babies having babies

kids · Dec 2, 2003

I have never worked L&D but 14 years ago when I was doing L&D clinicals I saw (as in witnessed with my own eyeballs) a 11 year old in labor, epidural in with a color book & crayons.

They did not let students anywhere near her and for some reason I am thinking there was a Peds nurse in attendance (in addition to L&D), she has always stood out in my mind because she was only 18 monthsolder than my daughter and also blond.

DoctorRN · Dec 2, 2003

Originally posted by BRANDY LPN
had a canvo with a pt the other day who had a long admission at a larger hosp for pih ( i think we had shipped her) and she told me there was a nine y/o primip admitted while she was there, now i have seen 14,15 lots of 16 a couple 13 y/o but nothing this bad, what the youngest ob pt you've del and how do you adjust care for these girls?

Youngest I have seen was a nine year old with twins, has to have been 10 years ago now. You adjust care to accomodate for their age. This child had no idea what was going on with her body and no concept what it was to be a mother. Went into preterm labor and had a c-section.

The girl's grandmother took custody of the twins, as she had already been granted custody of the girl. The father of the twins was mom's boyfriend and was in jail by this point for rape.

Very very sad situation.

mitchsmom · Dec 2, 2003

I used to teach middle school and had a 6th, 7th, and an 8th grader pregnant all at the same time. The 7th and 8th graders actually were to the best of my knowledge more emotionally mature than their years (not that this means they should have been pregnant, but I doubt they'd be laboring with a coloring book. By looks and personalities, I'd have guessed they were 15-17 years old.), the 6th grader was totally a kid (I could see her laboring with a coloring book). I can't remember any arrangements that had been made, this was about 10 years ago.

What are the most frequent problems you guys see in very young pregnancies like these? Prematurity, CPD, etc.? What percent of pregnancies

SmilingBluEyes · Dec 2, 2003

this makes me ill...physically and psychologically. but i know it's reality. My son is 11,just 11. the thought of him being a father at this age...or my daughter in a few years makes me want to throw up.

youngest i saw was 12. it was the hardest thing i ever did, seeing her in such pain. the epidural did not work.

LisaRN2B · Dec 3, 2003

Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes
this makes me ill...physically and psychologically. but i know it's reality. My son is 11,just 11. the thought of him being a father at this age...or my daughter in a few years makes me want to throw up.

youngest i saw was 12. it was the hardest thing i ever did, seeing her in such pain. the epidural did not work.

This is a staggering concept for me to grasp, as well. Being a student who is very strongly considering a career in L/D, AND a mother of teen and pre-teen daughters it is a horrid thought. And truthfully, I had considered having to deal with drug addicted moms and babies, but had yet to think of this scenario.

Ooh, boy...this will be a difficult one to deal with!

Supersleuth · Dec 3, 2003

The youngest patient I have had was 12 years old. And like several of you all experienced the child life department brought in crayons, coloring books, sewing kits, and other kid stuff for them to do while in the hospital.

I tend to see that the really young patients have PIH and PTL more not so much CPD though.

It can be really frustrating to take care of such young patients, but I can also say I have had some really tough elderly primips to take care of that were more of a challenge than the teens!!!

Erin

SmilingBluEyes · Dec 3, 2003

It's emotionally-draining to care for these young girls and their families.....very draining! And I come home and look at my kids and pray "oh Lord please let them have a different path"

Kids get pregnant in a number of situations. I have seen many teen girls "jumped into a gang"----and end up pregnant.

I have seen girls who were molested/raped by family members end up pregnant.

I have seen raped young girls end up pregnant.

I have seen young girls who had multiple boyfriends,not knowing WHO the daddy is, end up pregnant.

Rare is the girl who gives up the baby for adoption and it leaves me to wonder if the cycle will be repeated and I will see this one just born end up in my care in a short 12-15 years or so.....I work with people who have seen this cycle many times. Its unreal.

