BF ? from 16 and pregnant

emmared1986 · July 2009

Did anyone else feel like they really poorly represented breast feeding on the reunion special of 16 and pregnant? I know those girls were young and BFing is really hard, but I thought Dr. Drew should have at least talked about some of the benefits of BFing. He portrayed it in a negative light and I'm afraid they turned off alot of people to even trying to BF. It scared me alittle to, but I dont give up that easily

NiniJ55 · July 2009

I was unable to watch the reunion show. Can you elaborate on how you felt that he potrayed BF in such a negative light?

kellmo · July 2009

I have been thinking about bf. It totally turned me off and scared me!!!! I was second guessing myself.

imaPrincess · July 2009

I felt the same way! I think they could have pointed out some benefits...I also think though that the entire show glorifies teen pregnancy and lets young girls know that if these train wrecks could do it that they can too.

Sticky41284 · July 2009

I think Dr. Drew was trying to protect the girls from being chastised more than they probably already are. I'm sure he knows the benefits, but he didn't want it to turn into something where the girls were called bad mothers for not BFing.

emmared1986 · July 2009

NiniJ55:
I was unable to watch the reunion show. Can you elaborate on how you felt that he potrayed BF in such a negative light?

Someone asked if any of the girls breastfed their babies. One girl did for 2 weeks and another did for less than a week. The other 3 didnt try and of course one baby was adopted (that girl is so smart!)

So Dr. Drew was saying how breastfeeding is really hard and your breasts will hurt all the time and leak, and the other girl was talking about how your boobs feel like bricks and rocks. They were all complaining because they are teens, but I thought Dr. Drew could have slipped in how BF is tough but the benefits are this this and this, however its a personal decision. blah blah

YayMom · July 2009

I thought the same thing when I watched it last night. However, I'm still more appalled with Farra's mother. I just can't stand her!

emmared1986 · July 2009

Sticky41284:
I think Dr. Drew was trying to protect the girls from being chastised more than they probably already are. I'm sure he knows the benefits, but he didn't want it to turn into something where the girls were called bad mothers for not BFing.

Thats true, I dont think any of them are bad mothers at all, they are trying their best with the situation they were given. I just know that all the talk about rock boobs scared me, and I'm not 16, so I hope it didnt turn off alot of other pregnant women who may have been considering BFing

anakin · July 2009

I know that at least 1 mother that was not shown in her episode to BF later posted an update saying that she did. I do remember that Ebony (I think episode 5) did for a little while. But everyone else was criticized for not. So someone, Amber I think (episode 4) wrote an update that was posted on MTV.com that said that she tried. But wasn't successful because of milk coming in late, and that she was really uncomfortable doing it with the cameras there.

Of course giving birth on camera was no problem!?

And I do agree that this really glamorizes teen pg. And the only episode that was "real" was the one where they went through the process of giving up the baby, and they were heavily criticized for their decision. They are all trainwrecks, but they don't show it that way.

jkfranklin · July 2009

I've never done it, but from everyone I've talked to bf is only hard in the beginning. If you can stick it out it gets much easier.

NiniJ55 · July 2009

emmared1986:

NiniJ55:
I was unable to watch the reunion show. Can you elaborate on how you felt that he potrayed BF in such a negative light?

Someone asked if any of the girls breastfed their babies. One girl did for 2 weeks and another did for less than a week. The other 3 didnt try and of course one baby was adopted (that girl is so smart!)

So Dr. Drew was saying how breastfeeding is really hard and your breasts will hurt all the time and leak, and the other girl was talking about how your boobs feel like bricks and rocks. They were all complaining because they are teens, but I thought Dr. Drew could have slipped in how BF is tough but the benefits are this this and this, however its a personal decision. blah blah

Oh okay. Yeah, I think we all know it's ruff in the beginning .... but it gets better as you continue.

getnmarried910 · July 2009

I agree. I am guessing most of those girls didn't have any support or knowledge of BFing otherwise they'd have been told the pain will go away after a short time. I was scared to BF with the first one, and it hurt, but it goes away. Engorgement isn't a constant thing like they made it sound. I think htey are all just young and didn't want to work at something else.

