Nicky Srahan
NCT’s visionary strategy aims to
reach and support 20 million parents by 2020.
To this end, NCT has been in touch with all Children’s Centres and NHS
hospitals about increasing partnership working.
As of last year, there were 124 contracts formed with Children’s Centres
countrywide.
We agreed to pilot an antenatal
course with Ely Children’s Centre last year; the success of this has led to two
more courses being commissioned this year for ‘Young Bumps’ antenatal classes –
for under 21 year olds. The classes are free to the participants as the
contract is agreed between the Children’s Centres and NCT. Local midwives refer all pregnant women under
19 years to Lisa Langley, Young Parent Support Worker at Ely Children’s Centre
(includes Littleport and Sutton Children’s Centres); she works closely with all
these young people, trying hard to encourage them to attend the classes.
The courses have all varied in
format and duration as we have adapted to the parents’ needs. I taught five antenatal classes of eight in
the first course, and local health visitors contributed to three weeks of parenting
issues. There was a regular core group
of four young people who came every week; they were able to bring birth
partners, friends or parents with them, and this varied widely, but the
contribution of several different people was valuable and enjoyable. Several other young people attended
sporadically. Although I had developed a
course plan, the agenda was negotiable depending on people’s needs.
We had two young mums on the second
course; one came with her dad, mum or school friend each week, and the other brought
her boyfriend or mum; the session when both mums were together was lovely! Owing to quite a wide gap in due dates
between these two, we shortened the course to six weeks.
I am now in the middle of my third
course; we’ve changed the plan again because all the potential young women are
between 15 and 18 weeks pregnant now, so a little early for a full-blown
antenatal course. For that reason, we
have just had two sessions thinking about the early days of pregnancy, looking
after themselves and their babies, and thinking ahead to hopes and dreams for
their babies and feeding. Evidence
suggests that women have usually decided how they are going to feed their
babies before they reach 20 weeks pregnant, so it was important for me to have
an early discussion about breastfeeding.
Encouragingly, they are all keen to breastfeed. After Easter, we are re-joining for a more
standard six week antenatal and parenting course.
Tips that I have learnt from
working with young parents:
·
Treat
young people as equals and examine assumptions, in the same way as I would
older parents. Young parents often get a
bad press, but becoming a parent can be a strong, stabilising and positive
influence in a young parent’s life.
(Professor Simon Duncan at Bradford University is a controversial
academic who writes about challenging the problems that people may have with
teenage parenthood.)
·
Congratulate
them! They may not have heard too
many words of congratulations.
·
Venue and
timing. Afternoon sessions are easier; they are unlikely to attend in the
morning. The Children’s Centre organises
local taxis to collect them and take them home.
·
Group
dynamics. Although this is crucial in any class, a group relationship is
important for the success of the sessions. Ice breakers are very important for
strengthening a group – as long as they are right!
·
Varied
teaching methods. I have developed
many more visual activities for these groups.
I am keen that these sessions are not thought of as conventional
education, or school, as some people’s experiences have been poor of school.
Sophie King-Hill, an NCT teacher and experienced youth worker, suggests that
sometimes we may have to go back to how they got pregnant, periods etc, as
school sex education can be so poor!
·
Be
flexible and laid back. Be prepared
to respond to the young people’s needs and not stick to a plan!
·
Work with
anyone who comes! If a young person
brings a new companion each week, welcome them and work with their knowledge
and contribution. Value everyone’s
support.
Research suggests that engaging
young people antenatally increases the likelihood of them continuing that
engagement postnatally. Young people are
traditionally reticent about attending local mother and baby groups, but the
Children’s Centre offer ‘Little Monkeys’ and PEEP for babies and toddlers; all
of which are well attended by young parents.
Although this work can be
challenging, it is also very rewarding and refreshing. There are differences between working with
young people and older parents, but many of the issues, worries and concerns
are the same for every age group. The
love they feel for their children is the same as mine.
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