I have seen many sad situations---rare is the YOUNG teen girl who is pregnant because she intended to be----because she was in a stable relationship and ended up pregnant and is set up to care for herself and a new baby.

This is why I feel strongly these girls need social services help. But the system is overloaded and so many fall thru the cracks.

I talk to my son ALREADY about teen pregnancy and STD's (he is 11 but hey, talk is on the streets and I have to set him straight while he will still listen to me). WE talk while baking cookies, riding bikes, walking the dog, grocery shopping. Talk and talk, no subject being taboo.

I pray I have intervene early enough to keep him from making a rash decision in a relationship. I know the day is coming----soon. Hormones flying, he will want to pursue the feelings. I just pray he remembers what awaits if he makes the wrong choices!!!! Just like any mom, I worry. Because I see first-hand what happens when they fall into error.......it's sad.

PJMommy · Dec 3, 2003

Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes
I talk to my son ALREADY about teen pregnancy and STD's (he is 11 but hey, talk is on the streets and I have to set him straight while he will still listen to me). WE talk while baking cookies, riding bikes, walking the dog, grocery shopping. Talk and talk, no subject being taboo.

And this is exactly what isn't happening with the teen mothers we see. So many times, no one is there to listen or to guide. What a sad, vicious cycle.

I do the same thing with my daughter who is also 11. We've been talking about sex and pregnancy for a couple of years now. If she doesn't hear it from me, she'll hear it from someone at school. No subject is taboo and no question is a "bad" one -- If a mom can't talk to her kids, then who else will!?!

dragonfly954 · Dec 3, 2003

This thread is scary but reality.Really hit home.I have 2 girls that were starting to show signs of early development at 8 ys old.By 9 all the older boys at the mall/school/movies think they are 14.No kidding.So I had a series of serious talks and explained life.I am so glad I di,because at 9 @10,well you know.I even went so far as to tell them that yes you can get pregnant even if you have never had a period at all.Everyone thought I was out of my mind because they were only 8,but less than a year later it was on my plate to deal with X 2. When the school gave the "health talk" to them,my kids quickly informed them of all the rest they had left out in front of the entire class.Hopefully now I won't have to worry about them having kids until they are adults. Working LD and PP in a poor area qiuckly opened my eyes that 10 and 12 yr olds really do have babies.One poor girl was only in the 5th grade.She had to go to the middle school where they had a program for her to bring her baby to school everyday.The baby and her are picked up by the bus everyday.Grandma enjoys the extra money from welfare so she can sit home and drink all day.Little girl takes care of the baby.Sad to see babies with babies.

Kiekuh · Dec 4, 2003

Just last night, I had a "very young 16 yo". Of course, as I see many times, she comes in with a crew of people, her Mother being one. This "Mother" of the patient is always asking questions, always involved-talking about "When I had this babe, they didnt have epidurals, when I was preg" Blah Blah. It is so sad that these young girls are in a situation that is so above them mentally and physically-and as a nurse, we want to help. Just to run into the "Mom of the year" and her views on labor and delivery. I am sorry to be so sassy, but really-where was all the involvement and concern BEFORE the conception? I realize that kids are sexually active at a young age, and things happen even to the most involved parents, but in this day and age, there are far to many babies having babies-And like someone said earlier, its more likely than not a vicious circle.... Boy do I sound jaded or what?

Mimi2RN, ASN, RN · Dec 4, 2003

Several years ago, we had a 15 y/o on Peds for pp. She was giving her baby up for adoption, knew that it was best for both her and the baby. She was planning to go to college, and was much more mature than her 17 y/o boy friend. Her mother supported her in the decision. She roomed in with the baby, and gave it up when she was ready for d/c. It was good to keep her on the peds unit as she did not need to be around the other new moms. This was a small hospital and peds nurses would float to pp when it was quiet on peds.

I wish more teenagers and their families were able to deal with pregnancy as she did. There is so much pressure from family and friends that they can't think about adoption being a possibility.