logistics of having a teenage client.

[Her Doula]

I received an email from a 17 year old who wants a natural birth and she found my listing on bellywomen.net. She's scared that because she's young nobody will listen to her or respect her wishes.

I would really prefer that one of her parents will be present when we have an interview. I don't want them to think that I am some strange lady trying to manipulate their child. Other than that what should I know about having a teenage client? Do her parents have to consent to all her wishes in the hospital? Can she get around certain things?

[1stimestar]

Once pregnant she is considered emancipated and her parents have no decision making powers over her care. Emotional control, yes. You might wait to find out what her situation is. By 17 I was married and my parents had moved to a different state.

[tlcdoula]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Her Doula I received an email from a 17 year old who wants a natural birth and she found my listing on bellywomen.net. She's scared that because she's young nobody will listen to her or respect her wishes. I would really prefer that one of her parents will be present when we have an interview. I don't want them to think that I am some strange lady trying to manipulate their child. Other than that what should I know about having a teenage client? Do her parents have to consent to all her wishes in the hospital? Can she get around certain things?

The parents do not need to be present for the interview, but I would ask her if she wants them there. Some families I have worked with are very, very close and the mother is present for the birth along with me and perhaps the baby's father and other families I have been the sole support person. If they are not present I would ask her how they feel about her having a doula because they might be completely for the idea. One of my best teen mama's was one that her mother wanted her daughter to have me there because mom felt her daughter would do better with me as the main support. I still see "grandma" from time to time and she still just glows and tells me how happy that she was that I was there.

Like already stated - in the hospital she is in charge, but depending on the hospital she could tend to be bullied a tad bit more. I found that teens are bullied more into taking epidurals, being stuck in bed, etc. I found that with teen mamas I had to do much more educating and much more in terms of preparing them for the pressures of the hospital.

[Her Doula]

Quote:

Like already stated - in the hospital she is in charge, but depending on the hospital she could tend to be bullied a tad bit more. I found that teens are bullied more into taking epidurals, being stuck in bed, etc. I found that with teen mamas I had to do much more educating and much more in terms of preparing them for the pressures of the hospital.

The hospital could go either way. My dd was born at the same hospital and my wishes were respected for the most part.

One of my clients had her baby there and she didn't really have a lot of opinions about anything so she had a birth with all the works. scheduled c/s and nurses who insisted on giving formula and so on.

[tlcdoula]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Her Doula The hospital could go either way. My dd was born at the same hospital and my wishes were respected for the most part. One of my clients had her baby there and she didn't really have a lot of opinions about anything so she had a birth with all the works. scheduled c/s and nurses who insisted on giving formula and so on.

Then I would do lots and lots of education just to be on the safe side.

[capandcradle]

Heather -- I'm w/ Michelle and georgeanne -- at least here i see teens manipulated and yes she can make her own medical decisions. I'd ditto Michelle's other post too

[Her Doula]

I met with her yesterday. She reminds me a lot of me. She's afraid of hospitals and would have a homebirth if her insurance covered it. I talked with her a little about birth centers, but she said she'll look into that or Homebirth for her next one. She didn't want to go into the stress of switching so late in her pregnancy.

She got to see a birth a few months ago when she went to her friends birth with an epidural and a large tear. She was adamant that she didn't want either of those.

She talked a little bit about her OB. She's from China and received her training there. She is supportive of natural birth. She prefers that her clients push while squatting or kneeling and said if the baby gets stuck she would have her get on her hands and knees. She doesn't like doing c/s and will use forceps before c/s in a last resort. I can't wait to meet this doctor.

[fearlessbirth]

That's AWESOME that she has such a supportive doctor. That alone will make her (and you!) feel relaxed and know that she can just do her own thing.

[DL]

I'll be anxious to hear this birth story!