GETTING PREGNANT AND WHAT I NEED TO KNOW

Also you will have f all chance of getting back into work in 5 years if you have a child now employer's won't give you a 2nd glance.

And my check list before getting pregnant. ..

Quit smoking
Stable relationship (10 years not 10 months)
Maturity (gained around 25 years old)
Own our home
Perfect victoria sponge recipe
Good mental health
Home set up
Savings in the bank
Car

Plenty of people have children when their situation stinks. I agree, your situation is better than people's who are on drink and drug. Does that mean you're in the perfect place to have for a baby?

No.

Also having a baby at such a young age will increase the risk of disabilities/birth problems because your 18 with the body of an 18 year old that has barely finished puberty and growing boobs let alone being able to grow a baby. just do one OP you're obviously soooooo wise we don't know what we're talking about do we ladies ?? she has a high paid job with loads of savings and she has a car still hasn't told us what this job is though has she .......

Is there really nothing you want to do at 18 other than have a child?

Just assume you will be able to do nothing other than care for your child (then anything else will be a bonus). Is there literally nothing you'll wish you'd have done? Moved to a new city? Learn a language? Make new friends? Learn to cook? Get regular manicures? Live abroad? Get a degree?

I'm sorry but you come across as an immature child. I'm telling you from experience what having a child is like. It doesn't matter that my baby was an accident - whether he was planned or not, he's still hard work, just like yours will be! I thought I was prepared for the reality of having a baby. I wasn't. The sleep deprivation in the early days almost killed me.

Pregnancy advice.

You will probably be tired, emotional, feeling sick,may have medical problems. Most women find the first and last trimesters difficult.
Pregnant women do best in a low stress environment where they get plenty rest and little worry.

What you are planning is to set up home with a man you have never lived with, learn how to manage your money, bills, food, housework, shopping, buying furniture, decoration and the huge transitions of not only living independantly but co habiting with your boyfriend. And you want to be pegnant throughout all this.

Not the ideal circumstance for a pregnancy. and if you want your baby to have the best start in life you will set up home together before considering pregnancy.

Stress in pregnancy can lead to complications, early labour and premature birth.

You are setting stressful obstacles in your path.

Oooh also you can "plan" all you want it rarely works out once a baby arrives they don't work to plans and baby books you know

Also you need to be living together first! Living with DP is entirely different to just being with him at my parents or his parents house. We have rent, council tax, utility bills to pay. We're responsible for making sure there is food in the fridge or that clothes are washed and ironed, that the bathroom is clean and the living room is vacuumed. And moving when pregnant is difficult. I speak from experience. I lived in an awful small flat for the first 4 months of DS's life. Now we're in a 3 bed semi but DP is older than me and has an established job with a good wage - can I ask what your 'good job' at 18 is? I worked for minimum wage in a shop until I was 38 weeks pregnant to make sure we could save for a mortgage deposit.

The very first reply was mine. It had lots of sensible advice. Go back and read it. Especially the bit about checking the cost on MAS

Why the hell would you plan to have a baby at 18? I'm 19 with a 5 month old DS, I fell pregnant (accidentally!) when I was 18 to my boyfriend of 6 months. I thought he was the love of my life, etc etc, now our whole relationship is falling apart.
Go to university first. I'm starting a degree in September and my grandparents are having DS during the day while I'm at uni but I won't be able to go out and be carefree like everyone else my age, I'll have to do my work whilst juggling looking after a baby and then a toddler. Somedays I wish I could just get up and walk out. It's hard, it's really fucking hard. I love my baby more than anything, he has brought me so much joy but I would not have purposely got pregnant at 18. It's hard work, and babies are expensive. Your life will never be your own again. I would love to get up and go travelling or go away for the weekend with my partner but hey, guess what, I can't. And I don't resent my baby one bit but it is incredibly difficult sometimes.

:-O ok. I'm not a parent so can't give TTC advice, so sorry for sticking my oar in!

Jael, you say moving in together will be easy, so why not do it now and then once you're settled, start TTC. You don't have to do everything at once, I promise. Even in say 3 years, you'll still be a young, energetic, fun mum, just perhaps with a bit more life experience. You may find setting up bills and really looking after yourself quite a learning curve, and when you look back will realise it.
Like you I've wanted kids ever since I met my now husband at 18, I've been so broody!! I'm now 24 and I've got my own company, am married and own a flat in London. I know for a fact I wouldn't have this if I'd had a baby and I'm so glad we've waited!!

You sound like you've got a promising future so there's no need to rush it.

The ability to listen to more experienced points of view and take them on board??

Life experience and maturity.

If you need to ask that question then you are too young to have a child.

No need to shout- you sound as if you are having a toddler tantrum.

I can assure you motherhood will be far more challenging than this discussion. So keep your cool.

Don't wait to get pregnant for your boss to give you advice on maternity leave. Find your rights out first.

Don't expect to go to uni when your child is 4 - it wilk be almost impossible and you can't afford it.

You spend a lot of time explaining you are almost in the right place... almost have a home, almost married, started your savings.

You wonder why you have come onto Mums net and we're advising you against pregnancy... perhaps the unanimous vote should help you see thatcwe know something you don't.

My reply wasn't based on your age - it was based on life experience. I have also given exactly the same advice to people I know who are literally DOUBLE your age. If you think you know better then why ask?! Go ahead and have a baby, it will be the biggest shock of your (short) life.

You say you have supportive families - are you planning on turfing the baby onto them when things get rough? (Which they probably will quite quickly - based on experience and that of friends.) I'm genuinely interested - do both families seriously think it's a cosy super idea to have a baby together as you're just starting adult life?

No one on here is saying that you wouldn't love and care for a baby. And yes, your age shouldn't reflect on how you love and care for a baby. I'm not judging you, I'm advising you. I think you probably won't take that advice. Do it - set your alarm tonight three/four times and get up to do something physically demanding. Do it every night for a month and repost with a bit of perspective.

The internet is crammed full of info about TTC and also when I was TTC I bought a book about TTC, pregnancy and birth. I assume you have read books before...to get your qualifications.....

I plan to love my baby forever

Ok i refrained from saying it on your other thread but that line is ridiculous. It makes you sound about 4 years old! You have a real shock coming to you if you do have a baby because you are nowhere near mature enough for it or have any idea what is involved.