How much has your life changed?

[princess_x0]

I'm not a teen - and actually, had I had a baby at 17 or 18, I could, I suppose be a grandmother now. (gulp!)

I am glad that I have my education, I have a good career, as does my husband and we make good money. Being pregnant has not been stressful at all. Just last night we bought our crib, glider and other nursery furnishings. The price tag did not mean anything to us. We were able to provide for this baby in exactly the way we want to - without worrying about budget. If I hadn't done the other stuff first, we'd be relying on second hand offerings, Value Village and other second hand stores.

I'm not saying that's a bad thing.

I am saying that I have had more fun shopping for my baby than I've maybe ever had doing anything else my entire life. And, for me, waiting was worth it.



(Now, please note - I don't recommend waiting this long, and it was never my intention. We found out when I was 28 that getting pregnant was going to be a huge challenge for me)

OFF TOPIC-But your LO is due on my birthday, I've never heard of anyone else with the same (maybe) birthday as me. Lol. Sorry a bit pointless but it's kinda cute Congratulations on finally getting your baby after 6 years aswell hun xxx

 

[Pyrrhic]

Honestly, I lived my life, dated, had my partying years, got my college education under my belt and had my work experiences. Not all was great but I am glad I experienced all of it before having kids.

Ditto this.

You have most of your adult life to settle don and start a family, so why start in your teenage years? You have plenty of time yet, and having a child in your 20s or 30s is certainly not old.

I'm 24 and sometimes I've had moments of 'oh shit, this is so big'. Never again will OH and I be able to holiday on a whim, or spend money without thinking about the consequences. Even bigger, I may never be able to follow my dream career and I didn't give myself the time I needed to live my own life before creating a new life. Yes, I love my unborn daughter and I wouldn't give her up for the world. However, I've made a lot of sacrifices already, and she's not even here yet.

Live your own life, before you start thinking about creating another life.

 

[tasha41]

I'm 19 and expecting my first in March. I'm generally excited and happy but I do get VERY frustrated at times, and I personally wish I had a few more years to prepare for this or just to enjoy my life, my friends, my relationship.

If I were you I would make a list of things you'd like to do BEFORE having a child. Think about trips you want to take, travelling isn't as easy when you have to bring a child, and you won't always be able to find a babysitter ~ even if you can, that's not always fair anyway.

Also.. getting pregnant, for me anyway, meant
no more spending $200 on my hair every 6 weeks,
having to wear maternity clothes (honestly.. not many are youthful looking and they are definitely not my style!!),
seeing most of my friends maybe once a month or every 2 months because I can't drink, I don't have as much money to go out (I'm a full time student and I only work part time now).

Also I'm secretly jealous of my boyfriend, he gets 9 months to grow up and I had to grow up the second the test turned out positive. Quit smoking, partying, be more frugal with my spending, stop spending so much on my hair and clothes, etc.

 

[bootyb]

Im 19.. was 18 wen i fell pregnant, i had to many plans... go to uni....qualify nd child psychology...find mr right... get married...then have kids. but boom! im pregnant nd jes finished 1st yr of college. now i have to put uni on hold for bout a yr... to bring up baby... nd try to complete my course at college 2 mnths b4 everyone else.... if baby dont come early...touch wood...i wud wait if i were u.

 

[karaaa]

So far, not alot. I am 17 and found out I am pregant by 1 month a week ago. I took the test after my best friend suggested it and it was postive. I told the father (my boyfriend, Luke) that night and he was shocked but okay about it and he is willing to support me which is good as I know I cant to this alone. Then I knew I had to tell my mum, it went better than I thought but she gave me this look I have never got from her before and I know that she will never see me as her daughter again. I am still living with my mum but planning on getting a place with Luke before the baby arrives so I can get everything prepared.

 

[Tezzy]

when i got pregnant i was 18, we lived with my OHs paremts, we were working full time, we hardly ever went out because we used to travel the country together working (we worked for OHs parents)

well... we had to stop traveling (well i did anyway, OH travels still) we had to spend all our savings to buy a house because OHs parents house wasnt suitable for children, all our friends stopped speaking to us because we were too 'grown up' i felt very isolated, miserable and scared.

the things i miss are..
not being financially tied down/getting to spend money on what i wanted, clothes etc.
not having time to myself to chill out.
being able to go somewhere without dragging the kids out... even something simple like grocery shopping is a nightmare.
being able to sleep through the night/lie in late.
going out on dates with my husband/going for a pint or to a gig.

BUT

i love my kids and i love my life.
i love spending time with them, watching them develop and grow.
i love being a housewife and not going to work
i love it when my son says 'mummy'
i love buying things for the kids like clothes and toys.

so i would say yes it changes your life totally!

 

[MummyToAmberx]

it changed my life ALOT, but i wouldnt change having my daughter at all.
would have prefered to be older though, i was 18 when i had her.

 

[cherryorange]

aw some really touching stories

 

[LilMama2be]

I wouldn't say purposely get pregnant until you're older. "Ready" is a hard term to use when it comes to motherhood. I don't think anyone can ever be fully "ready". I didn't go and get pregnant on purpose, but I'm not going to change things and be selfish. I am going to live my mistake whether it changes my life or not.

 

[lizzie_louise]

i am not pregnant.

but i have been and i had an abortion

i wasnt 100% about havning one.

but i did.

and now i regret it.


im only 18 but my boyfriends 22.

we are really in love&very strong.

i think i want a child.
i cant stop thinking about it.

its hard tho.

i was scared to tell my mom last time&she kind of pressured me into having an abortion.


i wouldnt say wait tho, because age doesnt determin how good of a mother you are going to be.


yes, you will have to give up alot. But you will also be gaining alot.

xxx

 

[LilMama2be]

i am not pregnant.

but i have been and i had an abortion

i wasnt 100% about havning one.

but i did.

and now i regret it.


im only 18 but my boyfriends 22.

we are really in love&very strong.

i think i want a child.
i cant stop thinking about it.

its hard tho.

i was scared to tell my mom last time&she kind of pressured me into having an abortion.


i wouldnt say wait tho, because age doesnt determin how good of a mother you are going to be.


yes, you will have to give up alot. But you will also be gaining alot.

xxx

I agree about how age does not determine how good of a mother someone will be.
I think it's okay for some 18yr olds to get pregnant on purpose, but it shouldn't be a super common thing.
I was thinking more like 15-17 year olds getting pregnant on purpose.
I'm 17, and pregnant, and I never WANTED to be a mother until I was atleast 20.
But now that i've gone through this little bit already i wouldn't go back and change it.