Support For Young Mums

[JJAZ]

A big hello to ALL :wave:

I am wanting to start a support organisations for Young Mums,

I am calling all young mums, to bring forth ideas

What could have helped you when you were a young mummy??

Thanks for your help!!

[woven_wings]

I founded and run an organisation in Adelaide, supporting disadvantaged people and young mothers. This is self-funded.

I run a clothing service, furniture service, friendship group, and refer to other services. Can also organise food hampers and referals to parenting classes and sessions, etc.

If you want any help, please PM me.

If you want to become a recognised charity (I am not - too much legal rigmarol) - you will need to have a board of directors with commitee members, I think it was 5? that manage ideas, finances etc. To recieve any government funding and most other funding you must be a recognised charity.

[YMo7]

just to know that someone was the to listen to me (which i still look for LOL) or grab something quick from the shop for me had i run out of bread or milk, etc.

[tomyisa]

I am running a young mums group. Groups like this is a great outlet for young mums to get toether with people their own age. I knew nobody my age with kids so became a great outlet for me. Now I am taking over the running of it and looking at expanding it. Young mums groups are hard to come by so starting up a new one in an area that is needed would be a great thing.

[cocobambino]

Jess and I have started an organisation, we plan to speak at schools and start young mothers groups and get the word out there, As there is no advertising allowed i will not mention the name but for more info please pm me or IttyBitty for an email address or more info

[HarvestMoon]

I am running a young mums group. Groups like this is a great outlet for young mums to get toether with people their own age. I knew nobody my age with kids so became a great outlet for me. Now I am taking over the running of it and looking at expanding it. Young mums groups are hard to come by so starting up a new one in an area that is needed would be a great thing.

I agree with this. The toughest thing i face as a young mum is the social isolation. It would be great if i could go to a place where i could meet other young mothers.

[YMo7]

when i had my first dd, i was 20 and i went to a playgroup and i was the only young person. everyone else was well and truely 30 plus. i felt so out of place.
i haven't been back to anything like it since. i am now 26 and have 6 kids and ttc #7 and would like a playgroup that has mums up to say 34 ish...

[Freya]

Breastfeeding advice, when to introduce solids ect.. I think ALOT of young mums need to have support and information on.

The thing that could/could have helped me heaps was accomadation being able to get into a house it is next to impossible for me being under 18 and only on a pension...

[cocobambino]

I am just waiting on confirmed permssion to advertise our organisation so stay tuned

jess (IttyBitty) & myself (courtney) are so excited

[Benji]

Breastfeeding advice, when to introduce solids ect.. I think ALOT of young mums need to have support and information on.

The thing that could/could have helped me heaps was accomadation being able to get into a house it is next to impossible for me being under 18 and only on a pension...

I have to agree with this. I was 22 so I guess that would be considered a young mum and I was so lucky that a friend of mine and my mum helped me through all the disinformation out there and all the hard times that come with bfing and introducing solids.

Accomodation was the hardest for me when I split with XDP. He is 30 so he never has any trouble and, although I have excellent references, no one would even give me a 2nd look in being a single mum (and I was 24). Luckily I used to work in real estate so my friend hooked me up with a rental otherwise, without her, I don't know where I would be today.

I would also like to see more young mum parent groups.

[HarvestMoon]

I think the posts about accommodation are a good point. Although there are alot of organisations that will help young mums with this such as supported accommodation services, community rent schemes and the likes.

The problem is information about these services isn't readily available. You have to know where to look to get it. So i think more information about where to go to get in touch with the services you need is a good one.

A website that breaks down the states and lists all the organisation that are applicable to young mums and what services they offer would be really helpful.

[SmileyBJ]

just to know that someone was the to listen to me

:iagree:Its tough enough to be a young mum, but in my case to go at it alone has been such an extra emotional journey... Finding people who will listen and help in any way posible is a HUGE relief...

[YMo7]

LJ - i was a proud single young mummy too.... i was 19 and pregnant and when i was 6 months pregnant (around xmas) i split up with XDP and i was single until DD was 9 months old - then i met my DH.

[SmileyBJ]

LJ - i was a proud single young mummy too.... i was 19 and pregnant and when i was 6 months pregnant (around xmas) i split up with XDP and i was single until DD was 9 months old - then i met my DH.

