I came across a teen pregnancy forum yesterday and started lurking and reading some post from some of the girls. Some on different sites. Anyways, I thought I would share my story maybe give some encouragement and/or advice to the teen moms on this website who are looking for it.

When I first found out I was pregnant I was 17 years old, had dropped out of high school, and had recently moved back into my moms house (before i found out i was pg) after living with my then boyfriend. I suspected i was pg because i was a few weeks late. I called an older male friend of mine and told him what was going on and he offered to take me to a free clinic....so I went. I was beyond scared and had a million things running through my mind. I went to the clinic took a pg test and of course, I was pregnant. I could have shit myself. What was my mom going to say? What was I going to do? I'm so young! How will I care for this baby? What are my options? so on and so forth. The clinic gave me some information on pregnancy and sent me on my way. The only thing i could think of at that point was how will I break the news to my mom and my now ex boyfriend. I decided to go ahead and tell the father first. A few days later, I picked up then phone and called him. the first and only thing he said to me was "What are you telling me for? That baby isn't mine!" All I could do was cry and cry. I knew I was definitely alone then. I felt trapped. I had to tell my mom. I waited a few more days and got the courage to drop the news. When I called her in my room and told her I had to tell her something to my suprise, she already knew. She was disappointed but she was there for me. Telling my mother made my pregnancy easier just because I had some kind of support during such a difficult time. My sons father saw him when he was 2 months old and then one more time when he was going on 3. He denied him for a few years. I knew at that moment when I knew I was pretty much alone that I had to grow up. I had no choice. I went back to high school and graduated on time. A ged was not an option for me. My mom was wonderful and i got to stay home pretty much until I was ready to work and take care of my baby. I also knew that i wanted to raise my son to become a wonderful respectful man, so the next man I was to be with would have to be a damn good romodel for my son. When he was about 3 months old i met my now fiance'. I am now 24 years old and my son will be 6 this august. I am getting ready to enroll back into college and get my BSN. I'm engaged and now happily expecting my 2nd.

My advice to any teen mom would be to definitely finish school. Don't feel obligated to stay in a relationship that's no good for you or your child. Yes, it will be difficult raising a child while you, yourself are still a child, but take the necessary steps now where later on in life you know you did what you had to to put your kid in the best enviroment or provide them with a good life. Most of us are not alone. While I love my son dearly, I wish i would have been smart and gone off to college and enjoyed being young. I robbed myself of some childhood things that I will never get back. On the other hand, having a kid young doesn't mean you still cant live out your dreams. It just means you will have to work harder and it may take you longer to get there. I hope I have helped some of you and if you have any questions drop a line.

First off, you are a true role model for me and someone to look up to because I'm 22 weeks pregnant with a girl and I want the best for her. I am going to college and becoming a medical assistant. I have a job now and my OH does too. I was nervous that because I dropped out of high school I would become nothing but I kept pushing for my little girl and I always will! It's wonderful and inspiring to know you made it and your still going strong and have a wonderful son and a new little one on the way (congrats!) keep pushing and keep striving for what you want! That's what I'll always do! Thank you for posting this

Glad to know you made the choice to go back to school! Congrats on your little girl and thankyou!

Thank you so much for this. I'm currently at college but had been making a lot of revisions to my plan. Since I'm very newly pregnant I plan to continue on to get my veterinary technicians certificate and then return to university and finish out my BS. You've picked me up a bit and I hope I can only be as strong as you were.

So inspirational!
I've already dropped out - and finished my GED! But I plan on going to college this fall (maybe spring, depending on LO) to get my bachelors in nursing - hopefully be done with that by 21! My boyfriends mom is letting us stay with her until we are done with school because just like you, she said education is the most important thing in providing LO with a good future!
Glad everything worked out with you and your LO, & congrats on #2!!!

I plan on going to school full-time until LO is born and then either going part-time or online for awhile. Talk to someone at your school to see what would be the best route for you. Anything is possible! We can still dream big!

Thank you and congrats to you! Take advantage of the support system you have!!

all of you ladies are so strong! I'm so happy to hear you aren't giving up on anything! I plan on going back to school starting with online classes here soon!

Iv taken a year out of my nurse training and go back next April, it will be hard but I just think its only 2 years training when I go back then an extra year to become a health visitor and then iv set my son up for life! I don't want to have to rely on handouts!
Then hopefully when iv been qualified a year or two we can think about another LO , but definately not till then. Iv got to prove myself first. Iv got to do what I said I would and prove everyone who said I would be a dropout and have ruined my life wrong! X

Thanks for posting this, and congrats on number 2! xx