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| Eat well cash for mothers-to-be | Eat well cash for mothers-to-be |
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| Pregnant women will get about £200 paid into their bank account to spend on healthy food under a government initiative, the BBC has learned. | Pregnant women will get about £200 paid into their bank account to spend on healthy food under a government initiative, the BBC has learned. |
| From April 2009, expectant mothers in England would receive a one-off payment from their 29th week of pregnancy to encourage them to eat well. | From April 2009, expectant mothers in England would receive a one-off payment from their 29th week of pregnancy to encourage them to eat well. |
| Health secretary Alan Johnson will announce the "Health in Pregnancy Grant" on Wednesday. | Health secretary Alan Johnson will announce the "Health in Pregnancy Grant" on Wednesday. |
| Charities welcomed the idea but warned it may not be effective. | Charities welcomed the idea but warned it may not be effective. |
| Babies most in need of support are those born before 29 weeks' gestation Amy Edmunds, spokeswoman for the premature baby charity BLISS | Babies most in need of support are those born before 29 weeks' gestation Amy Edmunds, spokeswoman for the premature baby charity BLISS |
| For example, there is no measure to ensure the cash is spent on healthy food and babies also need good nutrition before 29 weeks. | For example, there is no measure to ensure the cash is spent on healthy food and babies also need good nutrition before 29 weeks. |
| The grant's aim is to cut infant mortality and close the health inequality gap. | The grant's aim is to cut infant mortality and close the health inequality gap. |
| Infant mortality rates have done down, but more so among affluent sectors of society than poorer socioeconomic groups, which is widening the health gap. | Infant mortality rates have done down, but more so among affluent sectors of society than poorer socioeconomic groups, which is widening the health gap. |
| By 2010, the government wants to see a 10% reduction in this gap from the baseline year of 1998. | By 2010, the government wants to see a 10% reduction in this gap from the baseline year of 1998. |
| Poor nutrition | Poor nutrition |
| Experts know that poverty and nutrition play a role in pregnancy health, and it can be difficult to eat healthily when on the breadline. HAVE YOUR SAY More cigarettes and booze! Hooray! Anonymous, Chester class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=7261&edition=1">Send us your comments | |
| Women on a poor diet during pregnancy are more likely to have low birthweight babies. | Women on a poor diet during pregnancy are more likely to have low birthweight babies. |
| That increases their baby's risk of poor health during childhood and during their adult life. | That increases their baby's risk of poor health during childhood and during their adult life. |
| A government spokeswoman said cash was a "key determinant" when it comes to good health and healthy eating in expectant mothers. | A government spokeswoman said cash was a "key determinant" when it comes to good health and healthy eating in expectant mothers. |
| Mothers-to-be on low incomes can already apply for a £500 grant from 29 weeks of pregnancy to help towards the cost of having a new baby. | Mothers-to-be on low incomes can already apply for a £500 grant from 29 weeks of pregnancy to help towards the cost of having a new baby. |
| The Health in Pregnancy Grant would not be means-tested. | The Health in Pregnancy Grant would not be means-tested. |
| To get the payment, however, a woman would have to meet with a health professional for tips on pregnancy health and welfare advice. | To get the payment, however, a woman would have to meet with a health professional for tips on pregnancy health and welfare advice. |
| A spokeswoman for the National Childbirth Trust said: "This proposal sounds good in principle - nutrition in pregnancy is very important. | A spokeswoman for the National Childbirth Trust said: "This proposal sounds good in principle - nutrition in pregnancy is very important. |
| "However, the logistics of the scheme need to concentrate on ensuring that the funding directly benefits women and their babies nutritionally." | "However, the logistics of the scheme need to concentrate on ensuring that the funding directly benefits women and their babies nutritionally." |
| To really tackle health inequality we need a real, long term and committed focus on public health The Royal College of Midwives | |
| Amy Edmunds, spokeswoman for the premature baby charity BLISS, said: "Babies most in need of support are those born before 29 weeks' gestation. | Amy Edmunds, spokeswoman for the premature baby charity BLISS, said: "Babies most in need of support are those born before 29 weeks' gestation. |
| "Around 12% of premature deliveries last year happened at 29 weeks or earlier, which suggests that many women could miss out on the new grant. | "Around 12% of premature deliveries last year happened at 29 weeks or earlier, which suggests that many women could miss out on the new grant. |
| "Poor diet is only one of many potential factors that contribute to premature birth and low birth weight. | "Poor diet is only one of many potential factors that contribute to premature birth and low birth weight. |
| "We recommend that the government addresses the fact that the service that cares for these vulnerable newborns is chronically under-resourced." | "We recommend that the government addresses the fact that the service that cares for these vulnerable newborns is chronically under-resourced." |
| A Royal College of Midwives spokesman said: "We are seeing a real and worrying widening of the health inequality gap so any move to improve the health and wellbeing of pregnant women and their unborn child is a positive step. | A Royal College of Midwives spokesman said: "We are seeing a real and worrying widening of the health inequality gap so any move to improve the health and wellbeing of pregnant women and their unborn child is a positive step. |
| "However, to really tackle health inequality we need a real, long term and committed focus on public health with a significant increase in resources. | "However, to really tackle health inequality we need a real, long term and committed focus on public health with a significant increase in resources. |
| "Improving the health of women and children is the work of decades, and let us hope this is a step towards this." | "Improving the health of women and children is the work of decades, and let us hope this is a step towards this." |