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Original poster

teen mums to get nhs "minders"

28 replies

nappyaddict · 09/05/2007 00:21

story here

not sure what they mean by they hope it will "bring down the accident rate as well as improving the health of new mums and babies."

i'm a teen mum and i didn't know any accident rate or bad health was more likely because i am younger?

OP posts:
1dilemma · 09/05/2007 00:27

Mother less than 18 =higher risk of premature birth with all associated problems is one thing.

butterflywings · 09/05/2007 00:27

What a load of rubbish!

My mum had me when she was 16 and I turned out just fine! She had 3 kids by the time she was 21 in fact..

I was a teen mum and so was my sister and so were other members of my family and some of my friends and I never heard anything about higher accident rates or health problmes because of this. They're barkng mad

As a matter of fact, my midwife told me that, in her opinion, younger mums are better because they're not so career-driven and so they tend to spend more time with their kids and be a bit more interested in their lives.

(No offence to older mums, obviously. Just telling you what my midwife said! )

butterflywings · 09/05/2007 00:28
1dilemma · 09/05/2007 00:29

?????conception 'accidents'

1dilemma · 09/05/2007 00:31

Butterfly I think you will find under 18's have higher rate of prem births.
More seriously after my second post I would think it quite difficult to tease out whether younger mums have more accidents or just use 'medical' services in a diffeent way because of things like access problems etc.

1dilemma · 09/05/2007 00:33

I saw this earlier and thought it was just another gov. target which sounds good but has little substance like the recent stuff about choices around childbirth from Hewitt a week or two ago.

Original poster
nappyaddict · 09/05/2007 00:33

oh that kind of accidents? i assumed they meant accidents with the babies - like it falling down the stairs or something.

OP posts:
1dilemma · 09/05/2007 00:35

sorry na I was being a bit silly I guess they do mean accident accidents but like you say ???? and like I say difficult to tease out I would have thought.

Original poster
nappyaddict · 09/05/2007 00:35

i don't see how a higher prem birth rate is anything to do with it. they are talking about after the baby is born. how come under 18s have a higher rate for prem birth anyway , anyone know?

OP posts:
1dilemma · 09/05/2007 00:38

I thought from what I'd read that they were going to be allocated 'minders' from 18 weeks in or thereabouts.
I think it's based on a scheme which started in America but I think you need to be careful assuming what works in one place works in another very different health care systems and populations imho.
I will try and look around foryou re why prematurity.

1dilemma · 09/05/2007 00:45

Socioeconomic factors apparently coupled with tendency of teenage mothers to seek medical care late in pregnancy or not at all thereby leading to worse outcomes.Also American study showed more burns and 'injurous conditions' amongst children of teenagers but higher deverolmental screening scores so there you go.

1dilemma · 09/05/2007 00:46

na/butterfly I've bored you to sleep!

Original poster
nappyaddict · 09/05/2007 00:47

oh the article i read and linked to said " Teenage mothers in the ten poorest regions in the country are to have NHS minders assigned to help them through the first few months after giving birth." but baby the one 1dilemma read said different.

OP posts:
1dilemma · 09/05/2007 00:49

I'm trying to remember where I read mine. Evening Standard or metro? late last week I think.

butterflywings · 09/05/2007 00:52

Oh, I think I get what you mean 1dilemma - teen mums are more likely to phone their doctor for smaller problems every 5mins (exaggeration, obviously ) when it's not necessary, or go completely the opposite way and not ask for help for fear of being patronised?

Original poster
nappyaddict · 09/05/2007 00:57

i think it should be optional though. i think having a minder is quite patronising and definitely would have refused it.

OP posts:
butterflywings · 09/05/2007 00:59

Yeah, it should definitely be optional.
Some mums would welcome the extra help but some wouldn't want someone coming in and disturbing the first few months with their baby.

1dilemma · 09/05/2007 01:01

I think by socioeconomic factors they gnerally include stuff like being less supported by family/friends/partners, having less money coupled with some not registering with midwife until later on. The only thing I would say is that I guess teenage mums are a relatively small proportion of total and therefore a small number of people doing (or not doing) one thing will have a much larger effect on the stats.

Original poster
nappyaddict · 09/05/2007 01:04

i often don't know whether to take ds to the doctors cos i don't like to think i am taking him over nothing but i am like that with myself too. my mum took him once cos i didn't think he needed to go and that afternoon he actually ended up in hospital needing a nebuliser so i suppose i can agree with that.

it was the accidents thing that i didn't agree with though. then again ds has fallen and banged his head 3 times this week cos i have stood him up by the sofa and he has let go.

i wouldn't take him to the doctors over something like that unlessi could see he was concussed but i can see how other young mums might for reassurance hence why accident rates are higher. can also see how other young mums might not for fear of being told they are a bad mother and then their lo's health being sacrificed. it's swings and roundabouts really!

so maybe i could benefit from one of these minders!!

OP posts:
1dilemma · 09/05/2007 01:05

Agree I think the government likes to keep tabs on us all!
Also like so many things the ones who most 'need' help will pob. still be the ones least likely to get it but lots of opportunity to interfere in self congratulory way with those who don't need/want help

butterflywings · 09/05/2007 01:05

Oh, I get it now!
I forgot about the 'socioeconomic factors' bit

1dilemma · 09/05/2007 01:07

like I (and butterflywings) say na it can be very difficult to say whether it's 'teenage mums have more accidents' or 'teenage mums go to Docs more after little accidents'

butterflywings · 09/05/2007 01:13

They should just get the doctors and nurses to give you dirty looks when you bring your child in for something small.
It worked on me.
When my LO was a few weeks old, she was sicking up everything. I was really worried so I rang NHS Direct and they said to take her to the comunity hospital. So I did and I got a relly patronising look from the doctor there.
I soon learnt to only ring them up when there was a real emergency.
So they should do that instead of hiring minders, it would save the gov. loads of money! lol

1dilemma · 09/05/2007 01:23

butterfly wings for that behaviour

1dilemma · 09/05/2007 01:24

great money saving idea

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