:) I also hope to find a wonderful guy who will stick around one day and love me for who I am even though I will have a bub. It'll happen one day lol.

[JJAZ]

Hi Ladies,
Thankyou for your feedback!! I really appreciate it!

If anyone would like to PM me with their story... I would love to hear it!!

Thanks again

Have a GREAT day

Jes

[maddiebub]

I find that having a place to go and hang out with my baby, with other adults around is really important. When I am having a bad day, knowing that there is somewhere I can go, that is clean and relaxed that I can chat with someone who cares. Having someone who will call me, just to see how I am doing is fantastic! I cant think of all the things that I want to say but mainly just having someone listen to me!

[YMo7]

like a playgroup - but that is like a drop in centre (open 10 - 4 every day for instance) so that if you need sanity, guidance, a cuppa, advise from another mum (not midwife) or just somewhere to go where you feel safe, relaxed and welcome, you don't have to wait a whole week before playgroup is on again coz it is open every day when you need it. give a gold coin donation so that no one is out of pocket for coffee etc and make it a rule to bring a snack for your kids... if there were a few people involved in the setting up of things, a few mums could rotate the roster as to who is there on what days each week etc so that there is always someone... people could donate larger outdoor toys, etc or you could fund-raise to afford pencils and toy cars and balls and dolly's etc. you could also make an outing once a month or so - not expensive though so that everyone can go - like those free playgrounds in shopping centres, macca's with a playground, an outdoor playground, a playland, a park, someone's house, etc. wow - the ideas are all swimming around my head - i would love to help if i am near you. i am in sydney west. lol. and i will shut up now! hehe.

[Elmofan]

like a playgroup - but that is like a drop in centre (open 10 - 4 every day for instance) so that if you need sanity, guidance, a cuppa, advise from another mum (not midwife) or just somewhere to go where you feel safe, relaxed and welcome, you don't have to wait a whole week before playgroup is on again coz it is open every day when you need it. give a gold coin donation so that no one is out of pocket for coffee etc and make it a rule to bring a snack for your kids... if there were a few people involved in the setting up of things, a few mums could rotate the roster as to who is there on what days each week etc so that there is always someone... people could donate larger outdoor toys, etc or you could fund-raise to afford pencils and toy cars and balls and dolly's etc. you could also make an outing once a month or so - not expensive though so that everyone can go - like those free playgrounds in shopping centres, macca's with a playground, an outdoor playground, a playland, a park, someone's house, etc. wow - the ideas are all swimming around my head - i would love to help if i am near you. i am in sydney west. lol. and i will shut up now! hehe.

This is exactly that I am looking into open in my area

IttyBitty where are you from ? Id love to help

[YMo7]

where are you at elmofan?

i am looking to open one in my area and am after help.

if anyone is interested, please PM me.

I am in western sydney, between blacktown and penrith.

[Elmofan]

I'm In North Brisbane Queensland

[Mum&bubs]

I found my biggest struggle as a young mum, was meeting other mothers around my age (not now, but at first.. until I found bubhub :laughing:) and I lost alot of friends once I had my babies, so I felt pretty isolated and just wanted some friends!! So I think somewhere you can go and talk to mum's your age, someone that can understand where you are coming from would be good :yes: I wish there was something like that when I first became a mother.

Good luck :thumbsup:

Elmofan- I am still interested in helping you! ;)

[Elmofan]

:wave: Krissy

Will Pm you when i get the chance at the moment our house has been over taken by children.

Talk to you soon

[alexnmillysmum]

Wow there are some great ideas here! I would love to help also i'm on the northside of brissy! I had my ds 1 month shy of my 18th and just had my dd 2 months ago! A drop in type centre would be great plus it can help kill the bored and lonleyness of staying home all day! let me know if i can help anyone PLEASE!!

[roxylady]

I am so excited!!!!!

Next weekend I am starting a course on how to powerfully start a community project and since having my baby 18months ago I really noticed how little moral support mums get! Since last year I have been thinking about how I could start a service to support mums and I love this idea of a drop in centre!

Elmofan, mum&bubs, alexnmilly'smum.....I live in Coorparoo. Would any Brisbane mums like to meet up and get this thing started!!!!
How is Monday 23rd June???!!!!

[alexnmillysmum]

Definately count me in!! the course sounds interesting! I think a drop in centre is exactly what every mum needs old or young!

