Advice and Suggestions needed. Can you help me please?

Ok before I get started - I have permission from Astrolady to post these questions :)

I work in welfare and am looking to set up a young mums program that aims to allow young parents who didn't finish school due to pregnancy and parenting responsibilities the opportunity to gain a qualification as well as make new support networks with others in a similar situation. Included in the program we are thinking about including things like workshops around health (physical and mental), bonding with baby etc.

So as younger parents (I guess I could be included in here - I had DD1 at 23 :) ) - what are some areas you think would be good to include in this type of program? Are there areas you think I should avoid in putting this program together?

TIA for you help :)

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Great idea!!! Honestly Im not sure what exactly you should cover.....

Just showing them that they can become something, even the best mum possible. And being young doesn't change a thing:)

Im happy to answer questions etc:) I was pg with Annabelle at 18, had her at 19, pg with Lucy at 21 had her at 22:)

Thanks babe... Anyone else?

i think this is great also...

i was 16 when i had ds1 and 17 when i had ds2 and i always kicked myself for not having that little peice of paper to say i made something of my education..
im not sure what to offer as im now 26 and have no idea what sort of areas young mums are interested in..
but i am definently interested to see other peoples suggestions

could that include me? i left just befor finnishing year 11, the month my class was sitting there exams, i was having ds1? would love to be able to finish school, but dont think i could juggle all the kids and studies. i didnt leave due to having him or being pregnate, but i sure have kicked myself for it since!

im wanting to finnish year 12, or at the least the equivlent and start some type of course to help gain employment.

Personally I would think personal finances, career advice/support, relationships after baby, etc.

I agree with dedicated_mummy in that age doesnt make a difference. And in saying that I do think that career advice would be very handy for young parents, just that help in finding what they want to do, how they can do it, what ways they can study, etc.

Thanks girls on my ph so hard to reply will do so when I have a comp tonight xx

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could that include me? i left just befor finnishing year 11, the month my class was sitting there exams, i was having ds1? would love to be able to finish school, but dont think i could juggle all the kids and studies. i didnt leave due to having him or being pregnate, but i sure have kicked myself for it since!

im wanting to finnish year 12, or at the least the equivlent and start some type of course to help gain employment.

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Sarah, Def interested in what ideas you have. Maybe have a look around and see what opportunities are around where you live? sometime Youth centres etc offer a program like it. GL x

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Personally I would think personal finances, career advice/support, relationships after baby, etc.

I agree with dedicated_mummy in that age doesnt make a difference. And in saying that I do think that career advice would be very handy for young parents, just that help in finding what they want to do, how they can do it, what ways they can study, etc.

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Thanks beansbeans. those areas that you listed are def ones we were including.
I guess I was asking about age related things because there are issues surrounding the perception of young mums in the community and these are preceptions we want to work on changing.

Any other suggestions? Baby massage? making baby food?

I think nutritian is a massive one! Breastfeeding is low in young mothers, I think this comes from not much knowledge on it....

Nutrition, ie: themselves and bubs. Healthy mummy and baby= happier ones. Healthy also= better at school etc, usually;)

So, is this with pg and new mummies?

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I think nutritian is a massive one! Breastfeeding is low in young mothers, I think this comes from not much knowledge on it....

Nutrition, ie: themselves and bubs. Healthy mummy and baby= happier ones. Healthy also= better at school etc, usually;)

So, is this with pg and new mummies?

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DM - Yeah both so they have our support over the whole time they are on the program. BF is a great one!

Sunshine i will pm you tonight. I used to be a peer support worker with young mums. I will fill you in on the course work we did. Im working til 9 so it will be after that :-)

Awesome idea! I was pg with DD @ 17, and I couldnt afford to pay for ante natal classes (I needed to save all I could so I didnt have to go back to work straight away) so I didnt go. DD didnt latch on properly and I was in IMMENSE pain whilst breastfeeding cracked nipples were my life. A midwife actually told me to stop (She walked in while I was balling bf'ing) I ended up expressing, but after a few months gave up and FF. Perhaps an ante natal type class can be included? I think encouraging young mums to BF would be a great thing, I think if I had the additional encouragement I would have tried a little more.

How do you plan to promote this class if you dont mind me asking? I think speaking with the local hospitals/Dr's to get the word out Midwives/Dr's can pass on the info to the young mums? I think nutrition is a MASSIVE thing - my cousin (19 yo) gives her 4mth old RED CORDIAL!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o ... sad isnt it ....

