Services - Jo's story
Jo is 17 and has a seven-month-old daughter, Caitlin. She lives at home in South Yorkshire.
| "The treatment I've had has made me wary of some kinds of services." |
"There are good things and bad things about being a young mum. The best thing is my relationship with Caitlin - we have a really strong bond. The worst thing is that people don't treat young mums equally to older mums - or don't know how to give us the right kind of support.
"When I was pregnant, I didn't know what to expect from giving birth and no one advised me. I felt the medical staff didn't take me seriously. They even insisted I should have a Caesarean: they said I was too young and not fully developed. In fact, I had a normal birth, which is what I wanted all along.
"After the birth, the midwives tried to take over and not let me try things for myself. When I was trying to breastfeed, Caitlin wouldn't latch on, so I asked for a bottle. They refused to give me one and just grabbed my breast and squeezed it, forcing me to breastfeed. It really upset me. Of course I want to do things right for Caitlin, but how can I learn if people just take over instead of trusting me and teaching me?
"The treatment I've had has made me wary of some kinds of services. I don't want to join a lone parent group or a playgroup. Everyone there is older, and I think the staff and other mums will criticise me.
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Fact
Research has shown that young mums are often unaware of, or alienated from, services they are entitled to. |
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