YM2B

A quarter of women booking with the midwives in Arbroath are under 20 years old. Arbroath midwives are always looking for ways to support teenage and young women through pregnancy, as they know how vulnerable and alone they can feel.

The YM2B group is a 6 week course for pregnant women aged under 24. It is held at a Child & Family Support Centre in Arbroath. The group is run together with a Sure Start Health Visitor, with funding from the Regeneration Fund.

Lots of other people come in to help with relaxation, money matters, benefits, housing, home energy, nutrition, food, hygiene, preparation for labour, birth / waterbirth and postnatal days, smoking cessation, and career and education planning. One of the most popular sessions sees students from the health and beauty faculty at Angus College offering advice on caring for health, skin, nails and hair along with free treatments.

YM2B started in April 2006. Generally there are 3-6 women per group and they are welcome to come with partners or family. By popular request the group has changed from one to one-and-a-half hours. Midwife Sheena Howard says, "Most teenage mothers make very competent and successful parents."

This belief is clearly transferred to those attending the group. One young woman said, "I found the people at the group talked to me as an adult - they didn't think of me as just another pregnant teenager. Will definitely get my contraception sorted out though!" Another woman benefited although it was her second child: "It was a recap for me, all the little things I had forgotten. I made new friends who I will stay in contact with, and very much enjoyed all the banter." Making new friends was also important for her partner who added, "This was my first child so I learned loads - and when the baby arrived I remembered what I had learned at the group."

A young dad - who is now a single parent - says YM2B helped him in many ways:
- I learned and found out information plus all about benefits
- I met new couples
- I improved my self-confidence
- It helped me socialise / showed me how to interact with people
- Gave me something to do to pass the day
- It is a fun group.