well said,,,,, I got pregnant at an early age and I was talked about, things like " oh she's done it to trap him" and "she's only done it so she can get a house"
you can still see the look on peoples faces when they know how old I am and then find out how old my son is, you can see them doing the mental maths and then the :shock: look when the figure it out lol

Well we are still together,got married,bought a house and I have worked since he went to nursery so it goes to show that not all young mothers are destined for the same future
xx

10 Sep 2007

Quote by Lilmiss
I've just been watching the news and seen that the government have decided they are going to give £200 to each expectant mother when they get to the 7th month of there pregnancy to buy food for a healthier baby...
I personally do not agree with this.. I feel that the unborn children will not benefit from this but the parents weekly cigarette and alcohol habits will.
What are your thought on this???

I have just re read the first post and I'm curious, is the grant only going to be available to those on benefits or to all pregnant women?.
I`ve just found an article about this on the bbc website
After reading it I feel that if the gov are determined to pay it then it needs to be paid earlier on in the pregnancy and it needs to be paid in vouchers or something similar as it will be open to abuse if it isn`t.

10 Sep 2007

Why not give financial incentive to all kids leaving school and getting thier first jobs or subsidised car lessons or help paying for holidays assisted accomodation schemes for continual working. Stuff like this maybe. Lets not talk incentive or disincentive for pregnancy lets talk about a work ethic and ethos?

10 Sep 2007

Quote by jaymar

I think expectant mothers should get all the help that they can, whether they work or not.
If not giving them the cash, them give them some sort of voucher to use for fruit and vegetable produce etc.
Louise

But why Louise? Can common sense not prevail? I agree some expectant parents may need advice and I 100% back that but you cannot pay someone to be healthy and you can certainly not pay them and even if they were given financial help for the pregnancy they cannot expect that for the rest of their lives.
When I had my daughter 16 years ago, there was nothing, no FIZZ (as it was called then), no WTC, FTC, no back to work schemes, no lump sum when the child was born, no nutritional advice, no tokens for me, nothing because I was penalised for working full time and received a salary.
I did however receive a 'bounty pack' consisting of free samples of baby food and money off coupons.
No on this occasion I disagree with you Louise, people need to be educated on healthy eating and they should want to do it not paid to do it and I'm sorry I don't buy this "being healthy is too expensive" because eating fruit and veg is by far cheaper than most convenience foods! smile

I suppose what I was trying to say is that if mothers on benefit receive this payment then working mothers should get it to.
I totally agree that many young girls are using the system to their full advantage. I also agree that not enough is being done to educate about healthy eating. Although that aspect of things I believe that the parents of these young people should have been educating them already.
I do also believe that not enough is being done to get young mothers back to work after having children.
Then again I believe that not enough is being done to help these young people to get into work after they leave school or college.
Personally I think that if you are able (not unwell)to work and are on benefits then you ahould be made to do so, to collect your benefit. Which could be working in the voluntary sector, cleaning the streets, work experience of any sort. Anthing that would make you want to work for a decent wage instead of working for benefits.
The thing I did disagree with is the generalisation that any extra money given to expectant mothers would be spent on cigarettes and booze.
Louise xx

10 Sep 2007

Why should they get help my mother didn't get any I'm with lost give the money to kids who wish to go on to work after school so many kids don't want to work cause they get more to be on the doll i started work right from school i was doing collage and a job i had to get my own help. Pregnant woman use to work why cant they still work or is it now a illness to be pregnant :!: :!: :!: confused

: :?:

10 Sep 2007

Quote by louise_and_joe

I think expectant mothers should get all the help that they can, whether they work or not.
If not giving them the cash, them give them some sort of voucher to use for fruit and vegetable produce etc.
Louise

But why Louise? Can common sense not prevail? I agree some expectant parents may need advice and I 100% back that but you cannot pay someone to be healthy and you can certainly not pay them and even if they were given financial help for the pregnancy they cannot expect that for the rest of their lives.
When I had my daughter 16 years ago, there was nothing, no FIZZ (as it was called then), no WTC, FTC, no back to work schemes, no lump sum when the child was born, no nutritional advice, no tokens for me, nothing because I was penalised for working full time and received a salary.
I did however receive a 'bounty pack' consisting of free samples of baby food and money off coupons.
No on this occasion I disagree with you Louise, people need to be educated on healthy eating and they should want to do it not paid to do it and I'm sorry I don't buy this "being healthy is too expensive" because eating fruit and veg is by far cheaper than most convenience foods! smile

I suppose what I was trying to say is that if mothers on benefit receive this payment then working mothers should get it to.
I totally agree that many young girls are using the system to their full advantage. I also agree that not enough is being done to educate about healthy eating. Although that aspect of things I believe that the parents of these young people should have been educating them already.
I do also believe that not enough is being done to get young mothers back to work after having children.
Then again I believe that not enough is being done to help these young people to get into work after they leave school or college.
Personally I think that if you are able (not unwell)to work and are on benefits then you ahould be made to do so, to collect your benefit. Which could be working in the voluntary sector, cleaning the streets, work experience of any sort. Anthing that would make you want to work for a decent wage instead of working for benefits.
The thing I did disagree with is the generalisation that any extra money given to expectant mothers would be spent on cigarettes and booze.
Louise xx
It looks like all expectant mothers are going to recieve it.

