hiding the bump

[Pixie5120]

one of the girls in my year did her exams last year in the first few weeks of her pregnancy(weeks 4-8 ish), went through most of this year with a very baggy hoody on and only let the school know at 30 weeks. Since then she has given birth to her beautiful son and is now back in school 3 days a week. Until the school was told they had no idea at all, and she had a sizeable bump. But honestly hunni, by may you'll still be fine.
Let the school be the school and you just be you. I know its a big shock to you and you're whole life has changed but you're dealing with it pretty well actually. Wait til 12 weeks if it makes you feel more comfortable, but do tell your parents, it'll make it easier in the long run.
Well done for deciding to sit your exams. I hope the whole thing goes well for you. Relax and enjoy being a mummy-to-be. Be fantastic.

 

[LaDY]

You know what sweets...get the thought of bandages out of your head...even when your tummy does start to grow it is not soft and flabby it becomes hard so if anything bandages will make ur tummy a layer bigger...plus sqaushing the little one wont help...and may i say its great that you have decided to keep the baby Its lovely news
I have been in a similar situation to you however i am a lot older and was in a total different situation than u...the only way i hid it was with baggy clothing...and it was sad and heartbreaking as all i wanted to do was show my tummy off as i was on cloud 9 and still remain the proudest mother to be in the world however the fact that you are willing to keep this baby and protect this baby is the main thing and is very brave of you...that is what all mothers should do. However hun you can't hide it forever...i learnt that...but hey hun when the baby is born and has grown up im sure he or she will commend you for what you have done as you took the best option however to you the hardest...you will be fine hun, let us know how you get on xx

 

[dizzle]

Hi,

I just read this thread and wanted to say how brave you are for keeping the baby and finishing school - I'm not sure I could have done it at your age and I really wish you the best in the future

As for all the criticisms, its not anyone else's business how, when or why you get pregnant, accidents happen and around 50% pregnancies in the UK are unplanned, its not our place to comment on other people's lives and choices and its how you deal with it from now on that's important.

I do think you should tell your parents sooner rather than later - do you have someone else who could be with you when you do?

As for school, I'd also advocate the baggy clothes and denial route - it is true that they would have to find somewhere else for you to sit your exams, but you just don't need that hassle on top of everything else at the moment.

Lots of luck and please don't let a few rude comments put you off this forum - hopefully you'll find lots of other supportive people around instead and there is lots of useful advice

Take care, wishing you all the best

 

[Ratty]

I'm a very small frame and some people at my work have only noticed this last month (I'm now 33 weeks) that I'm pregnant and I wasn't purposly trying to hide it. I know here in South Africa you can get a proper elastic belly guard which helps keep you looking smaller and neater. Its speciacally designed for that purpose and I'm sure would be much better than wearing bandages. Plus the bandages will be bulky and probably make you show more.

But seriously, you shouldn't start showing for a while still so I'm sure you will make your May exams without having to resort to funny measures to hide it.

 

[Jayden'sMummy]

i just read right through the whole of this thread and because i am in a similar situation to you, 16 and pregnant and i na catholic school doing my GCSEs, i understand what your going through. trust me no matter what any one says to you, the way they bitch and everything you just need to learn to ignore them and tell people you need as much support as you can get, trust me! it sound like you are really mature and happy about your decision yet people have their own opinions and can upset you but we have to ignore it. i am still currently in school and going to a young mums group every wednesday and your school shouldnt kick you out and you will also get referred to something similar to what i go to. they CANNOT stop you from doing your GCSEs!!

to be honest telling my mum was probably the bestest thing i did because without my mum (+ this site) helping me through this i dont think i could have stook it out. pregnancy isnt easy but its not impossible. you will have done your GCSEs and by the end of this year you will have your own little baby who will depend on u hand and foot and you will treasure that more than anything in the whole entire world!

if you ever ever!!! needed to talk i am here. xxxxx

 

[Ell.Bishh]

