Forum Topic

Healthy eating in pregnancy

Another hair brained initiative from this government. While I agree that women should get the very best treatment available during and after pregnancy, who I wonder thought up this latest offering which i cannot get my head around.It is proposed to give a grant of £120 to encourage "Healthy Eating" during pregnancy! Has anyone any idea how this will work, won't some of it be spent on cigarettes, Big Macs,Coke,Alcohol etc. I believe that this money would be better spent, on ensuring that a midwife, and just as important, a place in a maternity unit is available to them all, when the time arrives. How often do we hear of mothers being left to get on with it themselves, and thus putting themselves at risk! I wonder what Ann Keen thinks about this idea........Good?

Andrew Michael John Atkinson ● 6472d4 Comments

I agree wholeheartedly - I too grew up in the 50s and well remember the cod liver oil and orange juice that you used to get from the local clinic. Strange to think now when all the 'experts' are banging on about Omega 3 we were being dosed with it all those years ago! But of course right at the end of rationing and just after sweet things were still in short supply, I've always put my still good teeth down to that. I think half these Government wheezes are thought up by some public school educated senior civil servant who hasn't a clue - even in this day and age - how the other half lives, also half of our politicians have never had to earn a living outside the rarified atmosphere of politics. I find this sort of thing patronising as if they are distributing largesse to the masses, and anyone who lives in the real world is incapable of thinking for themselves. It won't win votes beacuse you and I and everyone else knows that £120 is a piddling little amount for an individual in this day and age and could if someone saw sense be better spent on midwifery training and health visitors.

Vanessa Smith ● 6471d

Duncan"If you think behind why the government should propose such a stupid thing, what do you think they are trying to achieve?"I think that they may well be thinking of a snap election, and that is IMO the possible reason. I also well remember the cod liver oil & malt, (just like toffee) and orange juice,issued from the clinic.....not for me though, but my baby sister, who wouldn't take it, so we had it instead.

Account suspended ● 6471d

Good point Andrew, if there is money available, then spend it on midwives. In the 1950s we got free orange juice, I think at the maternity clinics and free milk at school and maybe we also got vitamins and cod liver oil and malt as well, but it was not a money hand out.If you think behind why the government should propose such a stupid thing, what do you think they are trying to achieve?Would this buy any votes?Would this massage their image?Could it be some wrecking tactic for the other parties?I am at a loss to decipher the motive on this one.

Duncan Walker ● 6472d

I do feel very sorry for anyone having a baby these days - with every 'expert' banging away on some pet theory or other. Don't do this, don't eat that, do take this, I often wonder how the human race has survived over millions of years. It all only serves to worry and bully expectant Mums, surely all things in moderation should be the dictum?

Vanessa Smith ● 6472d