[Elmofan]

:smiliedance:

[bradyhollymum]

I have just had my second bub in thel ast 22months and found that the information shoved on you about breastfeeding is the only option to be appalling. I myself had alot of trouble feeding but did try, but I was constanstly told that breastfeeding is the only way to go, After speaking to alot of young mums (I'm old at 35) they all said they were so scared to stop feeding and had so much pressure on them to continue, My thoughts are that breastfeeding is wonderful if it can be done and done easily that supports the whole family, but when it becomes too hard then mum turning into a stress ball helps no one. So I would say help with making the right decisions for the whole family in regards to feeding, and common sense parenting as us mums are usually right.

[Jacka]

Hi there just read your post i am 26 yrs with two girls one 6.5 months and one 3yrs i also would love to be involved and love the idea. So interested in the course.

[roxylady]

Hi there just read your post i am 26 yrs with two girls one 6.5 months and one 3yrs i also would love to be involved and love the idea. So interested in the course.

Do you live in Brisbane?

[alexnmillysmum]

For anyone interested we have a group on face book - Happy Mums Centre where you can find out about what we are doing where our meetings are and how you can help. or pm me if you want. Look forward to hearing from you!!

[LaurenB]

Hi all!:wave:

I'm 27, I have two children, I had my first child when I was 19 I agree I think the hardest thing about being a mum early in life is the social isolation, I tried a young mums group back then but there were only two other mums and I found I didn't fit in because I had a partner. I think the second hardest thing about being a young mum is constantly fighting the negative stereotype out there in the community.

I have thought many times about starting a drop in centre for young mums and would Looooovveee to be involved and help out in any way I can. :D

[ellebellea]

I am Lucy and I am 21. I had a daughter when I was sixteen. It was a scandal as I was the youngest daughter of a 'well respected' family. I was, without sounding cliche the last person that people would expect to fall pregnant.
Four years on, after completing my HSC through TAFE I am studying nursing at uni and have just bought a home. I was fortunate to have a great support network that allowed my daughter and I to move on and be able to reach these goals.
I think the idea of a "drop in centre" would be really great for teen Mums like me who sometimes need a bit of support from someone less close to home. I know it would have been great for me at times and I also know that there are so many girls like me who have been through/going through these hard times. I am so fortunate to have my princess and I am thankful for this everday.

[roxylady]

I am Lucy and I am 21. I had a daughter when I was sixteen. It was a scandal as I was the youngest daughter of a 'well respected' family. I was, without sounding cliche the last person that people would expect to fall pregnant.
Four years on, after completing my HSC through TAFE I am studying nursing at uni and have just bought a home. I was fortunate to have a great support network that allowed my daughter and I to move on and be able to reach these goals.
I think the idea of a "drop in centre" would be really great for teen Mums like me who sometimes need a bit of support from someone less close to home. I know it would have been great for me at times and I also know that there are so many girls like me who have been through/going through these hard times. I am so fortunate to have my princess and I am thankful for this everday.

Thanks Lucy,

Your message has given me a boost.Taking on opening a drop-in centre for mums has been a much larger task than I originally thought. I had a bit of a breakdown yesterday, not dealing with everything that is required of me to fulfill this and I really wanted to give up. Stories like yours make me feel like this is worth all the time and stress I am putting into it.

[tahlias mum]

:wave:i fwell pregnant at 16 and had dd at 17.. For me it was not knowing and being able to talk to other young mums in my situation.. I also went to playgroup a couple of them but no one was young and all over 30... not calling you mums over 30 old

[BellyFruit]

Being a young mum is certainly isolating (I'm the youngest by 15 years at the twins' school)

I swear I would have LOVED a t-shirt that said "Yes they ARE mine" kind of thing... too often my mum would be mistaken for the twins' mum:laughing:... unfortunately too I looked about 16 when I had the boys at 20 so the judgement that came with that was tough...

On a positive note, all my friends LOVE my kids and while they're happy not to have their own, and I envy their wordly travels, they are very supportive and always accomodating - they'll come to me instead of me needing to get a baby sitter that kind of thing...

Personally for me, when my CHN tried to match me up with one other young mum in my area, I didn't like her that much, and had enough to deal with on my end without her issues as well...