I just read through all of the thread too, and I think you sound very mature and youve got your head firmly screwed on. I know how hard it is to be pregnant and at school trying to do exams, with all the bitching and the snidy remarks, ignore all of them, at the end of it all they arent going to have a beautiful child and they arent going to be a responsible adult. You are.
Your school can't chuck you out if you dont tell them your pregnant. Deny it point blank until your GCSE's are done if you feel hey are going to be like that, I know at my school they never were, but that wasn't catholic...
But tell your mam if you havent already, its really important that you do.
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy

 

[Sparky0207]

Ella I think you're very brave and have really got your head screwed on. My pregnancy wasnt planned (we were trying but had stopped due to change of circumstances) and even though im in a totally different situation to you, I was PETRIFIED of telling my mum!

Although I had a good relationship with her, it was a bad time for me to get pregnant and things weren't good. One night (when I had known for about 4 weeks) I was at her house watching TV and she asked me how things were, I was very quiet and just muttered something under my breath, so she asked if anything was wrong. I just said im a bit worried about something but i didnt want to tell her and worry her in case it was nothing. She was quite worried so I just said im a bit late on and think I might be pregnant but im too scared to take a test. She gave me a cuddle and then we went out together to buy a test (which obviously I knew would be positive!) I did the test then put it face down on the unit and asked her to look at it after the time was up. When it showed positive she was crying but gave me a really big hug and thanked me for letting her find out with me. I think if your mum feels part of it and you show her from the beginning that you want her to be involved she may be a bit more supportive for you.

Your school dont need to know and like Toria said, if you deny it, they cant prove it and so cant kick you out.

People shouldnt, but they do judge. You seem really grown up for your age so rise above them and ignore them. Accidents happen and sometimes they turn out to be the best thing that could ever have happened to you.

Good luck hun and I wish you all the best

xxx

 

[wantababybump]

Good luck hun!! I wish you all the best! xo

 

[PurestFeeling]

I wet to a Catholic private school too. They were actually the only Catholic school in the area that said if you got pregnant and they found out you had to leave until you have the baby but then you can come back all the other Catholic schools in the city would just kick you out. But I knew a girl who was pregnant and kept it from the school the whole time by wearing a hoodie that was oversized. I'm rather small and I didn't start showing until I was in my 5th month. I'm pretty sure you won't be big enough to knotice in May but if anyone knotices a weight gain just tell them your doctor put you on a new medicine that makes you gain.

Also yes everyone Catholic schools can kick you out for pregnancy if it says in the handbook that they can. Why? Because unlike public school they don't have to let you into their school and you have to pay to go. I believe either you or your parants agree to these rules they have by signing a contract and paying the money so legally the school can enforce these rules.

 

[sjj2903]

Good for you in going ahead with your exams, I work at a school and we had a girl who was 8 months pregnant and she came back in to do hers. I don't expect you will show that much - just wear a baggy jumper and good luck with your exams!

 

[Faerie]

Congratulations on your pregnancy, whether it was planned or not you've obviously decided to keep it and that's a brave choice at your age. I can imagine there are a few reasons you may want to cover your bump (teenage girls are bitchy... same goes for those who should know better from reading this thread!). It's not certain that you'll show early, my sister has a small frame and with her first pregnancy she married at 5 months pregnant and wore a size 8 dress (which had to be taken in!) and no one had a clue! Just wear layers when you feel you're starting to show, but most of all look after yourself and try not to stress too much about what other people will think or your exams.

 

[Amanda]

I've just read through the whole of this thread and have to say that I am shocked and appalled at the attitude of some of the more 'mature' members. Some of the comments are outragious! Here is a very confused young woman, who is being very brave and just asking for some advise so she can sit her exams!

Personally sweetie, I think you sound much more mature than 17. I was 22 when I found out I was pg with Kayleigh, and still dreaded telling my mum. Oh, and btw, I was on the pill, and we used a condom! Some things are meant to be. I told my parents one evening, my mum cried, my dad said nothing. I explained how it happened and that I was keeping it (I was 14 weeks when I found out and not with the father), and my mum said she needed to go to bed and lie down. My dad then came up to me, kissed me (he never does this!) and said Congratulations. Next morning, my mum had changed completely. She had me a second-hand pushchair within a week, and was fantastic!

