‘I am a better mom’

Pregnant and parenting teens appreciate AHS nurse’s advice and support

At first, Carla Stamile didn’t know who she could turn to for help.

The 18-year-old was pregnant, with health problems of her own – and she was scared.

Stamile soon found the support she needed at the Louise Dean School, a Calgary Board of Education facility for pregnant and parenting teens, where she met Alberta Health Services registered nurse Cindy Pringle.

“Because of Cindy,” says Stamile, “I am a better mom and so much more health literate. Plus, I actually have a future.”

Pringle is the sole nurse at the northwest Calgary school, which operates September to June, with available summer classes, for about 130 students per school year. The facility celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

Pringle has been with the school for the past 16 years and, during this time, she has shared knowledge with hundreds of teen moms and moms-to-be, encouraging them to make smart lifestyle choices for their own health and for the health of their child.

Pringle offers one-on-one consultation with many of her patients and helps them receive pre-natal and breastfeeding education.

“I can’t package up health and give it to these girls for life,” says Pringle.

“What I can do is furnish each girl with the knowledge and tools she needs to go forward and build a healthy life for herself, one informed choice at a time. So that’s what I do – I  facilitate health by sharing knowledge.”

Stamile credits “Nurse Cindy” with helping her understand a complex health-care system.
 
“Before coming to Louise Dean, I was struggling with personal health issues and I either avoided doctors or didn’t even know where to start,” says Stamile.

“Because Cindy takes all the info, and all the resources, and connects it all, I was able to understand why I needed help and was able to get the right help in a way that worked for me.” 

Crystal Steman, 17, says Pringle has helped her learn about and deal with some difficult subjects since the birth of her daughter 20 months ago.

“Cindy gets me same-day answers and is open to suggestions about what we need to talk about,” says Steman. “Because she’s so interactive, you can ask embarrassing questions and really understand the answers.”

Pringle admits earning the trust of these young women is her first and biggest hurdle.

“There are many barriers to health and one of the largest is fear,” says Pringle.

“When I first arrived, girls were terrified of me, of what was happening to their bodies and of health in general. I needed to make myself accessible and make health human.”

Pringle is reluctant to take credit for the impact she has on the lives of her teenaged patients, or the more than 500 babies that have been born on her watch. 

But her patients are quick to praise the difference she makes.

“I guess the best way to say it is that Cindy makes health mean something,” says Steman.  “By teaching me that it’s my body and my choice, what she’s really done is made me want to live my best life.”