I just had the attitude that I had to pick myself up and get on with it - I managed to put myself through law school and graduated in 2006.... My babies were my driving force and so many days when I had nothing else to get out of bed for, I did it for them... I'm now at a point where I have a million reasons to get out of bed in the morning, but back then, they were my saving grace and I often get asked if I knew what I know now, would I still have chosen to have the twins? and I always answer yes, because if i didn't have my babies, I'd have left this planet a long time ago...

I would recommend getting some young mums together to talk to teenagers at schools... about what it's REALLY like to be a young and often single mum...

A little while ago, 60mins did a story on 5 young mums who were all about 15-17 who'd just had babies in the past 6 months or were due very soon... it sung their praises and all of the girls "didn't regret their decision" (or carelessness in some cases) ... I was sooo p*ssed off... because the story completely glorified teenage pregnancies and made these young girls out to be fighters etc etc.... what they didn't show was these girls 5 years down the track... when they truly realised (when the baby cute stage was over) what a permanent decision they'd made.... especially when these girls turn 18 and realise how hard life truly is away from all their little friends cooing over their new baby and when the teenage boyf has racked off...

Er... didn't mean to :ecomcity: here... and certainly don't think that all young mums regret having their babies (because I never have) I just thought the story could have given snaps to so many other women who've survived the journey, not ones who have no idea what they're in for...

For the record - I wish I'd had access to a centre just for young parents...

[amandariley]

I'm getting on a bit now (25) but I was working full time, studying and trying to make all ends meet. I think someone just to sit down and listen to you have a whinge after a really **** day is the best! Accommodation is really hard to get too...too expensive if you don't have the chance to get gov. housing! i think training for jobs, business etc would be good...eg. setting up your own business making crafts eg. cards or becoming a consultant so you get out and about and making money at the same time.

[BrokenButterfly]

I would personally like to see my support for young non-single mothers.

I had my daughter at 21, and I copped so many cruel comments. Even though I'd been married nearly two years when I fell pregnant at 20, people just assumed I was single, slept around, was just after welfare etc... I will never forget these two middle aged, rude women who said at the top of their lungs just a few days before my daughter was born "oh look, there goes another teenage s*** just after welfare".

All the services in my area were unavailable, because at 21, I was considered too "old" to be a young mother, and since I had a husband, even though he had a total mental breakdown
(he suffered post partum psychoses - and yes it can happen in men, especially if they an underlying mental illness already), I felt like a single mother of a newborn and an adult baby (which is worse than a newborn) but because I was married, I was not welcome at most services.

I tried joining playgroups for support, but the general ones were full of women who were ten to fifteen years older than me (some were up to 30 years older than me with a 50 something year old mum there), and who looked down on me for being so young. I tried joining ones for younger mothers, but I felt totally out of place. I know there are some wonderful young mums out there, but at these groups, 99% of these women were drug addicts, whose pregnancies were unplanned, they didn't really want to be a mother or had had the kids to get on welfare.

It would have been nice to have a young mother's group where the women were mature, had been in a steady relationship and wanted their kids out of love like I was.

Seriously, it would just be nice if there were support out there for young, responsible, hard working, loving mothers. I know a heap of them exist - because I have met plenty now my daughter is at school. I guess though maybe these hard working mothers, single or partnered, could be at work supporting their kids and that would be why there aren't many in playgroups, I don't know?

But yeah, it would be nice to have support for young mothers who don't fit the stereotype - and that includes people from other cultures, particularly where young marriage and young motherhood are the norm, who perhaps don't feel comfortable with services in place who tend to only deal with single young mothers.

[Elmofan]

:wave: sorry to hijack the thread

If any Brisbane member's wanted to get involved with something like this please contact me and I can point you in the right direction

[crzymumof2]

I totally agree with you BrokenButterfly. I was 22 when I had my first boy but was and still am in a great relationship with his father. Our baby was planned, my parnter earns good money and we could see no reasons to wait for ten years. My old boss even asked me how he took the news and then when I told her we were expecting number to she asked me if I was joking! :confused: I also got heaps of 'dears' and 'loves' from well meaning midwifes, doctors etc. I did joinen a coffee group but found too that all the mums were at least 10-15 years older than me and even though they were all very nice we just didn't have much in common. My only other option was to catch the train to the next suburb ( which was quite a disadvantaged area) and join one of the teenage mums groups. There was just nothing that I fit into and it does get a bit lonely it would have been great if there was some kind of group for young mums that was fun and you wouldn't have to worry about being judged. We are now expecting our third baby and I have just turned 26 but still get the looks and still find some people talk to me like I'm 16. But its great knowing that there are other young mums out there and I wouldn't change things for the world!