Good luck with your exams hunnie. These are stressful times for any normal teenager, without this added worry. But you sound like you know your priorities.

Ignore the back-stabbers on here. Most of us are okay!

 

[lily24]

I've just read through the whole of this thread and have to say that I am shocked and appalled at the attitude of some of the more 'mature' members. Some of the comments are outragious! Here is a very confused young woman, who is being very brave and just asking for some advise so she can sit her exams!

Personally sweetie, I think you sound much more mature than 17. I was 22 when I found out I was pg with Kayleigh, and still dreaded telling my mum. Oh, and btw, I was on the pill, and we used a condom! Some things are meant to be. I told my parents one evening, my mum cried, my dad said nothing. I explained how it happened and that I was keeping it (I was 14 weeks when I found out and not with the father), and my mum said she needed to go to bed and lie down. My dad then came up to me, kissed me (he never does this!) and said Congratulations. Next morning, my mum had changed completely. She had me a second-hand pushchair within a week, and was fantastic!

Good luck with your exams hunnie. These are stressful times for any normal teenager, without this added worry. But you sound like you know your priorities.

Ignore the back-stabbers on here. Most of us are okay!

I totaly agree with u. I thought it was just me thinking that people we being a little harsh on her

 

[Mynxie]

was just wondering how you're feeling?

You haven't posted much... hope you're ok x

 

[AppleBlossom]

I know catholic schools are strict sometimes but I'm sure that they won't make you leave just because you're pregnant, there must be some sort of law that wouldn't allow them to throw you out of education just for that reason.
You shouldn't hide your bump, you should be proud of it Like the others say, you can't hide a baby so why hide a bump?
And don't care what other people say. People look down on me the way they look down on all teen mums and I couldn't care less what they think. Just ignore people in school, the sooner they realise that your comfortable with things they'll leave you alone.
I hope everything works out for you anyway hun, I know how tough it is, trying to come to terms with things and wondering how on earth you'll cope. Well done for deciding to keep it, it's a hard choice but I think you made the right one. I was quite annoyed reading some of the comments that have been made but I hope it doesn't get you down. Especially the one about condoms. I was on the pill when I got pregnant which goes to show anything can happen
x

 

[ella170]

was just wondering how you're feeling?

You haven't posted much... hope you're ok x

yhh not too bad thanks just been through a bad time with my bf, but were ok now!
everyones been so great with all the replies, it really helps to read them and im so amazed with how lovely and supportive everyone is being. it really does make a big difference so thanks to you all!
xxx

 

[Serene123]

How are things going now? Who knows about baby? 100% keeping it? So many questions, just havn't seen you post for a while. Hope you're happy and stuff.

 

[Mynxie]

people do think of you though huni and we are here for you xx

 

[maddiwatts19]

Hi hun..

Just been reading through this thread, and i hope things are getting better for you hun! As the others have said...you shouldnt be going through this alone..its scary telling your parents, but they might surprise you! My dads a vicar, so i was so worried about telling him because obviously he doesnt believe in sex before marriage, but when i told him, he was amazing...they're your parents, they love you, they only want whats best for you!.
With the bandages thing, it doesnt really sound like the best idea, plus i dont think it'd be too comfortable for you either hun! Especially in an exam!!

Best of luck with everything...
xxxxx

 

[ella170]

How are things going now? Who knows about baby? 100% keeping it? So many questions, just havn't seen you post for a while. Hope you're happy and stuff.

just a few of my closest friends and my bf know about it. im definetly keeping it and i know i said i wanted to tell my parents when im 12 weeks, but now i want to wait until the first scan incase theres any problems and ive gone to the trouble of telling my parents for nothing. the only thing is, i havent got round to sending off my forms to the hospital yet and i dont know when the first scan will be?