NEW CLINICS SUPPORTING PREGNANT TEENAGERS IN THE SHREWSBURY AREA
New community clinics have been launched by midwives to provide care, support and advice to pregnant teenagers in the Shrewsbury area.
The clinics, which are run by midwives at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, began recently and are just part of a wide package of care offered to mums-to-be aged 19 and under.
Pregnant teenagers from the Shrewsbury area are able to have routine antenatal appointments at the clinics, which are held by appointment only at Sunflower House in Kendal Road, Harlescott, in the town at 10am every Thursday.
They can also discuss anything that is concerning them relating to their pregnancy and be signposted to educational support, parenting, housing and services available in the community.
The service has been running at the Maternity Department at RSH specifically for teenage mums-to-be for some time and appointments are also held in the homes of pregnant teenagers, but Midwives wanted to provide something else in the community to increase the service they offer.
The service is run by Yvonne Cross, Midwife for Teenagers, alongside Louise Norton, who joined recently and is also a Midwife for Teenagers.
Yvonne said: “We provide the same service to teenage mothers-to-be as we do for adults. However, as they are younger there could be additional and more complex issues that we need to talk through with them and provide support for.
“Our clinics provide advice and help about a number of issues that they may need to consider including how to break the news to their relatives.”
Yvonne has been involved with the service for the past three years, which provides antenatal and postnatal care up until about a month after the mum gives birth.
She added: “It’s very important that we are dedicated specifically to that age group as it provides continuity of care for them. We see them at Maternity, in their homes by appointment to fit in around their school, college or work commitments and now at Sunflower House.
“We also run Parentcraft for teenage girls and their partners which is more aimed at the end of the pregnancy and focuses on pain relief, different types of delivery and a tour of the unit. This is run at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital alongside sessions with Health Visitor Support Workers who focus on baby care. They have been running for about 18 months and have proved to be really popular.
“We can also advise them about contraception and the community based contraception and sexual health clinics.
“Our support is provided from the moment they find out they are pregnant. We would encourage young mothers-to-be to come and see us as soon as they know rather than waiting and dwelling on it, so we can provide care, support and advice from the earliest possible moment.”
Mums-to-be aged 19 and under who need help and support can contact the team on 07786 065134.
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