tors, personal adjust-

ment, educational

opportunities, cultural

identification, and family

experiences contribute to

their risk of an early

pregnancy.

Reference

Woodward, L.J, Hor-

wood, L.J & Fergusson,

D.M. (2001) Teenage

Pregnancy: Cause for

concern. New Zealand

Medical Journal.114

(1135): 301-303

New Zealand continues

to have one of the high-

est

teenage pregnancy rates

in the developed world,

being second only to the

United States when

compared with similar

OECD countries.

For young women, there

is an increased risk of

antenatal complications

and mortality, failure to

complete schooling,

socio-economic disad-

vantage, welfare depend-

ence, marital difficulties,

maternal depression, and

less competent parenting.

children born to teenage

mothers have been found

to have higher rates of

health problems, physical

injury, behavioural

difficulties, cognitive

problems, and educa-

tional under-

achievement. In a cohort

study of teenage preg-

nancy in Christchurch

rates of early pregnancy

were elevated

amongst young women

who identified them-

selves as Maori.

Teenage

pregnancy is a highly

dependant on several fac-

Teenage pregnancy: An overview

Making Classes culturally appropriate

Making classes culturally ap-

propriate often means investi-

gating some traditional prac-

tices.

Discussing the birthing of the

placenta whilst making a clay

pot is an idea I was given by

another midwife and Child-

birth educator.

Making muka strands from

inside flax which will be used

to tie off the umbilical

Cord is another idea from

classes which are held in

Auckland. In Maori tradition

this natural technique is

thought to be kinder to the

baby‟s skin and aids in pre-

venting infection.

September/October Volume 1, Issue 1

Young Mums and Maori

Antenatal Classes

Special points of

interest:

An Overview

Making Classes

culturally appropri-

ate

Joan Donley Re-

search Forum

Common problems

Blended format for

classes

I was delighted to hear one

comment from one of the pre-

senters at the forum.

Emma Farmer in her research

into the question, “Do ecbolics

influence exclusive breastfeed-

ing rates at two weeks postpar-

tum”, found that teenagers were

achieving the highest breast-

feeding rates.

This has to mean that the mes-

sage and support given to this

vulnerable group has to be

working.

ing of information as the infor-

mation often picked up by

young pregnant mums is done

on relatives computers. This

means that the information has

more of a reach amongst the

whanau on the other side of the

screen.

There is often the ability to

allow participants to take away

I have been in the process of

developing a creative blended

format to the antenatal classes

which includes using such tools

as making DVD‟s, YouTube

videos, text messaging, Email

along with more traditional

methods of class get together.

I have enjoyed the email shar-

the DVD information, watch it

in the privacy of their own

homes, discuss it amongst

themselves and come back with

questions. It is easy to forget

that as a young person you

dislike being thrown into a

group setting and being asked

questions in front of others.

News from the Joan Donley Research Forum

Blended format for classes

Common problems

I was surprised when a local town

café was named by one young

mum as the place that they all

hang out and socialize at.

Now it comes down to how to

plan the sessions and how to

make the service more noticeable

in the community.

One of the problems most of us

face as educators is one of apa-

thy amongst this group of

women about attending classes.

I have recently put a call out to

the local PHO for help to find a

n appropriate venue.

I want to hold more weekly

drop in sessions. Short and

sweet sessions packed full of

information.

Page 2

Young Mums and Maori Antenatal Classes

“Where to hold the

classes”

Many youngsters now use text

messaging as their main means

of communicating.

I would like to develop a text

messaging service which sends

out regular educational text

messages to them

This has worked well in Bir-

mingham where the texting

service reminds the young

women about the classes and

also sends out pregnancy infor-

mation sound bites.

They have won awards for this

service, which include an All

Parliamentary Award and has

been highly commended by the

Royal College of Midwives.

classes where they felt they

would receive less scrutiny

from older pregnant women

(Rozette et al). One study

also demonstrated an in-

creased

attendance rate (Mollart

1995).

Studies that do look specifi-

cally at teenage antenatal

classes contain useful learn-

ing regarding appropriate

style and content of those

classes. While mothers in

one study did not feel their

needs were any different to

older mums, they did appre-

ciate special antenatal

Reference:

Croydon Primary Care Trust

(2006) Qualitative Evalua-

tion Study of Teenage Ante-

natal Classes and an evalua-

tion Review of Teenage

Parent Support Groups pro-

vided in Croydon.

Future Considerations

Why bother with young mums classes?

Maori women continue to smoke during pregnancy

that even though

rates were coming

down 50% of Maori

women continued to

smoke during preg-

nancy.

As childbirth educa-

tors we are uniquely

positioned to rein-

force the message in

support of the

LMC‟s.

The rates of Maori

women who smoke

in pregnancy must

come down. This is

the message that is

being encouraged

from Irene Walker,

Auahi Kore Manager

for Te Hotu Manawa

Māori, Speaking at a

Public Health Asso-

ciation conference in

2008 she explained

Page 3

Volume 1, Issue 1

Caption describing

picture or graphic.

“50% of Maori

women continue to

smoke during

pregnancy”

Pamela Harnden

20 Isobel Place

Rarangi

Blenheim

Phone: 0275005111

Fax

E-mail: pam.harnden@gmail.com

I currently hold a contract with Nelson/Marlborough DHB to provide ante-

natal classes for Young Mums and Maori.

I endeavor to do this in a creative and engaging way.

If you don’t use it we’ll lose it!

I depend on you for referrals see the book behind the desk on ward one.

Young Mums and Maori Antenatal Classes Nelson/Marlborough DHB

Society‟s attitude towards the pregnant teen-

ager can leave them with feelings of cultural

disapproval and some government initiatives

put them alongside drug abuse and crime as

issues to be tackled.

They often face attitudes of disapproval and

deviations from the norm as becoming preg-

nant when young is seen as being a „bad‟

thing (Baker 1999).

As childbirth educators we are uniquely

positioned to inform, educate and provide a

specialist service to a vulnerable section of

society.

To contribute to this newsletter email

me pam.harnden@gmail.com

Society’s attitude

Because our future depends on

education

http://

pamdh.wordpress.com