16yr old homebirth? - Page 2

[Aliviasmom]

As a teenage mom, I was never told that I was high risk. I DID go to a hospital though, because I didn't know any different, and I'm a wimp.

[ReneeC]

At my childbirth class, we watched a video of a 16yo doing a home waterbirth--it was awesome. So inspiring.

Anyhow, I think it just depends on the midwife and what the laws are in your particular state.

[mothragirl]

i think 16 is a pretty normal age to have a baby biologically. i think it would be great for her to experience homebirth!

[mwright]

Oh thank you ladies for your encouragement!!! I spent this evening with my family and we talked some more and she is on board with home birth all the way!! And trust me, I am on her to eat healthy and she was talking about walking on a daily basis to get good excersize. Between my mom and I, she will have great nutrition..I really think she will do GREAT! She is already healthy, doesn't smoke/drink/drugs..and she is on her way to eating a healthy diet! For a normal pregnancy, would the Brewer's Diet be beneficial?? I guess I need to research that now..hmm..

[Synchro246]

Originally Posted by pamamidwife

Wow, I'd like to see some documentation on that - and are we talking about 12, 13 and 14 year olds or are we talking about 16+ yrs? Is it only because of socioeconomic issues or age only? Because if we're talking socioeconomic, age is not a factor. If we're talking age only, I would need to see some references.

If you are wondering about the pre-e thing there's *tons* of research that indicates that the more paternal exposure (semen) there is before the pregnancy there is decreased likelihood of pre-e. (I can easily get the references if you want as I just wrote a big paper on it for a genetics class). Other exposures to antigens (previous pregnancies, blood transfusions) pre-prenatally also reduce risk. So an increased rate of pre-e in teenaged women is probably more a function of the fact that a teenaged woman likely has had less exposure to paternal antigens and other antigens than a 20 something, but there would be many an exception. I can think of a ton of couples that have been together since they were 14 and had loads of sex before becoming pregnant even at a young age.
Let me know if you want that info cause I'll dig it out, you can even read my paper if you want. (I'm proud of it, it's the first A I ever got on a research paper AND it was from my most challenging class ever!)

[MyBoysBlue]

At 16 I think she would do just fine. My Mom was married at 16 and had me at 18 and wasn't finished growing. She grew two more inches after she had me. No labour complications but she did have a horrible hospital birth where they drugged her and strapped her down.

What about all those women who were married at 16. It used to be quite a normal age for marriage Pre 1900. I am sure a lot of those women were having babies before a year was up.

[ani'smommy]

Congrats to your sister! I might be worried about a 12-14 year old, but 16? I'm no expert, but I would think that she would do great.

[SarahEiley]

100 years ago we would have all been having our first babies at 16-19 or so. My sister, who is 18, just had the most amazing hospital delivery--- taht is, everythign was great except for the hospital! haha. As a doula I work with a lot of teen moms and I'm astonished by their strength and athletic capability. Under 15 or 16, yes, there can be complications. But a 16 years old should be fully developed enough to handle it. If not homebirth, then why not at least a natural birth in a birth center or with a supportive hospital midwife?? Good luck!

[ericswifey27]

Originally Posted by AmieV

purely anecdotal, but my mom had me at 16, and she had true failure to progress with a csection. She's tiny anyway and she was so young and barely developed, and I was 8 lbs...I know all those factors aren't very often true but with her I believe it. To hear her tell the story especially. She had contractions that she said were as intense as mine in active labor and transition (she was at both of my births) for like 24 hours and never got past 3 cm. So, from my limited knowledge it sounds like her section was necessary.

My midwife also mentioned that teens tend to either have failure to progress issues with complicated deliveries or that they go reaaaallly fast. But she attends homebirths of teens, it's just something she watches for. I don't see it as something that would risk your sister out or anything at all. especially if she knows how to take good care of herself during pregnancy!

For a different perspective I had a csection after 22 hours of labor at 3 cm and do not consider it "true failure to progress". It was due to impatient doctors who had little faith in my ability to birth my baby at my own pace. The contractions were very painful- pitocin induced, not sure whether your mom was in a hospital or birth center or at home, which would have effected her likelihood of a csection, or whether pitocin, ctyotec or epidural was given to your mom but that can mess with a labor as well. I know also in my case, size had nothing to do with it. My identical twin sister just had her vbac baby at home after "cpd" diagnosis with the first, and she and I are petite, pretty much the same size we were in high school. If my sister (and I soon) can do it now, we could have done it at 16, I am sure.

And I agree with you that age shouldn't risk her out. I think a 16 year old has a much better chance of a healthy vaginal birth with homebirth than at a hospital.

