Having a baby in your early 20's

[Kimberley21]

Hi girls x
I found out last week that I'm pregnant. This will be my first baby. I live in Liverpool with my lovely boyfriend.
I'm excited about the baby and will only have a year left to do in Uni which should be fine as I'm not in much. I also work part time. My boyfriend is 31 and I'm 21 I'll b 22 when the baby arrives.
Iv nt told my mum yt as I'm only 6 weeks 5 days ( had a scan the other day) everything was fine. I'm abit scared my mum will be disappointed with me but I'm sure shell gt over it haha.
Just wanted to chat to everyone as iv not told any of my friends or sister yt. I think I'll tell my best friend in a few weeks and my other friend Steph who has a Little boy of 4 and a baby x

Hi Kimberley, congratulations on your pregnancy
I had my little boy a week before I turned 21 and he is now a whopping big two year old! It's good that you've got two years of uni under your belt, I imagine if your speak to the university they will let you take a year out and return after that. I am currently doing an ou degree, it's a struggle but I'll get there in the end! I remember feeling worried about telling my mum but she absolutely loves her little grandson and your mum will too. Mumsnet is great, you can come on here and get great advice on literally anything!

Congratulations :)

I had my first at 23, and now DH and I are on our 4th (and last!) - I'm 11 weeks now.

Being a younger Mum is fab. I'll admit its sometimes been hard when all the Mums of kids the same age are older (and richer,and in a different 'life stage'), and I have found some (not most, just a few) older Mums have been downright rude to me and seem threatened by the fact that I am younger. The area where I live has mostly 'older' Mums - most having their first over 35.

The other thing I have found hard is the inevitable drifting from some (again, not all) childless friends, just because our lifestyles are so different. But good friends have hung in there and been happy to visit us and have take-away rather than go out, and they love mu kids are a great support.

Its been wonderful to have the energy to be busy with my kids, great to still feel a little bit connected to the 'youth' culture that my kids are growing up in, and great to be able to have the time biologically to have 4 kids with the timing and spacing we wanted (I'm having my 4th at 30 - so still very 'young' around here!).

Anyway, you have lots to look forward to, and the baby will be a blessing to your family and freinds as well as you and your DP. Best wishes!

I'm slightly different you as I'm 24 expecting my first and have finished Uni but I think being a younger mother is going to be great!

Go to see your student advice centre to talk about taking a year out and your childcare options. Most unis are pretty well set up to support student parents and if they aren't you have 6 months to do something about it before you go! I'd also advise telling your personal tutor fairly early on as if you feel rough around assessment time or have problems and miss work there are mitigations procedures.

Good luck :)

I got pregnant at 24 and had DS at 25. It was a good age for me personally, but I understand why others would prefer to be older or younger.

I got pregnant during summer break of my 1st year at uni. I studied right up until a few weeks before DS was born and then took a year off to be with him at home. I'm due to start back in 2 weeks!!! Sssooooo nervous!

Hi Kimberley Congratulations
Im 20 and currently 39 weeks pregnant with first baby. Still waiting for LO to arrive so cant give lovely advice about being a mum that everyone else has, but with regards to telling your Mum, I was really worried to.

I was just about to take my exams to complete my first year of uni when I found out I was pregnant so completed them and then discussed my options with uni. They were really good about allowing me to take a year out, would you want to take time off?

My Mum was upset to start with but once I told her that it was what I wanted (even though was definately a surprise :) ) she has come round massively. My whole family has been amazing and now cant wait to meet my little boy!!

I know that I was lucky to have had this positive experience and do hope when you decide to tell people they are supportive of you, sounds like your boyfriend is at least! wishing you all the best. x

hiya im 24 and 5 weeks pregnant with our 3rd (feel free 2 join us on the september bus).
had dd when i was 20, ds when i was 21, will b 25 when this ones born.
my mum took it well 1st time around, and of course loves her grandchildren now theyre here
tho im not ready to tell her yet this time, will brave it after 1st scan. but i know when babs comes along she'll love them 2 bits
u'll b fine

congrats kimberley. :)
im 20 years old and currently 26 weeks pregnant with my 2nd baby. my mum n dad was dissapointed at 1st especially the 2nd time round as they thought i was crazy, but there totaly fine now. and love my son and this unborn one. im sure you will be fine. good luck :)

Congrats Kimberley!