10 Sep 2007

Oh ffs whats the matter with our government they don't have a fecking clue mad

:x :evil: :x :evil:

10 Sep 2007

Quote by louise_and_joe

I think expectant mothers should get all the help that they can, whether they work or not.
If not giving them the cash, them give them some sort of voucher to use for fruit and vegetable produce etc.
Louise

But why Louise? Can common sense not prevail? I agree some expectant parents may need advice and I 100% back that but you cannot pay someone to be healthy and you can certainly not pay them and even if they were given financial help for the pregnancy they cannot expect that for the rest of their lives.
When I had my daughter 16 years ago, there was nothing, no FIZZ (as it was called then), no WTC, FTC, no back to work schemes, no lump sum when the child was born, no nutritional advice, no tokens for me, nothing because I was penalised for working full time and received a salary.
I did however receive a 'bounty pack' consisting of free samples of baby food and money off coupons.
No on this occasion I disagree with you Louise, people need to be educated on healthy eating and they should want to do it not paid to do it and I'm sorry I don't buy this "being healthy is too expensive" because eating fruit and veg is by far cheaper than most convenience foods! smile

I suppose what I was trying to say is that if mothers on benefit receive this payment then working mothers should get it to.
I totally agree that many young girls are using the system to their full advantage. I also agree that not enough is being done to educate about healthy eating. Although that aspect of things I believe that the parents of these young people should have been educating them already.
I do also believe that not enough is being done to get young mothers back to work after having children.
Then again I believe that not enough is being done to help these young people to get into work after they leave school or college.
Personally I think that if you are able (not unwell)to work and are on benefits then you ahould be made to do so, to collect your benefit. Which could be working in the voluntary sector, cleaning the streets, work experience of any sort. Anthing that would make you want to work for a decent wage instead of working for benefits.
The thing I did disagree with is the generalisation that any extra money given to expectant mothers would be spent on cigarettes and booze.
Louise xx
Agree with most of your points made other than the working for voluntary sector or work experience cleaning streets bit for benefit. This surely would just put another, effectively even lower payed working class in to place?

10 Sep 2007

Quote by Lost
Agree with most of your points made other than the working for voluntary sector or work experience cleaning streets bit for benefit. This surely would just put another, effectively even lower payed working class in to place?

I understand your point but could it maybe be better than having a xxxxmillion amount of people out of work.
People could gain work experience, confidence and would maybe get sick of working for such a low wage and try to find decent paid employment.
Louise xx

10 Sep 2007

Quote by Lost
Why not give financial incentive to all kids leaving school and getting thier first jobs or subsidised car lessons or help paying for holidays assisted accomodation schemes for continual working. Stuff like this maybe. Lets not talk incentive or disincentive for pregnancy lets talk about a work ethic and ethos?

I agree.
I also think the government should look at other countries and their systems.
Take for example Italy, they do not subsidise lone parenting, therefore there are very few single parents. Family allowance there is means tested. I'm not saying this it is right to discriminate against families by means testing them all for financial help, it should be across the board.
What I am saying is that there has to come a day when enough is enough and people should start and think for themselves and wanting to look after their children financially and nutritionally should come from within.

10 Sep 2007

Instead of dishing out money for getting up the duff why dont they invest in finding affordable childcare so parents can get back to work more quickly..

10 Sep 2007

Quote by Dizzy_DonnaCouple
Why should they get help my mother didn't get any I'm with lost give the money to kids who wish to go on to work after school so many kids don't want to work cause they get more to be on the doll i started work right from school i was doing collage and a job i had to get my own help. Pregnant woman use to work why cant they still work or is it now a illness to be pregnant :!: :!: :!: : :?:

I agree with this in some cases, but surely it depends on the job they are doing before the pregnancy. You can still in this day and age believe it or not be laid off for being pregnant. Also there are many jobs that don't lend themselves very well to pregnant women. Also 1 last thing, for some women who's bodies don't "do" pregnancy very well it feels very much like an illness both mentally and physically.
If the government are giving the £200 to every pregnant woman then it should be strictly in voucher form and only redeemable in food shops if it is for healthy eating purposes.
Fire xx

10 Sep 2007

Quote by tina1
I've just been watching the news and seen that the government have decided they are going to give £200 to each expectant mother when they get to the 7th month of there pregnancy to buy food for a healthier baby...
I personally do not agree with this.. I feel that the unborn children will not benefit from this but the parents weekly cigarette and alcohol habits will.
What are your thought on this???

