teen breast-feeding

ONCRN84 · Oct 12, 2009

I dunno how this might be helpful, but what I found to be a barrier when I was a public health nurse doing maternal child health was the sexual perception of breasts. Not all, but a lot of teens are turned off from breast feeding because it's "gross". Also, breast feeding is hard and a lot of teens have so many other things going on in their lives surrounding the pregnancy, being a parent, etc that it's just too much to deal with sometimes.

Good luck!

coastiewifejenna · Oct 12, 2009

I totally agree with the above. I have two high school age sisters who both have friends who have children. And the biggest complaint I heard was that they were concerned with the negative image that went along with it. And they were concerned with how they would look afterwards. Another thing to think about is that in some states an employer(who has more than 30 employees) has to give a woman an alotted space that is private for breast feeding or pumping. There may not be those rules or space for that in most Jr. highs and High Schools. If there was a designated area, it may not be so frowned upon by the younger crowd.

ballerinagirl · Oct 12, 2009

tertiary prevention= seminar on abstinence or birth control??

how about:

education programs/campaigns to teach all teens that breasts are not actually sexual organs (could expand on this during sex education)

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2009

This is going to sound cold and politically incorrect, but teen mothers don't want to breast feed because they are simply, too lazy too.

The majority of teen mothers won't be taking care of the babies when they get them home, their own mother's will...which is a huge reason Baby #2 comes along so quickly...b/c if they had to deal with the full impact of not having a social life, working, sleep deprivation, to me, that is the best birth control their is.

Right now, we have a 16-year-old mother that has a baby in our unit. She has been very, very committed to breast-feeding and is a textbook case. She brought me this huge bag of frozen breast milk the other day and I thanked her for it...I told her I understand how hard she has to work for it...and how much time it took...I commended her for doing the best that she could for her baby.

She looked at me and said, "I understood that having a baby so young was going to be hard. I can't imagine not doing everything for her that I possibly can. I don't care if I never get another nap, a night out with my friends or anything else...she is all that is important to me and I have a lot of work to do in the near future to make sure everything is going to be ok."

I told her that I wished women TWICE her age had the same attitude.

However....her own mother is a good part of her support system...her mother made it clear to her that she would support her if she choose to have the baby, but she MUST stay in school and college was not going to be an option..she made it clear to her that it was a one-shot opportunity...and if she got pregnant again her and the babies were going to have to move out and figure out Plan B, because that was all she was willing to do.

....oh, if every family was like this one.

nicunana · Oct 12, 2009

How about to offer ongoing support to moms who do choose to breastfeed. Refer them to a lactation specialist and if possible a support group, so that if things get discouraging in a week or 2 or several months down the line, they will have additional help & support to maintain breastfeeding, when they otherwise might quit?

Harajukuxcore · Oct 12, 2009

I would add a little notation of the cost difference of the two methods.

The money they save could be used towards diapers or clothes for the

babies. Of course the reason that they should breastfeed should

be focused on the babies health but they should be reminded of the

other perks of breast feeding , it does have it's own incentives.

dscrn · Oct 13, 2009

I think that a big part of the mpm/grandmom situation is the attitude "she made a misake, now I have to take care of things". their is a lot of guilting going on, if grandmom did not breastfeed her babies, makes it even harder on the new mom...

litbitblack, ASN, RN · Oct 13, 2009

I would go with the ongoing support. you want something that is going to follow the ones that decide to breastfeed. Maybe follow up visits at home from a nurse or something like that

bagladyrn, RN · Oct 13, 2009

Consider education for those who will be her support in breastfeeding: parents, if she lives with them, especially if her mother did not breastfeed, will need to understand both the mechanics of breastfeeding and pumping as well as the benefits for both mom and baby. If the significant other is still involved he will need education about breastfeeding with emphasis on what a good thing she is doing for "his" baby and how important his help will be to them. What accomodations are offered by the local school system should be known before these mothers come in so that you can reassure them that it is possible while continuing her education. Speak to the schools so you can have a plan outlined.

dscrn · Oct 13, 2009

Support group sounds like a good idea-depending on the dynamics of the group. Sometimes, groups can be "cliquish"...My daughter was unmarried when her son was born, and when she went to Lamaze class, (with a friend), she was made to feel something of an outcast-she was in her mid twenties, so it wasn't a "teen pg" thing.... At any rate, ongoing support is essential...

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Oct 13, 2009

Speaking as a teen mom who only breastfeed for 6 weeks, the reason I stopped was lack of support and education. In fact, all three of my sons I didn't breastfeed for more then about 6 weeks, I struggled with it around that marks and everyone encouraged me to just stop.

I was young with all my sons, I was 16 when I had my eldest. 20 with my second and 22 with my third. (I had more because I wanted more, not because I didn't have to care for them and I tried to get pregnant with my first, not the best planning but nothing I regret just pointing out I wasn't just careless got pregnant and expected someone else to care for the baby).

Anyway, I had my daughter 2.5 years ago, I was older and a lot more informed with breastfeeding and a lot more confident in my decision, which lead me to be more assertive and not easily persuaded, I lasted 8 months with her and finally had to stop when I was in the hospital for a total of 5 days in 1 week and on lots of medications and she did fine weaning.

Anyway, my point, my biggest barrier when I was a teen mom was support and encouragement and education with nursing.

I had a lot of teen mom friends and most of them did not nurse and I would say it was for most of the same reason and body image, as discussed in previous posts.

Anyway, that's my opinion as a teen mom.