Mental health articles

How to access to ante-natal care Even when good ante-natal care is available, adolescents are less likely than older pregnant women to use it, especially in the first half of the pregnancy. Obstacles include: • the teenager’s inability to prioritise her health care • the sense of omnipotence that is an integral part of adolescence: the young person feels that, for her, there are no risks • lack of age-appropriate information about pregnancy and the need for antenatal care • denial or late diagnosis of pregnancy • lack of a peer group. EXAMPLE: CATE AND BEN, CONTINUED Cate decided to keep the baby and as they lived near the centre of a city access to ante-natal care was easy. They joined a group of four other teenage women preparing for parenthood and began to try to work out where they would live and how they would support themselves once the baby was born. Attendance at the ante-natal classes fluctuated but they made friends with another couple expecting around the same time. Jake was born at term. The labour was long and he required a forceps delivery. Ben was present along with Cate’s mother. Cate suffered a third-degree perineal tear and was anaemic after the delivery, but otherwise mother and baby were well. She established breastfeeding and continued this for six weeks. She found it difficult and painful and Jake required ‘top ups’ with formula. The couple moved into a small unit near to her parents. Ben left school and worked as a kitchen hand. Both families helped them furnish the house and they moved in together a few weeks before the baby was born. Cate had access to almost optimal ante-natal care. She had a supportive, involved partner and family and easy access to high-quality care at a teaching hospital plus involvement in a teen parenting program. The labour and delivery were difficult, as was breastfeeding.