Teen Mothers

[Natalieboo]

All of you OB nurses, do you see a lot of pregnant teens? Do any of them have doulas? Do you feel they would benefit from the support of a volunteer doula?

I have started up a website that is no where near finished yet, it's called Doulas for Teens. I want to create a network of volunteer doulas that will provide their services to teens. It will be searchable by area.. the site will also have pregnancy / childbirth / parenting related articles (teen-centered). There is a message board up for teens to talk about their pregnancies, preparing for labour, postpartum issues, etc.

I also have a section for doulas to post, and a forum for teens to Ask doulas questions... anyways, my request from you all is to answer the questions in the begining of the post. Also, what do you think would be an essential element to a teen-centered website like this?

I would like to see support for the teens that just don't have it. Whether the baby's father isn't in the picture, or the family is not supportive of the teen.. I read on my board a 17 year old that had a c-section. Maybe it's legit, maybe it wasn't.. would it have been different if she had the support of a doula? That is a question I don't want to have to ask.

Thanks in advance for any answers, advice or suggestions!

There isn't much on the site now because it is in development. But here is the link anyways:

http://www.doulasforteens.com

[SmilingBluEyes]

in staffing situations that are IDEAL, i agree doulas do what we labor nurses SHOULD BE DOING IN OUR JOBS!. TOO BAD paperwork (way too damn much of it!), patient census and other issues do not always allow for this. So I say, if someone wants a doula, more power to them. I have no problem w/it. They are there to look out for the best interest of the client. Just as we staff member are! I work WITH the doulas, NOT AGAINST THEM, and i establish POSITIVE working relationships from the START to head off trouble. i have never had a serious issue w/ a doula even tho I could sense some were should be we say "strong in voicing their opinions" However, I work with them and the family to see what it is the laboring family really wants. Open communication, so far has always worked for me!

[mother/babyRN, RN]

Me too. And it might not be a bad job to get on our off days (and nights) :)

[peaceful2100, BSN, RN]

Day Ray as a single parent I would like to say I agree with EVERYTHING YOU said especially in your post #10. I am now 22 but had my first child and so far ONLY child I ever been pregnant with at 17.

To natlieboo I think if a Doula is going to give her services to a teen mom and be totally non-jugemental then I think it is a wonderful idea. When I had my daughter my labor/delivery and postpartum nurses were VERY, VERY hateful towards me despite the fact I already graduated from high school and was enrolled in college and had plans for my life of course they did not know that and those particular nurses could care less. It made my experience and recovery very hard .

I actually mentor teen moms myself through simply volunteering outside of the hospital setting. I have met many great teen moms with many dreams that many of them are currently working on.

[mark_LD_RN]

i personally treat my teen moms as well as the rest of my patients their is not much i wont do for them ,just the same as with my other patients. a good nurse is never hateful to their patient

[shay]

Originally posted by mark_LD_RN

a good nurse is never hateful to their patient

Exactly. That's what ranting and raving in the locker room is for.

[Dayray, RN]

Im not allowed in the locker room =( In fact Im conviced that there is a hot tub and mini bar in there =P

[mark_LD_RN]

well i feel lucky i have a male locker room and own locker, but have to share the restroom and my mailbox is in the female locker room,:). we seem to work it out just fine, except for the leaving the seat up issue:).

i usuallly go to the locker room to get ride of my anger at times.

[mother/babyRN, RN]

I was a single mom too and have to say, as a person,even before discovering my life was due for a major change, I early on decided that in order to be a good nurse, I had to do the best job I could at treating them...My approach has always beenm, "There but for the grace of God, go I." I am not perfect, but neither are they and, as one patient long ago said to me, being human facilitates great rapport...Thus, my quote, "The only perfect thing is imperfection..." Think about it.....And, if a patient worries that we are busy or they are "bothering" me, I smile and say, "You'd do it for me if you could, right?" "You're here because you HAVE to be and I am here because I WANT ( :) ) to be....

[Swiftee]

I myself was (and I guess technically still am) a teen mom. I agree with everything said here. I do think most, if not all first time moms, are concerned about the things mother/babyRN mentioned in post #....fudge, I'm not sure what post # it was. The one about the body image and being naked, wet and in pain. It really can be a humiliating experience, though from personal experience I'd have to say modesy usually goes out the window pretty fast. I think that was a really great post though, and is probably pretty darn close to exactly what is going through a lot of patients' heads.

I wish nurses had more time to spend with their patients so that they could get to know them, and talk with them, and find out what their feelings are on the whole process. As nurses, I bet each and every one of you wish you could just sit and fix everything and tell them everything you thought they would need or want to hear, huh? I'm going to be starting my nursing prereqs this fall. I want you guys to know that I really admire you for respecting and really helping your teen moms in the delivery room! You're what I'm aspiring to be! :kiss

Hey Natalieboo- I do some work with teen moms and have a network of people I could get you in touch with to help get word out about your site. Let me know if you're interested! :)