Getting Maternity Services right for pregnant teenagers and young fathers - 2nd edition, 2009

About one in 15 of all births are to young women under 20 – around 45,000 births in 2007. The majority of their babies’ fathers are under 25. Young parents and their babies have poorer access to maternity services and experience worse outcomes than older mothers and fathers.

Meeting the needs of young women and their partners more effectively will improve the life chances of the young parents and their children, while also making significant contributions to the national and local targets on early access to maternity care; on reducing infant mortality, smoking and teenage conceptions; and on increasing breastfeeding.

This guide is aimed at practitioners working in mainstream services or areas where the prevalence of teenage pregnancy is relatively low and where there are no dedicated services for pregnant teenagers. It sets out the reasons why it is important to improve the maternity service offered to young parents, and offers practical guidance on working with pregnant teenagers and young fathers.

This guide, originally produced in 2008, has been revised following feedback from midwives and other maternity workers saying that they would welcome more guidance on ways of effectively engaging with young mothers. The content has been revised with the close involvement of the Fatherhood Institute and offers practical guidance on working with pregnant teenagers, young mothers and young fathers.