[MummyCharmzy]

this drop in centre sounds great!

I had my first just after my 17th and was involved in a young mums group within weeks of him coming home from hospital (he was in for 6 weeks as he was prem). The group at the time was just something to do but to look back on now it was SO much more than that. It meant every week I had a commitment, it meant I made a close group of friends close in age (although I was the youngest by a few years) with children close in age. I am still friends with them now 6 years ... and a few children later.

I'm 23 now and we are expecting #5, I still dont 'fit in' with normal mums groups with 30+ first time mums who seem to think its funny that I'm happily married and expecting #5 :S But I'm also too old for most 'young mum' things.

the hospital for example, its my first pregnancy over 20 and so I'm now too old for the young mums support which I am missing a lot just having that someone to talk to about my concerns and whatnot as I'm highrisk I can only see specialists who speak mumbo-jumbo to me!

I would love to get involved in a support for young parents to help point them to the relevant services and just be a general support. I'd love forsomething like this to be started in melbourne and if anyone has any info on one I'd love to find out more!

[Hokey Pokey]

Jes, I'd love to help out :)

[babyboysforme]

i had my first son at age 18 and my second son at 20. the thing i struggled most with was people constantly telling me how to do things,what to do. i was and am a very good mum, back then i had no family support i lived on my own in sydney. so i stepped up and became a parent. a sole parent at 18. what i needed most was a confidence boost! some one to tell me how good off a job i was doing. and tp point out the positives off being a mother.......
i bleieve young mums need a place and a group off people they can vent with. talk about there issues with out being judged, we all know being a mum is hard. it's harder for young mothers, they often have less support and feel that if they vent there issue's they will be judged, or branded a bad mother.. they need to know it's ok to be sad and angry. they need a way to open up and feel safe doing so, i believe this will help young mums become better mums.
lack of sleep,
crying babies,
lack of social life,
being judged,
responsibility of parenthood,
fears,
losing friends,
lack of personal time,
stress's ect....

[Sushie]

It is really hard being a young mum.I am 21 I have a 12 week old son and most of the time I am really positive. I find it really rewarding when he smiles and recognises me. When people comment on how Im throwing my life away I just tell them "how can anyone regret bringing another life into the world?" The problem for me is that sometimes I feel what they say. I look at all my other friends who are carefree and always out and about, no responsibility, and I truly feel jealose and a bit lost. Im not in a terrible situation, I have a loving partner and we manage finantially. So I feel guilty that I have these types of feelings. My partner is a almost 30 so has had his "young days", I feel like I have missed out on that care free freedom. I feel like I cant tell anyone close to me about how I feel because I really dont want them to have the satisfaction of thinking that they were right. I would not do things differently had i been faced with the same decision, I totally love my son. I just dont know how to deal with the feelings of losing that part of my life. I would love some others perspective and ideas...

[FatBigToe]

I'm not actually a mum yet, but I thought i'd put my two cents in anyway! :p My biggest issue so far is finding accommodation.

Because i'm under 18 I can't sign a lease, even if it was affordable on $371 pf!
I can't be housed in state housing because im under 18 and therefore can't sign a lease with them either. I can't even get on their priority waiting list (until I actually give birth)!
I cant get in youth crisis accommodation because they only take you until your 6 months pregnant.
I can't get into adult crisis accommodation because im under 18.
I'm on all the waiting lists for community housing but I doubt i'll get anywhere soon.
I can't get into accommodation for young mothers because they're all full!
It isn't suitable to stay with family.
I don't think that there is really anything that can be done, I just wanted to have a whinge! It isn't right though, surely there has to be a solution.

[333]

BFT that really sucks. Have you considered share house accommodation? I mean its obviously not ideal, but its a start. Are you unable to stay where you are now? What state are you in? I might be able to find some links for you, if you wanted.

[Boobycino]

I think having mothers around my own age would be great. I 'fit in' to my mothers group, but I'm 21 and the next youngest is 30. My doctor even commented that since she's worked in this area I'm the youngest mother she's treated by about 10 years - this is not a 'young mum' area at all!

