“That's when the pain really started”: Birth experiences of teen mothers

Significance. Approximately 70% of pregnant teens do not receive childbirth education. This is especially troubling given associations between childbirth education and positive birth experiences, which translate into more positive birth and parenting outcomes. Although improving birth and parenting outcomes among teen mothers is an important public health goal, little research has examined teen mothers' birth experiences. Purpose. This study examined birth experiences of teen mothers who participated in a highly supportive teen parenting program that offered access to a childbirth education classes, mentors, and doulas (labor support). Methods. Semi-structured interviews conducted with teen mothers (N=14) asked participants to describe their birth experience in detail. Participants were predominantly African American and from low-income households. Ages ranged from 15-19. Using a narrative analytic approach, participant's responses from the interviews were reconstructed into birth stories. Experiences were then compared and contrasted within and across stories to identify a common narrative as well as to identify factors associated with variation within and across experiences. Results. Even when provided with childbirth education and supportive programming, participants' birth experiences varied considerably. In addition to providing a common narrative of medicalized birth among teen mothers, results from this study show a continuum of experiences ranging from confusion and disorientation to informed awareness. Participants also varied in the degree to which their stories described them as active and passive agents in their own birth experiences. Conclusions. This study has implications for tailoring childbirth education for teen mothers and can inform health care professionals working with teen mothers.