Such-a-girl · July 2009

jkfranklin:
I've never done it, but from everyone I've talked to bf is only hard in the beginning. If you can stick it out it gets much easier.

Such-a-girl · July 2009

jkfranklin:
I've never done it, but from everyone I've talked to bf is only hard in the beginning. If you can stick it out it gets much easier.

I was a teen mom (not that it matters) and in the hospital I tried and had no luck my son would not latch on, I got frustrated and was embarrassed when all the nurses was trying to assist in front of family members so I gave up. But once I got home and my milk came in I figured it out b/c I was engorged and I knew that him BF'ing would relieve the pain. I ended up BF'ing him for a year and you're right its hard in the beginning but it gets easier as time goes on.

SaraRose20 · July 2009

When he first brought it up I think I remember him saying that there were lots of misconceptions about BFing. My impression from that was that he was going to go into the benefits because he thought the girls had been somewhat misinformed since they didn't even seem to give it a try. (I remember one girl's mom telling her that if she BF she would get saggy.) I was surprised when they just left off with all the girls saying how much it hurt, etc. I think whatever someone chooses to do is fine, but I didn't think the subject was treated very fairly on the show...

Stephanie586 · July 2009

YayMom:
I thought the same thing when I watched it last night. However, I'm still more appalled with Farra's mother. I just can't stand her!

This.

I couldn't believe she tried to say she didn't think she hit her. She most certainly did. Her mom is not right.

ajgreez · July 2009

I didn't see this episode, but I noticed that we are due on the same day! Happy 3rd Tri Day

anakin · July 2009

Such-a-girl:
jkfranklin:
I've never done it, but from everyone I've talked to bf is only hard in the beginning. If you can stick it out it gets much easier.

I was a teen mom (not that it matters) and in the hospital I tried and had no luck my son would not latch on, I got frustrated and was embarrassed when all the nurses was trying to assist in front of family members so I gave up. But once I got home and my milk came in I figured it out b/c I was engorged and I knew that him BF'ing would relieve the pain. I ended up BF'ing him for a year and you're right its hard in the beginning but it gets easier as time goes on.

I love your story. So many people would have given up. It's great that you didn't and it worked out for you and your DS.

emmared1986 · July 2009

ajgreez:
I didn't see this episode, but I noticed that we are due on the same day! Happy 3rd Tri Day

Thank you! You too! I just realized this myself. Let the hyperventilating begin. Have any paper bags?

englishviola · July 2009

FWIW, I BF my son for 10 months and I found it pretty easy from start to finish. I did have family/spousal support though. I have friends who had a hard time in the beginning, but stuck it out and then BF for a year+

larlar08 · July 2009

getnmarried910:
I agree. I am guessing most of those girls didn't have any support or knowledge of BFing otherwise they'd have been told the pain will go away after a short time. I was scared to BF with the first one, and it hurt, but it goes away. Engorgement isn't a constant thing like they made it sound. I think htey are all just young and didn't want to work at something else.

This!! Don't let what they said scare you!

easjer05 · July 2009

I was surprised and a little disappointed by that, but at the same time, I don't think anyone should be criticized for choosing not to breastfeed, and I think Dr. Drew was trying to protect them. The truth is that breastfeeding is not always easy, even though some people make it sound that way. And several of these girls were living on their own with little immediate support. I wish that it had been discussed more, so that the pros and cons (money being a big one for several of them) could have been hashed out, but I'm not surprised.

I actually totally and completely disagree that the show glamorized teen pregnancy though. I thought the show was amazingly sensitive in showing the naivete of their hopefulness and the harshness of the reality of strained relationships, being pulled in so many directions and exactly how hard it was to make it all work.

I don't want to see the show on for long periods of time, because I think that would inadvertently glorify teen pregnancy, but I think the actual show was anything but. The one thing that was clear to me was that these girls are struggling and had to grow up SO quickly, and with varying levels of support.