When my mothers group found out my age, after a few months of meeting weekly, they looked at me like I'd sprouted a third arm! They got the hint when I tried to disapear into the floor that my age wasn't open for discussion, but it was really obvious in that moment that me being 21 was totally shocking to them.

What I would love is to stop feeling like I have to pretend I'm not 21. To stop feeling like I have to fit in with woman who are in their mid-30s, just to feel accepted. I'd also love to have someone who I can go out with and do things that 21 year olds are supposed to do - dance, party, play, have fun, be free, go shopping (window shopping that is!) - just for a couple of hours before I put my mummy hat back on!

I'm sick of feeling like being a mum is all I am and all I'm allowed to be. Maybe its a mummy thing, but I do feel like I have something to prove on top of just being a mother, I'm a YOUNG mother - I feel like if I fail to be perfect people will look at me and think all those wonderful sterotypes associated with young mums.

[twinsplusone]

Hi all,

I have ben reading this website for a while and these posts made me feel compelled to join and reply.

I had my first son at 16 and am expecting twins in a few weeks. My first son is now 9, time does fly.

I too felt the pressure of the "young mum" stereotype when going through my first pregnancy. When I went through it, I was the first person at my school to stay and finish Year 12 pregnant, my younger sister reports teachers after I graduated asking her how I was going expecting a negative answer and their clear surprise being displayed when she proudly answered that I was completing uni and doing well. Whilst I was lucky and had mountains of support from my partner, his family and my family, it is still difficult being a young mum.

The stereotypes are something we are going to fight for the rest of our lives. Even now my son is at primary school, most of the mothers are closer to my mothers age because of the area we chose for our son to go to school in. I still have to hear my colleagues at work tell me how they don't know how I did it (bringing up a child), whilst they seem to think this is appropriate to say I find it condescending, given this is my life they are commenting on, not some news story.

Being a mum at any age is difficult without the stereotypes people put on young mothers.

I encourage all of you young mums to fight the stereotype and prove them wrong, for your own self esteem and your children's future.

It is only now at 25 (which is still quite young) I can hold my head high and smile at the comments people make about young mothers and directly challenge them. I have graduated uni, have worked my way up to management and have a great career and have still managed to enjoy a social life, so when I overhear people saying negative things about young mums, I alway make sure I interject and tell them that I was a young mum. Be proud of the label, don't let it own you. We have achieved so much in such a short space of time.

My son is well adjusted and intelligent, the light of my life and I would never change my previous choices, he is certainly meant to be on this planet, he has his own purpose. We laugh when he says that we are so "old" compared to him (last year he was a third of my age!)

So best of luck to you all, support is definately needed for all mums. I have found support in both older and younger mums who have become friends, so although a specific young mums support group would be great, remember there are some older understanding mums that will not look down on you because of your age.

[FatBigToe]

BFT that really sucks. Have you considered share house accommodation? I mean its obviously not ideal, but its a start. Are you unable to stay where you are now? What state are you in? I might be able to find some links for you, if you wanted.

I'm staying with family right now and it isn't really suitable for much longer, let alone with a baby. Even DCP agree with me, so I need to find somewhere reasonably soon.

Yeah, i'm going to look more seriously into sharing if i'm not able to find somewhere else soon. While not ideal, it is definitely better than what i'm faced with at the moment.

I'll also starting to worry that i'm going to be stuck with all the baby stuff I have on layby and no where to put it! Although that is the least of my worries at the moment, I think the nesting hormones are starting to kick in!

Ironically, I live in one of the suburbs next to you! It would be great if you could find some links for me, but i'm pretty sure i've exhausted the majority of places so far.

[333]

Just pmed you BFT.

[2girls&1angelboy]

i fell pregnant at 16 and lost that bub at 11weeks, i fell pregnant 6months later and had my DD a month b4 my 18, i then had my DD2 in march 08 they mean the world to me and i wouldnt change it, i had the same prob with mothers group every1 was alot older so i felt uneasy at going. i BF my 1st until she was 18months and still currently BF my 2nd i work 35hours a week and im still with my girls daddy we have now been together for nearly 6 & a half years. None of my friends have had bubs yet so im the very 1st so getting oiut and about is hard u get so many disapproving looks.
Something for young mums would b great!!! im happy to help in any way i can :)
Well done to all you young mums out there!!!:hugs:

[JJAZ]

Wow there are so many replies in here! Its great to see so many Young Mums Trying to do the best that they can despite being judged and discriminated against! Well done :yelclap:

I guess at this stage alot of you have said that you would like to be able to do things that your friends could do and things along those lines.. How could you see yourself being able to do these things.
With the organisation that i am working towards opening it will be a social network as well as educational and benificial for mothers, fathers and babies.