I must say that this statement is very offending. Generalising in ths way is just wrong.
Ok, so some, maybe alot of people on benefits do smoke and drink but then there are alot that dont. People that are on benefits are not always on them just for an easy life confused

Maybe they are on them due to illness, relationship breakups, lack of work experience, lack of qualifications, lack of confidence.
What will be next, stop the pensioners winter fuel payment because they too may spend it on smoking and bingo dunno

I think expectant mothers should get all the help that they can, whether they work or not.
If not giving them the cash, them give them some sort of voucher to use for fruit and vegetable produce etc.
Of course this scheme is open to abuse from some, but not all.
Louise
well said,,,,, I got pregnant at an early age and I was talked about, things like " oh she's done it to trap him" and "she's only done it so she can get a house"
you can still see the look on peoples faces when they know how old I am and then find out how old my son is, you can see them doing the mental maths and then the :shock: look when the figure it out lol

Well we are still together,got married,bought a house and I have worked since he went to nursery so it goes to show that not all young mothers are destined for the same future
xx
i have to agree with the 2 above posts i to was a young mother and it never entered my head to fall pregnant to get a house or for the money im now 24 and my son is 8 (i was 15) after i had the baby i still did my exams came out with pretty good scores 5 at c grade 3 at d grade and 1 fail :shock: (i had to leave halway through exam as my son got rushed into hospital) i then went on to college where i stayed for over 4 years getting as many acheivments under my belt as i could while my son stayed in the creche and had my own flat then house i dont work right now i did when i left college and plan to go back to work not all young mothers are there to scam the system although i do agre that giving this out at the 7months stage is silly and pretty useless

10 Sep 2007

don't get me started...what a fucking waste of tax payers money...giving x amount to expectant mothers so they can eat healthy...educate them on healthy foods yes...but why the extra money...what so they can shop at Marks and Spencers rather then Tesco's for a couple of weeks!

10 Sep 2007

Quote by firelizard
If the government are giving the £200 to every pregnant woman then it should be strictly in voucher form and only redeemable in food shops if it is for healthy eating purposes.
Fire xx

As has happened many times before with "voucher" systems, many will sell them at a knockdown price to fuel their alcohol/drug habits.
We have here yet another example of how our crappy government steals money from those who earn it and deserve it, and gives it to those who don't earn it and don't deserve it.

10 Sep 2007

WoW this thread is truely amazing.
Perhaps the government should just use the £200 grants to sterilise all females at the age of 12.
After all, ALL expectant mothers get pregnant so they can have benefits, when they do get pregnant they then become drug addicts and start smoking, even worse every spare penny they have gets spent on the stuff.
Are any of you parents? is this what you did when pregnant? is it through your own experience you come to these conclusions, or is it just another excuse to moan about something pro-active while still paying £80 a month to have your dustbins emptied.
This forum should be changed from the "Cafe" to "Judge & Jury"

10 Sep 2007

Quote by solofun
WoW this thread is truely amazing.
Perhaps the government should just use the £200 grants to sterilise all females at the age of 12.
After all, ALL expectant mothers get pregnant so they can have benefits, when they do get pregnant they then become drug addicts and start smoking, even worse every spare penny they have gets spent on the stuff.
Are any of you parents? is this what you did when pregnant? is it through your own experience you come to these conclusions, or is it just another excuse to moan about something pro-active while still paying £80 a month to have your dustbins emptied.
This forum should be changed from the "Cafe" to "Judge & Jury"

giving £200 pounds to expectant mothers won't make a blind bit of difference what they eat...common sense should do that anyway...it clearly is just a waste of money!

10 Sep 2007

Maybe so Mr-Powers but making all expectant mothers out to be benefit scroungers, chain smokers and drug addicts isn't the way to put it accross which im sure you'll agree.

10 Sep 2007

Quote by solofun
Perhaps the government should just use the £200 grants to sterilise all females at the age of 12.

This is an excellent idea - well done for being brave enough to suggest it. I do think, however, that having a child is a priveledge not a right. Far too long have decent, hard-working people paid out for "baby-breeders" who take everything and give back nothing.

10 Sep 2007

Quote by solofun
WoW this thread is truely amazing.
Perhaps the government should just use the £200 grants to sterilise all females at the age of 12.
After all, ALL expectant mothers get pregnant so they can have benefits, when they do get pregnant they then become drug addicts and start smoking, even worse every spare penny they have gets spent on the stuff.
Are any of you parents? is this what you did when pregnant? is it through your own experience you come to these conclusions, or is it just another excuse to moan about something pro-active while still paying £80 a month to have your dustbins emptied.
This forum should be changed from the "Cafe" to "Judge & Jury"

:thumbup: