Pregnant, emotional and mind boggled.

[Rebeccaelizabethxo]

So hello everyone, this is ALL very new to me.
I'm 22 years old and in a very loving relationship, and today we got the shock of our lives to find out I'm pregnant, very unexpected, as I'm on the mini pill.

So there's part of me that's fabulously happy, but most of me has gone in to panic mode.

We live together, in rented accommodation, we both have jobs, not a great income but more than some, we don't really have any savings either.

Does any one have any advice as to what to do next?

Thank you, a very scared mum to be!

Firstly congratulations! I think whenever you find out you're pregnant it's a shock even if your are trying. I think you need to give yourself some timeto get your head around it it's a huge thing and panic is totally normal. You need to let your gp know when you are ready but no rush they don't do anything major just let the midwife know. If it's any consolation I'm 36 and pregnant with my fourth and I still panic on a daily basis! Good luck you will be fine! :)

Oh and there's never a perfect time for a baby!

I agree, it's daunting whether or not you were planning on getting pregnant.

You seem to be quite worried about resources/finances. Don't worry, owning a home is definitely not a prerequisite for having a child and neither is earning a tonne of money. My husband and I can't afford to buy a home and our combined income is less than the national average. We plan on saving money by not setting up a dedicated nursery (does a baby care about having its own fancy room??), buying clothes 2nd hand, breastfeeding, looking after it ourselves for at least the first year, etc.

Our culture and society generally like to make us believe that we need more money, and more things, than we really do.

Things will all come together :)

I had my kids much older and you have so much less energy when you're older. Plus, you may also cope better with working working and having dc as more energy. Do you have a supportive family or good friends? These things can be helpful. Essentially, you have to listen to what you feel is right, if your heart's in it, it's easier. try and put together a plan to get some savings together before baby arrives and calculate what you will get at each stage for SMP, child benefit, tax breaks for nursery etc. if you plan, you'll feel more in control.