What type of activities would you participate in? What would make you want to go along to a group?

Thankyou.

[Lil Bugs Mummy]

Hi everyone i have just been reading these posts and until now i never did consider myself a young mum, just a mum, i am in a mothers with all women over 38 but still to this (my dd is 7 months), i haven't been made to feel that i am young and don't look old either by the way, all i get from people in Adelaide is what a wonderful job me and my partner must be doing as we have a beautiful healthly contented looking child, it makes me sick that people out there are not getting the same support, we choice to have our children while we are young and no one should judge anyone, girls choosing to have their babies should be commended on make the hard decision as should the ones that dont feel they are ready. I personally feel that if i had my child at say 40, i wouldn't be at my best to adequatelly care for them the rest of theirs lives and i am not saying people can't thats just me, but you don't see them being unjustly targeted for it. Wel thats my bit hope you keep up all your good work and stay strong there are lots of us. :yelclap:

[JJAZ]

Bump :)

[jellea88]

Hey ladies this sounds like a great idea.

When I had DD at 18, I lost my confidence, I couldn't talk to my friends because they deserted me and although I had great support from my parents I still couldn't talk to them. I think having someone to talk to and having someone to show you that you are still the same person, just with more responsibility, would be great.

Having DP has helped a lot, because he has shown me that I really am no different.

Even now at 21 with a 3 month old I still have difficulty being confident about meeting new people and am really scared of being judged.

Having someone there to ask the silly questions and not be looked at like I'm a complete idiot, someone who understands.

I think most young mum just need someone to be there to talk to, to sit with, to cry with, someone who genuinely wants to help.

:hugs:

[mumofjay]

Hi girls just joined ur group on FB think it's a great idea only wish i could help out, as a young mum, fell preg at 15 beautiful son born 1 month after my 16th b'day, that was nearly 11yrs ago, (not so young now) i think BF issues, some one to chat with, and definatly housing issues, would be most helpful although it was 11 yrs ago that i went through everything we were lucky that we found a private rental with a lovely elderly lady giving us a go, not to mention a washing machine fridge and tv, if it wasn't for her we would of been living with my parents or xdp parents, as for the BF issues i had one midwife ask me "are u stupid or something?" while grabbing my Breast and shoving it into my son's mouth, only to find out i wasn't lying he wasn't able to latch on because his tounge wasn't long enough (can't think of what they called it sorry), and i still get the "o ur too young to have a 10yr old i supose your mum brought him up" um no i brought my intellegent ADHD child up by myself!
O another thing help and support for younger mum's that have behaviour challenged or otherwise challenged kids sorry don't like to label! as all i got from everyone, it's parenting issues you are to young to raise a child properly, including from a pead!! untill i found my current wonderful pead who actually listened to what i was saying!! and recently called us a success case to a student he was mentoring and sayed a good doctor can tell if his treatment for a child is working by looking at the parents, o so true!!
I'm on far south side of Brisbane and working full time atherwise would love to help out anyway i could, just can't see it happening ATM, but hopefully in the future when i cut bak hrs @ work i can.

[Leishy]

the social aspect is hard. i cant talk to anyone my age about anything im due in 11 weeks and am finding it had as everyone is kind of telling me what to do, thinking i wont be able to manage, i have my aunties already planning a roster taking it in turns to stay with me, i want to experience it myself and be able to ask for help from people my age when i need it. i have just turned 20. so it would be good to have a group for young mums so they can all share ideas and stuff like that.

[2girls&1angelboy]

leishy big hugs hunni i had my 1st born at 17 u couls say thanks but no thanks i would like to c how i go i need to learn to cope and ask if i need ur help can i let u know

dont know if that will help just an idea.

do u know what u are having?

[Leishy]

yeah i know its not that easy though. mum even thinks she is going to be at the birth for some reason.. i have told her many times my partner and i want it something we can experience with just me and him.
yeah im having a little girl. :yelclap:

[Annabella]

Hi I pm'd you, i get carried away on these things! Warning...its LOOOOONG!