Date published: 7 May 2026
Mollie was just 18 when she found out she was pregnant. Already four months along, she was working in hospitality with plans to start university. Suddenly the future looked very different.
“I was panicking,” Mollie says. “I didn’t know how I was going to manage.”
But after her first baby scan, fear turned into determination. Mollie decided to continue her studies and build a future for herself and her baby daughter, Robyn. She carried on working and attended Liverpool Hope University until almost nine months pregnant, returning to her studies just two weeks after Robyn was born.
During her pregnancy, Mollie was referred by her midwife to the Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) team - an intensive, home visiting service for first time teenage parents. That’s when she met her Family Nurse, Rowena.
“At first I didn’t know what to expect and there was no one at home to give me advice. I was a kid who was having a kid – at 18 you’re often still living with your parents,” Mollie says. “But Rowena – or Ro as I call her - made everything feel less scary.”
Rowena supported Mollie throughout pregnancy and during Robyn’s first 12 months, offering practical advice on feeding, bathing and immunisations together with emotional support during difficult moments. She also helped Mollie learn about baby development, including fine motor skills, early play and learning.
“Ro showed me bathing, weaning and bottle feeding. Once she showed me, I was fine. And even when she was tiny, Robyn loved looking at the books she brought us.”
Rowena says, “Young mums don’t always feel confident asking questions. My role is about building trust and being there consistently, so young parents know they’re not on their own.”
That consistency became vital through ongoing housing pressures. Mollie is sharing a small space with family while trying to study and parent.
“There were times when Mollie felt overwhelmed,” Rowena says. “We worked together on coping strategies, supporting her mental health, and helping her see what she was doing well.”
Mollie describes Rowena as someone she could trust completely.
“She helped me with me, not just my baby,” Mollie says. “Sometimes she was a nurse, but other times she felt like an older family member I could talk to about anything. We built a great bond between us which gave me a lot more confidence. I might still be struggling now without the support I got from Ro.”
With reassurance between visits through texts and phone calls, Mollie learned to trust herself as a parent. Robyn is now a confident, independent toddler, curious and beautifully behaved during our interview – still only two, she sits confidently in “the big girl chair” rather than a highchair.
Rowena says Mollie’s journey reflects the heart of the programme.
“It’s not just about the early years,” she says. “It’s about helping young parents believe in themselves, build secure bonds with their babies, and plan for a future they’re proud of.”
Due to graduate in May, Mollie knows how far she’s come in her parenting journey too. “I am so much more confident as a mum now than I would have been without Ro. I didn’t want to let her go but I didn’t need her to stay. We’re not just coping, we’re thriving.”
Professor Matt Ashton, Director of Public Health for Liverpool City Council, said, “Liverpool City Council is proud to commission the Family Nurse Partnership because it changes lives at the moments they matter most. We know that a child’s future is shaped not just by healthcare, but by the realities of housing, education, income, and emotional support.
“FNP meets families where they are, offering stability, belief and hope at a time that can feel overwhelming. By building strong, trusting relationships between family nurses and parents, like the bond between Rowena and Mollie, the programme helps parents grow in confidence, provide nurturing and responsive care, and give their children the best possible start.
“Evidence shows that this approach improves child development, school readiness and early learning, but just as importantly, it helps reduce health inequalities and opens up brighter life chances for children and young people across our city.”
The Family Nurse Partnership team supports people under 19 and those up to 24 who have experienced the care system in Liverpool. Find out more on our website.
