16 and Pregnant - the show

jlsimon56 · April 2012

I was watching an old episode last night and the new mom was BFing her baby. It was the first episode where I had seen that! Her friend told her it was "weird" and the new mom just replied that she was making her baby smart.

I don't watch the show a lot - I catch snippets every month or so. Does anyone else watch more regularly? Do you see a lot of the teen moms BFing? It was just something I noticed b/c of this last episode.

PhillyGal34 · April 2012

I'm a lurker here (since I haven't had my baby yet) but I noticed this too... The first episode of this season there was a breast pump for a second and that was the first time I saw one and then the second episode was the girl you mentioned. These are the first times I can remember seeing anything about breast feeding and I think I've seen every episode (my guilty pleasure).

lachulavista · April 2012

I was completely floored when I saw the episode where she was bf her baby. I think it was because it was the first mom that I saw on the show do it I even told my dh how I was surprised that she was bf her baby. I don't watch the show either and as I was flipping through channels and happened to come across her in the hospital bf the baby. I think its wonderful that she is bf here baby.

AmyRI · April 2012

I remember one other episode where the mom tried to breastfeed, but the baby had reflux and ended up severely dehydrated and back in the hospital before going on a special formula. I felt bad for her because she was so committed to it, but the baby's reflux was too bad (at least at that point).

But considering how many episodes there have been, it's sad to see how few even attempt breastfeeding. I think it's great that she was doing it despite the obvious peer pressure. Although I'm not surprised, she also delivered med-free despite the nurses telling her she'd change her mind and ask for the epidural, so it's definitely in her character to commit to something and follow through despite what others think.

(this is also my guilty pleasure! got hooked when I was on maternity leave.)

michelle142 · April 2012

I used to watch, but don't really anymore. I've seen maybe 3 or 4 of the Moms try to BF, but it doesn't seem to last.

I remember Farrah (from the 1st season) telling her OB: "I really don't want to breastfeed, I don't want my boobs to get all saggy!" It was almost comical how worried she was about it (and her ridiculous mother was agreeing with her!). Her OB told her that pregnancy and age make your boobs sag, not breastfeeding.

jlsimon56 · April 2012

I have heard they get paid big bucks to be on the show, but in normal teen mom situations, you'd think they'd want to do what's cheaper. But....I think teens think in terms of what's easier, not what's cheaper. I know I did at that age! It would probably be cheaper for them to CD too but I don't think I've seen any of them do that! Haha.

Some of the teens seem so....self-centered still. Sad.

I watch sometimes but DH doesn't like the show b/c of how sad it is. So we watch Tosh.0 instead, hahahahahaha!

Marion&Kit · April 2012

jlsimon56:

I have heard they get paid big bucks to be on the show, but in normal teen mom situations, you'd think they'd want to do what's cheaper. But....I think teens think in terms of what's easier, not what's cheaper. I know I did at that age! It would probably be cheaper for them to CD too but I don't think I've seen any of them do that! Haha.

Some of the teens seem so....self-centered still. Sad.

I watch sometimes but DH doesn't like the show b/c of how sad it is. So we watch Tosh.0 instead, hahahahahaha!

Here in America, the lowest percentage of mothers who try to BF are actually the low-income population. Just wrote a huge research paper about that for my thesis, actually.

MsCrispy · April 2012

Low income moms can go on WIC, which I believe pays for formula. I think WIC supports BFing too, by giving you a pump, but they basically take away the economic incentive to BF.

whitney1170 · April 2012

Marion&Kit:
jlsimon56:

I have heard they get paid big bucks to be on the show, but in normal teen mom situations, you'd think they'd want to do what's cheaper. But....I think teens think in terms of what's easier, not what's cheaper. I know I did at that age! It would probably be cheaper for them to CD too but I don't think I've seen any of them do that! Haha.

Some of the teens seem so....self-centered still. Sad.

I watch sometimes but DH doesn't like the show b/c of how sad it is. So we watch Tosh.0 instead, hahahahahaha!

Here in America, the lowest percentage of mothers who try to BF are actually the low-income population. Just wrote a huge research paper about that for my thesis, actually.

