It seems to me that part of the problem is not the teens pregnancy and
breastfeeding, but what brought them there in the first place. In the US that
reason is multifold and still debated, while in other countries teens are
married and expected to start their families.  My grandmother had my father
at 16 and nursed him for 2 years, my husbands grandparents began their family
at 16 (mom) and 20 (dad) lived happily ever after with 11 children all
breastfed for 2 or more years.  Of course, in Italy and the time and town his
grandma would have been an old maid if she waited much longer.  When working
with teens I always tell them that babies have no clue how old they are.  You
can breastfeed and be a wonderful loving mom at 16 or at 36 or you can choose
not to at either age.  The difference is, when you are 16 everyone will say,
well she's a teen what do you expect and when you are 36 you don't have much
of an excuse.   Even the ideas of mothers influence over teens is not
necessarily a teen problem.  I have grown women who do not have the ability
to tell their moms to stop putting a bottle of formula in their babies mouth
everytime she babysits.  I have found though, that if what drives the teen to
pregnancy is the need to fill some void for love, breastfeeding will help
prevent that next pregnancy for coming too soon.  Also, the positive strokes
from others for doing "the best for the baby" gives them a sense of pride and
they enjoy feeling good about being a good mom--just like the rest of us.
Personally, I would rather try to convince a 16 year old high school student
she can and should breastfeed than try to convince an older mom of the same
thing.  At least when it doesn't happen, I can say well, she was a teen and
did not understand as opposed to how can this intelligent well educated woman
make this poor choice?

Just my pregnancy influenced 2 cents--which means ignore any rattling as with
2 weeks away from my due date I am as uncomfortable and unbalanced as
possible.

Pam MazzellaDiBosco, IBCLC     Florida, USA

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