The National Teenage Pregnancy Midwifery Network

Working to improve outcomes for young parents and their children by supporting midwives to develop and deliver maternity services to meet their needs.

What is the National Teenage Pregnancy Midwifery Network?

Founded by two teenage pregnancy specialist midwives in 2001, the online network aims to improve maternity services for young parents and their children by  

• collecting evidence on what works to improve outcomes
• enabling midwives (and others) to share good practice and innovative work ideas
• increasing support for midwives working with young parents
• producing an e-newsletter three times a year covering policy, practice, research and resources

Read the National Teenage Pregnancy Midwifery Network Newsletters.

Who is the network for?

The network is for midwives who work with young parents or have an interest in teenage pregnancy, family nurses, health visitors, commissioners, and anyone else interested in the contribution maternity care can make to improving outcomes for teenage parents and their children. It has over 700 members and joining is free.  Members receive the e-newsletter 3 times a year and are invited to contribute their own practice or research experience and ideas.

The newsletter is featured on CHIMAT’s website and in guidance from the Department of Health, Public Health England and the Royal College of Midwives:

Getting maternity services right for pregnant teenagers and young fathers. A practical guide for midwives, doctors, maternity support workers and receptionists (3rd edition, 2015) 

To contact or join the network please email Jenny Mcleish on tpmidwives@bestbeginnings.org.uk, giving your name, position and work address.

NOTE: We are sorry but we are not able to help students with their essays or work experience

This page lists:

- resources for young parents-to-be and young parents
- resources developed by network members
- publications for practitioners
- job descriptions for teenage pregnancy midwives

You may also find useful information on our Helping vulnerable families pages.

Resources for young parents-to-be and young parents

App for young parents-to-be and new parents
Baby Buddy free phone app for parents-to-be and new parents from parent and child charity Best Beginnings.

Publications for young parents
The young woman's guide to pregnancy
This comprehensive 96 page guide from Tommy's, the baby charity, has been written and designed especially to appeal to young women with text, pictures and real life stories all featuring young pregnant women.  Free copies are available from Tommy's website.  
My pregnancy my choice, You and your baby (CHANGE)
Young mum to be (Kids Premiership)
Your pelvic floor (leaflet designed by teenagers)

Websites for young parents
littlelullaby.org.uk - Little Lullaby - 'The place for young parents'. Information, chatrooms for young parents, buddying scheme
www.beastar.org.uk/ - breastfeeding website for young mums
www.tommysbabybe.org.uk - stop smoking website for pregnant teenagers

Young dads TV - Youtube channel with videos for young dads

Healthy eating
Pregnant teenagers and diet  (Tommy’s) 
A short guide for professionals who work with pregnant teenagers but don't have specialist training in nutrition. Free copies are available from http://www.tommys.org/
Eating well in pregnancy: A practical guide to support teenagers (First Steps Nutrition Trust)
A detailed and practical guide including affordable recipes.
Good enough to eat (Maternity Alliance/ Food Commission)
Based on interviews with 46 pregnant teenagers, this report looks at what they are eating, as well as factors influencing dietary habits, such as financial hardship, and attitudes to improving their diet.

Smoking cessation
Talking about smoking in pregnancy (Tommys)
A short guide for professionals who work with pregnant teenagers, focusing on evidence and practical strategies. Free hard copies are available from http://www.tommys.org/
Smoking cessation for teenagers workshop  (18.10.06 conference)

Young fathers
Working with young fathers workshop (18.10.06 conference)
Fatherhood Institute research briefing: Young Fathers

Preventing unplanned second pregnancies
Preventing unplanned second pregnancies - models of service delivery (Network paper)
Antentatal/postnatal sexual health care pathway (Nottingham)
Antenatal contraception care pathway (Hull)  
Postnatal contraception care pathway (Hull) 

Resources developed by network members 

Teenage pregnancy guideline (with needs assessment and care pathway) (Morecombe Bay)

Care pathway for pregnant teenagers (Durham and Darlington)
Care pathway for pregnant teenagers (Liverpool)
Care pathway for pregnant teenagers (Gloucester)
Care pathway for pregnant teenagers (Nottingham)

Care pathway for pregnant teenagers (Mid Essex)
Social History form (Liverpool)
Needs assessment form (Dudley)
Postnatal phone consultation (Liverpool)
Assessment criteria matrix (Isle of Wight)
Referral criteria to teenage pregnancy midwives (Nottingham) 
Hierarchy of specialist support ( Burnley)
Data collection form  (Burnley )
Referral flow chart (Wakefield)
Audit tool  (Gloucester)
Assessing Gillick competency (Bristol)

Publications for practitioners and commissioners

A framework for supporting teenage mothers and young fathers (Public Health England 2016)

Getting maternity services right for pregnant teenagers and young fathers. A practical guide for midwives, doctors, maternity support workers and receptionists (3rd edition, 2015) 

Teenage parents: who cares? A guide to commissioning and delivering maternity services for young parents (2008)  

Multi-agency working to support pregnant teenagers: a midwifery guide to working with Connexions and other agencies (2007)

Sure Start Plus Evaluation (2005)

Job descriptions for teenage pregnancy midwives

Anon area Strategic TP midwife job description
Brighton TP midwife job description
Buckinghamshire TP liaison midwife job description
Gloucestershire TP liaison midwife job description