SaraRose20 · July 2009

Stephanie586:

YayMom:
I thought the same thing when I watched it last night. However, I'm still more appalled with Farra's mother. I just can't stand her!

This.

I couldn't believe she tried to say she didn't think she hit her. She most certainly did. Her mom is not right.

Yes, this! It was on camera, I can't believe she tried to deny it!

gogo2325 · July 2009

Sticky41284:
I think Dr. Drew was trying to protect the girls from being chastised more than they probably already are. I'm sure he knows the benefits, but he didn't want it to turn into something where the girls were called bad mothers for not BFing.

This.

I just love the parents of "Carly." What smart, mature and responsible teens for giving their baby up for adoption. What a heartbreaking decision but they did it out of love. I cannot believe that their parents did not support this loving choice. I wish them all the best and would love to hug them both.

beachykeen1723 · July 2009

I didn't think the show glamorized it at all- I think it did a really good job of showing how difficult life is for teen parents.

getnmarried910 · July 2009

easjer05:

I was surprised and a little disappointed by that, but at the same time, I don't think anyone should be criticized for choosing not to breastfeed, and I think Dr. Drew was trying to protect them. The truth is that breastfeeding is not always easy, even though some people make it sound that way. And several of these girls were living on their own with little immediate support. I wish that it had been discussed more, so that the pros and cons (money being a big one for several of them) could have been hashed out, but I'm not surprised.

I actually totally and completely disagree that the show glamorized teen pregnancy though. I thought the show was amazingly sensitive in showing the naivete of their hopefulness and the harshness of the reality of strained relationships, being pulled in so many directions and exactly how hard it was to make it all work.

I don't want to see the show on for long periods of time, because I think that would inadvertently glorify teen pregnancy, but I think the actual show was anything but. The one thing that was clear to me was that these girls are struggling and had to grow up SO quickly, and with varying levels of support.

I agree. At first I thought it'd be glamorizing it, but really, it shows how hard it it. And all of them discouraged having sex or sex without protection after becoming parents. They all know it was stupid to have sex without some form of birth control now, and I hope gets out to people.

getnmarried910 · July 2009

gogo2325:

Sticky41284:
I think Dr. Drew was trying to protect the girls from being chastised more than they probably already are. I'm sure he knows the benefits, but he didn't want it to turn into something where the girls were called bad mothers for not BFing.

This.

I just love the parents of "Carly." What smart, mature and responsible teens for giving their baby up for adoption. What a heartbreaking decision but they did it out of love. I cannot believe that their parents did not support this loving choice. I wish them all the best and would love to hug them both.

I agree with you. I think they did such an amazing thing despite the opposition they received. Catelynn has such a tender heart, you could see that when she talked about how Maci's boyfriend talked to her and how it hurt her to watch that episode. I think that she was very mature, as was her boyfriend.

Brit1017 · July 2009

easjer05:

I actually totally and completely disagree that the show glamorized teen pregnancy though. I thought the show was amazingly sensitive in showing the naivete of their hopefulness and the harshness of the reality of strained relationships, being pulled in so many directions and exactly how hard it was to make it all work.

I don't want to see the show on for long periods of time, because I think that would inadvertently glorify teen pregnancy, but I think the actual show was anything but. The one thing that was clear to me was that these girls are struggling and had to grow up SO quickly, and with varying levels of support.

I agree with this. I think that in almost every episode that I saw (I have seen about 1/2) it showed the couple having a really hard time coping with the new baby and their relationship.

llc730 · July 2009

I also thought it was a little disappointing that there was no mention of all the benfits of BF. It seemed like Dr. Drew was being very "real" about their choices not to use BC and get pregnant in the first place, and he had no problem chastising the one very unsupportive guy so I was surprised that he skirted around this big issue so casually.

jessloveschase08 · July 2009

Yeah, but they are 16/17 years old... I think it was exaggerated. I'll try a little longer than a week with breastfeeding. It takes getting used to.

jessloveschase08 · July 2009

YayMom:
I thought the same thing when I watched it last night. However, I'm still more appalled with Farra's mother. I just can't stand her!

I think the both of them are just big AWs

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