Good Luck with program, I think it is a wonderful idea. If i think of anything else I'll come back :)

Maybe get some stuff down on the way your program will work etc and we can add and help with it:)

:clap: should be more people like you;)

Thanks girls.
Promo would like be through schools, gps, hosp, youth centres, other similar orgs.
I was thinking maybe getting a midwife in to do an antenatal type thingy and an ECHN and now an lc.

Awesome idea, I hope you have a lot of success with this pilot program.
Just quickly as bubby is ready for a sleep and i'm out of time to read through others ideas, but I will :)
Umbrella topics that may be useful:
*Taking care of baby-nutrition, education, development, support services, playgroups, child safety and health awareness
*Taking care of parent/s and their relationships-education support and extension, life classes(cooking cleaning etc), realtionship counselling after birth and beyond (for couples and individuals), parents social groups/clubs, fostering your own interests and hobbies.
*Taking care of the home-finances and budgeting, employment support, advocacy support, home safety

I will be back *said in my best Arnie voice*
:)

Gosh there are so so many things you can cover in there. I got preg at 14 and had DS1 at 15 and boy can i tell you if i had known some of the things i know now.

One of my issue's were family. My mum was ashamed of me so she never helped at all not even friendly advice. So a program of some sort in how to be able to ask for help/support when needed without them feeling like there failing would be of good help i would think.

The breast feeding one would be great too! I tried to feed DS1 but due to again lack of support around me i gave up after a few weeks.
Money would be a good one for them too,not just the norm bugeting skills but ones that help them to see where each dollar is going,i used to spend heaps of mags that where not needed.

Time management would be great as well and would def help if they were wanting to go on with some study.

am happy to answer any questions to help too :)

maybe have some people who have been in their shoes to talk to them about they can stil lget their education and a job...

even though i never finished my education i have landed jobs that even my friends whom have done their HSC havent..
ive worked for optus in their techincal team ive worked for nrma, also have worked for the australian taxation office..
i think that if they cant get their education as they please they should be reminded that determination and confidence will always shine through when it comes to being career wise..

Another thing I thought of was a 'Buddy' system, where parents can be attached to another parent/s with experience possibly (but not necessary). This might encourage more personal friendships to develop and realistic support fostering more positive parenting and self esteem. Oh this is just so exciting Sunshine!!

Can I ask (this is going to be a very naive question and sound horrible i'm sure) did anyone feel any type of resentment towards their bubs? Because you may not have been able to do all the things your friends were doing??

i think i did in a way, i wanted to finish school and go to uni i had so many plans and was the one who never wanted children, but now i have 4 lol..
i didnt resent them i just was disappointed that i had them so early being 16 i never got to do what my friends where i never got to go to my school formals, or out with my friends and be free itms?
i wa=ouldnt change anything but i do wish i had of been alot more smarter in my choices and desicions..

this is going to sound bad but i resented my friends more. As they would play things with me and at the last min uninvite me. eg we planned to go late night shopping nothing spesh but i was so looking forward to it and at the last min they invited someone else and i got left behind so i resented them for it.

omg family!! that was me too!! and their excuse, oh i knew you wouldnt be able to come anyway... :( says who!!
i lost so many friends when ds was born and even more when ds2 waas born.. felt so crappy... but now they are all having families they say they understand...

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Another thing I thought of was a 'Buddy' system, where parents can be attached to another parent/s with experience possibly (but not necessary). This might encourage more personal friendships to develop and realistic support fostering more positive parenting and self esteem. Oh this is just so exciting Sunshine!!

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Thanks Sunny - is this an area that many people think would be good?

Submission is in.... fingers crossed now we get it - then i'll be back asking more question :)

ooooooooo how exciting lol GL hun!! :)

good luck! :crossfingers:

If dealing with pregnant young mums I think it is important to inform them of their rights, especially in maternity care. So often I read that their concerns are dismissed, that they are treated like children and not taken seriously. They may be young but they have had to grow up.

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If dealing with pregnant young mums I think it is important to inform them of their rights, especially in maternity care. So often I read that their concerns are dismissed, that they are treated like children and not taken seriously. They may be young but they have had to grow up.

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So true and spot on!!
I was thinking about this thread yesterday lol
Was wondering how the submission went?


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