NHS Forth Valley’s Family Nurse Partnership has recently celebrated its first birthday after giving extra support for 29 teenage mums around Clackmannanshire.

As the Advertiser reported last year, the US-inspired project is designed to help first time parents aged 19 and under give their babies a healthy start in life.

Family nurse supervisor at the hospital, Lorraine Newbigging, said: “The scheme has already proved to be a great success. Our target set by the Scottish Government was to reach 102 mums in the first year and we have achieved that, so we are delighted.

“Being a parent is a challenge for most people, but being a teenage parent brings with it even greater challenges. Not only does the Family Nurse Partnership increase the likelihood of the young mum being able to go back to school or a job, but it can lead to greater involvement of fathers.

“In addition, the babies themselves are more likely to reach developmental milestones and be ready for when they go to school.” Millie, Josh and Emma (pictured with the nurses) are three of the tiny model babies that are used at most home visits to demonstrate a variety of tasks such as the handling of newborns, settling techniques, bathing and play. At the home visits, the mums perform the activity on their own babies while the family nurses use the dolls for demonstration purposes.

Other popular aids include foetal dolls at 12, 16, 22 and 30 weeks sizes to give pregnant women guidance on how their baby is developing.

The scheme involves weekly and fortnightly visits during pregnancy, which continue until the child’s second birthday. The nurses work with the mother, and, where possible, the father and wider family, to improve the mum’s understanding of their baby, making changes to improve overall well-being, developing emotionally and building on strengths encouraging positive relationships.

The supervisor added: “Feedback has been very positive, especially from grans, who have been able to take a step back, encouraged that their daughter is not only being well looked after, but is also taking on some of the responsibility herself.” The team at NHS Forth Valley comprises five family nurses, a supervisor and a data manager. The staff, already highly trained in nursing and midwifery, have undergone 15 months of intensive tuition, some residential, at masters level.