Manual by teenage mothers a reality check

SAGGY boobs and bottoms, stitches, swollen ankles and stretch marks.

These are just some of the real-life experiences from an innovative training manual devised by teen mothers to help educate about the realities of being a young mother.

Funded by the Crisis Pregnancy Agency, the project is based on the experiences of young mothers, now in their early 20s, who felt the realities of teenage pregnancy needed to be relayed to other teens as a preventative measure.

Aimed at 15 to 19-year-olds, the Real Deal includes advice on how not to get pregnant, a menstrual cycle chart, information on sexually transmitted diseases, drugs, and a self-esteem survey.

Designed in pink, black and grey graphics the 76-page manual is peppered with authentic quotes from the women, such as “sex won’t make him yours”, “use protection every time” and “a baby won’t make him stay”.

A chapter on life as a teenage mum tells it how it is, describing sleepless nights, no time for yourself, social life practically non-existent, saggy boobs and bottom, and a baby belly that is very hard to get rid of.

Youth worker and programme manager Anne Fitzpatrick said it had come about through her experience of working with early school leavers, many of whom were teenage mothers.

“I have worked with more than 200 young mothers. They all love their children dearly, but most do wish they had waited until they were older,” she said.

Ms Fitzpatrick said young mothers often found it difficult to find work and were left holding the baby. She said often, the girls felt lonely and isolated.

“Sex is seen as exciting and exotic, but the reality is so far removed from this but they do not realise this at the time,” she said.

Ms Fitzpatrick said the teen mothers felt sex education in school was very basic.

“They only ever saw their productive organs in science classes, but did not even really understand how the menstrual cycle worked or their bodies.”

Run initially as a pilot project, users reported the manual to be very informative and helpful.

The department of Public Health and Primary Care at Trinity College Dublin, which evaluated the manual, has recommended it be rolled out an national basis to youth reaches and schools.

Anyone experiencing a crisis pregnancy can freetext the word ‘list’ to 50444 or visit www.positiveoptions.ie for information on free, non-judgmental crisis pregnancy counselling services which are available at 50 centres nationwide.