Young Mum thread

[FlowerPower100]

Thought I would make a thread for the young mums to be on here because to be honest I need the support! Ha

I’m 23 and around 5 weeks pregnant. Mixed emotions. Mainly worried that people will think I’m too young!

Need some positive vibes around me 😊

Bump

Ooh I love this
I had my first just after I turned 19 and my second when I was 23. They're fantastic. People at work are shocked I have kids of the ages they are because when I'm at work I'm quite driven and they always think young mum = stay at home Mum basically. Nothing wrong with that but it wasn't for me 🤷‍♀️

Oh and mine are by two different dads too. I get double judgment

Don’t worry at all. You’re not a young (no offence!) mother. It’s a perfectly normal age to have a baby! I had my first at 16, 2nd at 20 and I’m pg with number 3, now 25. I’ve been a damn good mother and I adore all my children. Age has never affected anything. And I didn’t care what anyone thought about me having a baby so young. The midwives treated me like a mother and I acted like one. Nobody will say a word to you and probably won’t even bat an eyelid. I’m from a small town too, stuff them, it’s your life!

Thank you @BadgersBumhole no offence taken by the way if your a good Mum then how can people criticise I guess. Congrats xxx

I was 21 when I got married, and 22 when I had our daughter. I didn’t experience any judging looks when I was pregnant etc, the only thing I’ve experience which I think is in my head anyway is a few looks at the nursery gate, as most of the mums are late 30’s early 40’s so with some one the mums they aren’t far off my mums age (just due to the area I live in). Me and my mum both have baby faces too which doesn’t help in the age situation in some respects. I am now expecting baby no.2 and will be 27 when I deliver and feel a little bit more confident about it (it’s totally daft I know but I know exactly how you feel) I think over the years I have really started to appreciate how lucky ive have been to start my family at this stage in my life, and I wouldn’t change it for the word. For me it’s meant real flexibility in having an bigger age gap between children which is what I have always wanted (and God willing conceiving has been fine for us both times, which I know isn’t the case at all for everyone).

I really don’t think age makes any difference in how good of a parent you are there are pros and cons to everything. I think you need to hold your head up high and just be the best mummy you can be regardless of how you think others will view you, and I think mostly it will be in your head and people won’t even batter an eyelid. Enjoy it’s the best thing in the world!! X

Thank you for your kind words @lgh05 I think it's time I stopped worrying and allow myself to be excited. Xxx

Don't worry, I'm 17 not 18 for another 6 months and I just found out I'm pregnant. I was terrified of what other people might think but I'm starting to get over that and just think about me my boyfriend and our baby as that's all that really matters. Age definitely doesn't define how good a mum is!!

Tbh I would say 21+ is not really that young to be a mum. I'm 24 and 18 weeks and I don't consider myself to be young to be having a baby. I know people have children a lot older nowadays but it hasn't always been that way. My nan had my mum, her first, at 18. DH's DM had her first at 18 too. I think that's young, especially when I think about myself at 18 - no disrespect to people who have had kids that young, I mean I totally salute you, I would never have been able to face that kind of commitment at that age. Then again I had severe mental health problems around that age too so.

Anyway congratulations OP and wishing you a healthy pregnancy. Mine has been horrible so far lol I despise being pregnant and cannot wait for it to be over!!

Another one saying 23 isn’t wildly young - I was pg at 21, had DD at 22 and I felt youngish but not judgement-inducingly so. I agree with previous posters that there’s lots of benefits to having kids sooner rather than later. And I found personally that having a baby, especially a first baby, was an incredible leveller. My group of mum friends ranged from 22-42 and we all had good times, bad times, worries, advice - no one thought they were above anyone else, and all our experiences were equally valid and valuable. You’ll be just fine OP, enjoy it! I’m 27 now, expecting my third and feel like an old hand - but sometimes nostalgic for those lovely early days with just me and DD and DP