[mwherbs]

I think a teen is going to be in better hands with a midwife and less likely to develop problems- I think that teens are at greater risk for some of these problems because of food choices- now it may not have as much to do with many women but as a sub-population teen women can and do fast for very prolonged periods of time- and that type of dietary risk is what Tom Brewer was addressing when he did his work-extremes of weight control can produce PE as well as low birth weight and some increase in infant mortality

teens in particular seem to be built for birthing- in my experience they go into labor and just do it-
there was an MCH epidemiology lecture at a conference in 2005 that was on a huge study-
"In the readouts we found over 1.2 million births during the 6 years value period. Around 13 percent were born to adolescents. Fifty-one percent born to mother aged 20 to 29. Thirty-six percent was born to mother older 30 years old........We found 3 increased risk for young maternal age in very low birth weight, post neonatal mortality, infant mortality. And then we also found the protective effect of young maternal age, complication of labor and delivery, c-section and birth defect.........The high risk of post neonatal mortality is most likely related to the psychological immaturity of adolescent mothers." this study was done on births in Flordia from 1996-2001

[AMagicalWishxoxo]

I am doing a vaginal birth. And I have a midwife and everything.


<33 Italy

[Finch]

Purely from a professional perspective, as in what I've witnessed, teenage moms labor very quickly and birth easily, for the most part.

She needs to get and follow through with good prenatal care, because she is at risk for preterm labor and delivery, but aside from that, I'd think a teenager would be a shoo in for a homebirth.

Biologically we are "supposed" to be birthing in our teens, truth be told.

[AmieV]

Amy--she had no interventions like epi, pit, other drugs...but she was at the hospital and it was 1978 so I have no doubt they probably kept her restricted to her bed and whatnot. I reserve judgment since I wasn't there (well, I guess I was ) but of the different "failure to progress" scenarios I've heard about hers sounds the most legit to me.

[mendomidwife]

If her prenatal care goes normally, she has good support, and she is psychologically prepared, there is no reason that she wouldn't be able to have a homebirth. I have found that these births go wonderfully - younger women are usually healthy, in good shape, and don't have the fears surrounding birth that many women have. In many cultures, 16 is considerd prime birthing age.

Carla

[kittywitty]

Originally Posted by Maggi315

Well, my experience as a nurse and now as a midwife does not hold true that teens have more problems. Or that their pelvises are smaller somehow. Where is the actual science/research on that? And who is still measuring pelvises out there?

What I saw is that many teens don't take care of themselves, maybe are abusing drugs/alcohol, eating disorders, etc. Not that adults can't have the same problems. these teens did have more problems, higher complications.

But the teens that took care of themselves can do wonderful. What a great opportunity for them to become a woman, to stand up and take responsibility, to see themselves as capable, confident new mothers. I have seen many teens do just that and I am so proud of them. These teens are starting motherhood off on the right foot.

Encourage her! I would have no problem taking on a teen!

I agree. I think it has to do more with socioeconomic issues than the age.

[doctorjen]

I attend a lot of teens (hospital births, though) and actually have never had one have CPD or FTP. I've only had two teen moms birth via cesarean, one for breech and one for supposed fetal distress (that one's a long story.) I've attended 2 13 yr olds, 3 14 yr olds (2 of whom had 9 lb babies!) and lots of 15-18 yr olds (probably 40-50, I'd guess)
My favorite part about teen births is that they tend not to be indoctrinated yet into how things are supposed to go in modern, standard obstetrics. It's my teen mamas that first got me out of the bed, and into the mindset of following a mama's lead in birth.
The psychosocial aspects of teen births are often the most complicated, though - but I think in general a midwife would be better and supporting and encouraging a young mama than most docs.

[Carolinamidwife]

IMNSHO the belief that teens are high risk is a form of prejudice against teen mothers. Biologically speaking a teenager is perfectly suited to carry and give birth to a healthy baby. Sometimes there is a lack of nutritional education that can contribute to health issues with the mother and fetus but midwives are generally more knowledgeable that most OBs about nutrition and will help teens make the best choices.

I would not hesitate to take on a 16 year old client as long as she fit the general criteria of a homebirth client.

[phathui5]

The birth that I had at 16 was my easiest so far. I had my other two at 19 and 21 and even then it wasn't as easy as when I had ds1. By the time I got to the hospital I was 8cm and he was born an hour later. I could have had him at home if it had occured to me that it was an option.

[Lola02]

Yes Yes Yes!!

I was just attended by a midwife who had her own first child at home at the age of 16. What a wonderful young woman your sister must be to be considering this option. I loved both my HBs (my 2nd just one month ago)! PM me if there is any ?'s she has that I can help with.
Lola
Mama to Mya: 7/14/04 and Jolie 03/09/07

[bryonyvaughn]

Originally Posted by Sheena

IMNSHO the belief that teens are high risk is a form of prejudice against teen mothers.

YES! I was going to post that but now I can just quote you.

I think the safety advantage for teens homebirthing is greater than the safety advantage for older women. The sole reason for my belief is that the moms can avoiding moralistic, judgmental, punitive staffers. I've heard L&D nurses talking speaking disparagingly about teen moms, and seen them treat them coolly and cruelly. I can't stomach the hospital scene anymore... it leaves me torn up for days afterward. Anyway, I like to imagine most unprofessional birth professionals would have a harder time abusing a mom on her turf than they would on their own.

I'm glad your sister has a supportive mother and sister and wish her the best.

Take gentle care,
BV