I'm 25 and in full time work and I worried about my parents disapproving so I didn't tell them until I could do it face to face at 12 weeks. I think it is normal to anxious about telling parents since it is a bit strange to tell them you've had sex. I told my brother and the first thing he said was "ewwww... my little sister had sex" - not your typical reaction but my brother isn't typical. In fact my parents were thrilled and suddenly my OH went from being my boyfriend to being referred to as "brother-in-law" and "son-in-law".

Congratulations!! I won't worry to much bout disappointing ur mum to be honest. It's not like ur a 13 year old school girl, not that there is anything wrong in that. I'm 19 and in full time work, my mum just knew I was preggers b4 I even said anything. I don't really understand y someone can be disappointed in someone for having a child, it's just no thought bout in my circles. I guess it's cuz u got uni and other commitments but just think it's not the end of the world, there r creches at uni?! Lol when u do tell ur mum don't stress to much, u got a lil bBy to think bout now.

I'm 20 and in my first year at university, I created a chat for those of us still at uni as I have some questions!
I'm thrilled to be pregnant as I've wanted it for a while having miscarried last year, socially it seems more acceptable to be having your first child later and later in life but biologically it makes sense to do it sooner rather than later (this also means that I'll hopefully get to spend a good amount of time with my grandchildren like my grandparents did for me and not like my partner who just remembers the death and senile parts of his grandparents)
My parents have been fantastic, my Mum is over the moon (she's just as broody as me!) and my Dad is quite shocked but mainly worried about my uni rather than me having a baby!
I'm so excited!!!

Jazz I see your point. I suppose it all just depends on what they think is best for their own situation. I agree that for me and DH having a child younger rather than older was def the right choice.

I must have a wee look in Chat to see your thread, sounds interesting.

congrats on your impending motherhood!!!

I was 20 when i had dd1 and felt exactly the same as you re parents reaction, but my folks were great and cared for dd everyday so i could return to work full time when she was 5 weeks old.

I really think it is the best age to have babies and have never regretted my now 12yr old

good luck

Hi I'm 19weeks pregnant with my 3rd DC also from liverpool. Are you having baby at the womens? I had my first when I was 20 although my mum was disappointed at first she adored him as soon as she set eyes on him. Good luck. X

Hey :)

I'm 20 and pregnant with my first child but will be 21 when i give birth.

I am about 7 weeks now :)

I was crapping myself when i told my mum but i have a really good relationship with her so luckily she was very supportive and i was the one who was a wreck!

the hardest person to tell was my other half as it was not planned!

but im plodding along not told anyone else apart from a close friend of mum's who has 3month old girl twins so its nice to go over and have cuddles with them :)

congrats on all your pregnancys :)

Hi Kimberley :)
I am also 21 and have one more year of Uni left to go. I just found out on Friday when I went to the doctors about a chest infection... No idea I was expecting so quite a shock! Have no idea how far along I am but can't wait to find out. Have had no morning sickness or tender boobs or any of that stuff...is this a worrying thing?! Not looking forward to telling my mum n dad but I know it will be ok in the end. My partner of 6 years is over the moon :) x

Hi Kimberley, Congratulations!

I'm 20 & currently 16+5 with DC1, I can't wait for LO to arrive & neither can DP (also 20).

I wouldn't worry too much about your parents, mine were great, DP's were shocked but they've come round now. I found that people's reactions really surprised me, the ones I thought would have something to say really didn't & the ones I thought would have been happy took a while to come round!

My best friend was one of the first people I told, she was & still is ecstatic. :)

Kimberley21 im expecting my 1st im 21 will be 22 a week after LO in due.

im in my 3rd year of uni, im 14 weeks now and because im doing nursing my 3rd year wont have finished by the time im due,i was scared about tellig my mum and dad, i actualy ended up writing it to the because i was scared of their reaction, but they have been suprisingly ok with it!just makesure you tell a close friend who you can talk to about it, i waited till 10 weeks to tell them and still havn't told that many people.

uni are reall supprtive and give you all the information you need, im taking a full year out!

let us know howit goes telling your parens!

xx