I'm a "teen mum" - AMA

[grace7]

I have a beautiful 6 week old son who's sound asleep, so why not? Also, I think a lot of preconceptions and stereotypes are made about young mothers, so I wanted to give some insight about what it's like for me.

Any plans for your education in the future op?

(I left home at 16, had DD at 17, raised her solo. I went back to study I was 18. We had a wonderful time and she just graduated with a first herself which is making me feel very proud indeed.)

Congratulations, you're doing amazingly and it sounds like you're taking it all in your stride, as most young mums do in my experience :)

You do sound amazing!

Most of the mums I know have had two DC quite close together, much like many mums in their 20s/30s. Would you like to have any more D.C? If so would you line them close together, or would you prefer a big age gap? Or would you like loads of kids?

@BettyBaggins

Congratulations to your daughter!

I'm thinking I'll go back into education the year of his second birthday, as he'll be old enough to start at our local nursery.

@BlancheM

Thank you!

@LynetteScavo

Thank you!
I would definitely like to have more children in the future, but not for a few years yet. Ideally I'd like to finish education and for us to be a little more financially comfortable, we'll need a bigger house etc. After that I'd love to give ds some siblings. :)

@PsychoPumpkin

That's great! My mum did a great job raising me singlehandedly, she's now got two little ones with her partner.

One to probably make me jealous: has your figure snapped back to your pre pregnancy shape?

Also, does your local children's centre run a young parents playgroup? I know my nearest one does.

Why did you want children so young? Did you always want to be a mum?

How do you find other mums are at groups (if you've been out to any yet! Your baby is still so tiny)? I've seen on here that young mums seem to be ignored if they're in the minority.

And I agree, you sound like you're doing a fab job as for washing up and stuff, don't worry about any of it. It can always wait! Spend as much time as you want having lovely new baby cuddles.

Sorry, x-post - just seen yours about your DM and her new family.

What do you think the cut off for "young mum" is?

I'm 22 and pregnant with my first, feel like a young mum but not teen mum, finished education and started career but still v early.

Thankyou! Good for you @grace7 I was home for 1st year, studied for 2, home for another year (the year before she started school, soooo much fun that year) then another 3 years on a degree.

Show 'em all what for!

@SheShreds

My figure did go back pretty quickly, I count myself v lucky.

There are hardly any mother and baby groups around here, let alone ones specifically for younger mums. It's a shame really.

@grace7
You sound really lovely and you’re doing really well. I’m glad to hear that your family have been supportive and this was a very relevant thread to me as my daughter has had a baby and is younger than yourself. It’s nice to hear another young mums perspective so thankyou for starting this thread.

@LanaorAna2

Ds was a surprise, but I was happy with the news because of the fact I had always wanted children - I viewed my pregnancy as a surprise gift and have just started my family earlier than most I suppose.

@PinstripeElephant

I haven't been to any as of yet, but there's a baby music group that's literally a 5 minute walk from our house which I'm thinking about starting from next week.

Thank you, newborn cuddles are the best!

@olderthanyouthink

Hiya, I'd consider you to be a young mum... my partner is 21 and I think of him (as do others) as a young dad. I think anything under 25 is now viewed as a younger mother. Especially since it's becoming more common to start your family later on, more and more women in their late thirties are having kids etc.

Congratulations, I hope everything goes well for you and little baby to come.

@MellowMelly

No problem! I hope things are going well for yourself, daughter and her baby.

How was your birth, OP?

They do say that the ideal time did humans to give birth is 16-ish. I don't really know why, maybe it's when we're most fertile? I don't know enough about it.

I knew someone around your age who had a baby and bounced back very quickly! You lucky thing haha

Also, I have a 6 week old who is next to me but is refusing to sleep. Lucky you

@Annalogy

Haha, I hope your little one went to sleep (eventually lol)!

The birth was pretty good, I never really had an early labour or any early signals, so my contractions started v strong and close together at about 2:45am. Was in hospital by 4:30am (almost 5cm dilated) and ds was born 9:16am. No interventions and baby came straight to me. I had gas and air and a low dose of pethidine for pain relief, though I found the pethidine relatively ineffective for the pain. I didn't tear and no stitches (yay) so I really do count myself very lucky.

What do you want to do as a career? And how do you think having a child will hinder that?

If you don’t have a career option in mind, do you think thou will ever earn enough to buy house or have a pension?

*thou=you

I had my son at 17 too. I am now 37 and he is 19. And off to uni.

For me it means a second chapter whilst I am still relatively young.

You sound like you have your head screwed on. It will be hard at times, more than you may think right now but if i could go back I wouldn't change a thing.

Good luck to you

@grace7 Ah that's brilliant!

(And thank you! )