Not to be snarky or judgemental, but itsn't it because they can usually get formula for free due to some kind of government assistance? BF or Formula is basically free for them. Plus, if they don't have good insurance, a pump isn't worth it if they have to go back to work.

I've watched every.single.episode from every season, and this is the first one I've noticed (or remembered) any of them really trying to BF. I was so excited when I saw the first couple girls! The one you're talking about (Katie I think) seems to be a bit of the "crunchy" persuasion depite her age, so I wasn't too surprised when she had a NB and BF, it seemed natural for her lifestyle.

I think the last one from this Tuesday also wore her baby. I'd never seen that either. Maybe they're all learning from TB? LOL

valerieanne9015 · April 2012

I watch this show too much....

I've seen many episodes where the mom is taught BF in the hospital or you see them trying it, but then everyother scene you see them feedin bottles/formula. I get the impression that quiet a few of them try, but tehn switch to formula.

And yes, low-income moms get free/reduced price formula through WIC. WIC also pays for a breastpump in certain instances as well. So either way, low income families can get finiancial help with either choice.

Marion&Kit · April 2012

LucyD1029:
Marion&Kit:
jlsimon56:

I have heard they get paid big bucks to be on the show, but in normal teen mom situations, you'd think they'd want to do what's cheaper. But....I think teens think in terms of what's easier, not what's cheaper. I know I did at that age! It would probably be cheaper for them to CD too but I don't think I've seen any of them do that! Haha.

Some of the teens seem so....self-centered still. Sad.

I watch sometimes but DH doesn't like the show b/c of how sad it is. So we watch Tosh.0 instead, hahahahahaha!

Here in America, the lowest percentage of mothers who try to BF are actually the low-income population. Just wrote a huge research paper about that for my thesis, actually.

I can see that. Most low-paying jobs aren't conducive to pumping. I'm sure poor healthcare and lack of support and education play into it as well.

Those are actually the two biggest reasons - the support network is the most important. BFing education was the second biggest.

Sad, but understandable.

L0L0 · April 2012

On the "where are they now?" special, Izabella tells her friend that she has just recently stopped pumping at lunchtime, and her kid is already over a year old. And the girl whose first baby had reflux is shown nursing her second baby. I watch this show way too much. And now since I've had my baby, I cry at every birth scene.

blondiemama09 · April 2012

L0L0:
On the "where are they now?" special, Izabella tells her friend that she has just recently stopped pumping at lunchtime, and her kid is already over a year old. And the girl whose first baby had reflux is shown nursing her second baby. I watch this show way too much. And now since I've had my baby, I cry at every birth scene.

I was just going to say this! I thought that was awesome of Izabella!

karleegirl · April 2012

I had my first child at 16. I bf for 8 weeks. I did it b/c my mom bf my brother and I and was a huge bf advocate. I couldn't continue because they wouldn't let me pump when i went back to school. (this was in 16 years ago). I remember my friends saying how weird it was. But in my family ff was the weird or different thing.

Finleysmomma · April 2012

I've wondered about this in the past as well, I was a teen mom as well. Got pregnantat 15 ( was one of the "lucky" ones and got preg. the first time I decided to be rebelous and have sex) No this wasn't what I had in mind for my teenage yearsbut a decision I had to live with. That said bf'ing for me was way easier than ff.. no bottles to be made no heating, ect. (Except for school hrs). I dont get why young moms go straight to ff without even giving bf'ing a try. Glad to see that at least one of them is. This time around having a baby at 27 has actuallybeen harder (or maybe its just been so long that I don't remember the commitmentit took). But I wouldn't give it up for the world, I love my special time with my little guy.

alysalouton · April 2012

I have seen every 16 and pregnant and I can only think of a few more other then those mentioned. In season one macy tried and said she had to stop because it hurt her too much and I remember another episode where the boyfriend wante to take the baby to his house and the girls mom was fighting with him saying he couldn't take the baby to his house cause the girl had to feed the baby and couldn't pump enough milk for him to take her.

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