TongeLa Zwanziger writes about a teen mom and her own mother's attitudes. 
There is no study to suppor this idea (or maybe there is somewhere!) but having 
been a teen mom myself, there was nothing I liked better than doing something 
different from what my mother did.  I used this strategy many times when 
working with young mothers to be. Breastfeeding - even if just until she goes back 
to school or only when she's at home with the baby -  can be an incredible 
connection between mother and child. Something that only SHE can do and provide 
for her baby. Grandmas to be, especially if mom is young and will need family 
help, tend to try to take over, perhaps to "salvage" this baby from turning out 
like her mom. (My mother and I have had some intense discussions over the 
years regarding my young motherhood - not that she had too much room to criticize 
as she was a teen mom herself.) Perhaps speaking to the grandma to be about 
how the choice to breastfeed shows acceptance of responsibility and dedication 
to being a good mother. Encourage her to feel some pride that her child has 
turned out "so well" to have made this good choice.
I worked with a low income and low literacy population for a few years when I 
lived in the Chicago area and this strategy worked pretty well. Sometimes I 
would share that I was also a teen mom  and sometimes not. But when it was 
shared, most times women would say, "wow, you went on to do something with your 
life."  Being a teen mom actually helped me choose my life's path, working with 
mothers and babies. Sorry if this seems too personal but I am passionate about 
this. 
Mary Kay Smith, RN, IBCLC
Canton MI USA

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