Although there are numerous websites that offer online videos of women giving birth, finding videos of teen mothers is especially difficult. Not all women feel comfortable having their birth experience filmed, especially young, first-time mothers who aren't exactly sure what to expect during delivery.
Online Videos of Teens in Labor
Here are a few YouTube selections that may be of interest. Please be advised that these giving birth videos offer a graphic view of different methods of childbirth. Some are age-restricted, and you may be asked to verify your age and that you understand you are about to view graphic content before you can watch some of them.
Cesarean Birth
Although plenty of pregnant teens do deliver vaginally, a C-section birth tends to be more common among younger mothers. Pregnancy birth videos of C-sections can help you prepare in case one is required.
Natural Water Birth
This video of an 18-year-old having a water birth is rather graphic, but definitely worth a watch if this is the type of birth experience you're hoping for.
Birth Without Anesthesia
Natural childbirth has its benefits, but it can be very painful, more so for some young women than others. Be forewarned that this natural childbirth video is graphic. It may be too graphic for some viewers.
Life Changes After Labor
Life after the birth of a child is rarely easy for any teen. The following videos offer a stark view of what happens once the baby is delivered, and the day-to-day reality of raising a child sets in.
ABC Primetime
ABC Primetime interviewed pregnant teens as part of a special on young mothers in America. In this video excerpt from the program, Hannah gives birth to twin girls seven weeks before her due date, on the same day she was supposed to graduate from high school. Young mom Aliki is also highlighted as she graduates as the mother of an 18-month-old son.
16 and Pregnant
The popular MTV show 16 and Pregnant attempts to show how pregnancy profoundly changes a teen's life by profiling several different teens as they prepare to give birth. Many of the featured teens end up fighting with their parents, feeling alienated by their friends, and struggling to build a relationship with the father of their baby. Although the show is not focused exclusively on the experience of giving birth, it definitely offers a thought provoking look at all the issues teen mothers face during this challenging time in their lives. Video content is available through the MTV website.
Teen Pregnancy Rates
Despite continuing efforts to decrease teen pregnancy, the United States still has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates of any industrialized country. According to 2014 statistics released by the Center for Disease Control, 249,078 babies were born to teens aged 15 to 19 years old. This resulted in a live birth rate of 24.2 per 1,000 for this age group. Though teen pregnancy rates are at a record low due to more effective use of contraception, less sex, and access to more information about pregnancy, it's still a high percentage for a first-world country.
Watching Real Childbirth Videos Can Provide Value
Watching film of teens giving birth won't tell you all the facts you need to know, but seeing examples of girls giving birth will definitely show how each birth is a unique experience. For an inexperienced young mother-to-be, these videos can be an eye opener about what to expect when delivery time arrives. For other teens, these videos may serve as cautionary tales that inspire them to be careful about exploring their sexuality. No matter the case, teens should view these videos in order to be educated about the pregnancy and labor process.
