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  "description": "Stafford midwife Freya Mahal has released a new book to help expectant parents cut through the pressure, panic buying and long baby shopping lists that can make preparing for a new arrival feel financially overwhelming.",
  "path": "/stafford-midwife-releases-new-book-to-help-parents-avoid-unnecessary-baby-spending/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-17T09:12:07.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.thestaffordshiresignal.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Baby without Bankruptcy",
    "Get Instant Updates",
    "https://expectingclasses.co.uk/",
    "@expectingantenatalclasses"
  ],
  "textContent": "A Stafford midwife with more than 20 years’ experience has released a new book aimed at helping expectant parents avoid spending thousands of pounds on baby products and services they may never need.\n\nFreya Mahal, founder of Expecting Antenatal Classes and a registered midwife, has written Baby without Bankruptcy to support families preparing for a new baby during the cost of living crisis.\n\nThe book, which is available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback from Wednesday 17 June, offers practical advice for parents who feel overwhelmed by baby shopping lists, social media pressure and the growing number of products marketed as “must-haves.”\n\nFreya, who is also a mum of two, says she has seen too many families spend large amounts of money on items they barely use, while feeling underprepared for the parts of parenthood that matter most.\n\nAccording to Freya’s calculations, following the advice in Baby without Bankruptcy could prevent new parents wasting up to £16,785.\n\n> “Having a baby is emotional enough without feeling like you have to buy half the internet before your baby arrives. Marketing teams know exactly how to pull on your heart strings, poke your insecurities, and make you feel like a bad parent if you don’t buy their product”.\n\n> “After more than 20 years as a midwife, I’ve seen what families actually need and what often ends up shoved in a cupboard, barely touched. This book is not about making parents feel guilty. It’s about giving them permission to step back, think clearly and spend their money where it genuinely helps. It’s not about doing parenting on the cheap. It’s a book about doing it with confidence and intention.”\n\n### Join The Staffordshire Signal on WhatsApp\n\nNever miss a single breaking update, local news story, community event, or deep dive. See everything happening in Staffordshire first, straight to your phone!\n\n\nGet Instant Updates\n\n\n\n## Challenging the pressure to buy everything new\n\nBaby without Bankruptcy looks at the pressure many new parents feel to buy everything brand new, expensive or Instagram worthy.\n\nThe book covers common spending traps including expensive travel systems, designer baby bags, changing tables, wipe warmers, excessive newborn clothes, nursery furniture and gadgets marketed as essential.\n\nFreya says the baby industry often targets anxious first time parents at one of the most vulnerable moments in their lives.\n\n> “Parents want to get it right. But when you’re pregnant, tired, emotional and scrolling through endless lists of ‘essentials’, it’s very easy to feel like you’re failing before the baby has even arrived.\n\n> “I wanted to write the book I wish more families had before they started spending. It’s warm, honest and practical. It says: you can absolutely prepare for your baby without bankrupting yourself in the process.”\n\nFreya founded Expecting to provide antenatal education and practical support for families across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Cannock and Wolverhampton.\n\nThrough her work, she has supported more than 10,000 families from pregnancy through to birth and early family life.\n\nThe book arrives at a time when many households are already under financial pressure, with parents to be often facing a flood of online adverts, influencer recommendations and lengthy baby product checklists.\n\nFreya hopes the book will help families feel calmer, more confident and less pressured as they prepare for their baby.\n\nBaby without Bankruptcy is available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback from Wednesday 17 June.\n\nFor more information, visit https://expectingclasses.co.uk/, follow @expectingantenatalclasses or search _Baby without Bankruptcy_ on Amazon.\n\n####  Enjoyed this story?\n\nThe Staffordshire Signal is a not-for-profit, community-funded publication. Every tip helps keep local journalism free, independent, and focused on the stories that matter across Staffordshire.\n\nEvery contribution supports reporting, photography, and storytelling across the county.\n\nSupport independent local journalism by selecting ****The Staffordshire Signal**** as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google. Help us stay front-and-centre in your news feed.\n\nExplore the heart of our county Use the interactive map above to discover local landmarks, heritage sites, and community-vetted spots. Every interaction helps support **The Staffordshire Signal’s** mission to keep local news free and independent.",
  "title": "Stafford midwife releases new book to help parents avoid unnecessary baby spending",
  "updatedAt": "2026-06-17T09:12:08.000Z"
}