I found teens to be very receptive to the idea of Bfing when I was working as
a Peer Counselor Program Coordinator. At least the girls were-when I teach
Bfing classes at the high schools, it is usually the boys who think it is a
weird idea. Some of the best breastfeeding moms I have seen, were 14 and 15
yrs old. Their biggest obstacle were when they went back to school and
everyone was telling them they needed to concentrate on their school work and
let grandmother take  care of the baby. They had absolutely no support except
for the PC program.  They also  had no place and time to pump during the day
at school-especially if they were at a middle school. Also, in our system, in
order not to "reward" teen pregnancy, the school board decided not to allow
them to miss more then the usual 20 absences per year. So with absences for
MD and WIC appointments, some girls had to return to school in just a few
days after giving birth in order not to have to repeat or go to summer
school.
At the hospital where I work now, I see quite a few teens bfing but again
there isn't much support from the dads or grandmothers.

Barbara Whitehead, IBCLC
Eastern NC

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