Young pregnancy

[MIAAN]

Is 22/23 too young to have a baby? What were your experiences like as mums at this age? What about mums in uni, what was it like?

I had my first at 22, now pregnant with my 2nd at 25.

My experience was great, I've never been called a young mum and I adjusted very easily and quite quickly to pregnancy and life after as a parent.
Some people will tell you anything younger than 30 is too young, others will say 30 is too old so do what works for you, if you want a baby at 22 and could do it, go for it and don't worry what other people think.

As for the university aspect I can't offer my experience as I didn't attend university but plenty of women do, I'm sure someone will be along soon with their experience, personally I'd suggest finishing your degree before actively trying for a baby because once you're a mum, you'll feel like all your time is spent with baby, which 99% of it is, so trying to juggle self care, a relationship, parenting, home life, studying and perhaps working at the same time is a huge challenge, but it's your personal choice and there's support available to women who do have a baby whilst at university.

No it's not too young.

I found out I was pregnant with our eldest a week before my 21st, (now) hubby was 19.
We got by fine. I put my career/education on hold, I was part qualified in financial accounts. Husband is military so he advanced his career. I only did part time as child care is expensive, got made redundant 3 times in 3 years and after the last became a sham. Currently got 5 kids and 11wk pregnant.

It's not your age that you need to consider, it's whether you have the capacity to care for a baby and a willingness to give up all the things we (used to) take for granted as young adults. Do you want evenings to stay like lockdown for the next 15 years because that's what parenthood means. This is without even considering affording a baby. At 22/23 some people have been working for years and live independently etc. they are usually more ready than uni students

No your not to young I had my son when I was 24 and do not regret it at all. When he was born I wasnt in Uni but I was studying A Level equivalent in a tech part time with a part time job. Then when my son was nearly 3 and I was 27 I started an undergrad degree in Uni and I am now in my final year and pregnant again. Uni has been a completely different experience than what it would of been without having a child. Meeting up with friends after class or scheduling time for group work or time in the library has always been a nightmare as your always either having to get you child minded or you just cant go cause your rushing home to get to them. Then trying to juggle a part time job and peace and quiet at home to study was hard too. If i hadnt of had my hubby I dont know if i would of got this far tbh. My Uni is very understanding tho and especially as im pregnant now they have made allowances for me with the likes of deadlines and stuff and im sure most Uni's are. If you are determined enough to have a baby and go to Uni at the same time you can do it. There are so many 'mature' students in my year doing it with families and part time jobs. Good luck

22/23 is not young at all, wouldnt count you as a young mum. From the title of this i expected this to be about someone who was 14/15.

I had my son at 23 and whilst it was a massive adjustment to our lives, we got on with it and he just slotted right in.
I'm now pregnant with our second baby, age 29 and I'm working whilst completing my final year at uni. This has probably been the biggest struggle for me as I had quite bad morning sickness during my first trimester so my attendance wasn't great. Now I'm 20 weeks I'm feeling a lot better and will complete my degree about 6 weeks before I give birth. I've found this year a massive struggle, but I think it's a combination of covid, online learning and home schooling my 5 year old. I did contemplate deferring for a year, but I thought it better to complete third year now whilst pregnant, then be trying to do it with a baby under one plus a 6 year old.

I had my first at 19 and 4th at 28. Earlier pregnancies were easier but may not be anything to do with age, I think it was because I'd had c sections and had strain on my body. I found parenting a newborn in my late 20s easier but may just be because I had more experience.

I had my daughter at 22. She wasn’t planned so it was a shock but I did it. I had good family support also as her father was too immature and useless tbh. She’s now 10 and I’m pregnant with my second x

I had my 1st at 22 and 2nd a year later. I was the oldest of my friends group to get married and have a baby!

Had my 3rd and 4th at 36 and 38. Felt no different.

I had mine at 21, 23 and 27. I definitely feel like a young mum but probably because none of my friends had babies. Best thing I’ve ever done.

I feel a bit embarrassed having 3 kids at 27 though, I don’t know why? Some internal stigma, I feel people are judging me. I work full time in a managerial role with a pretty good job too but feel people look and judge (they probably don’t at all).

I want a 4th!

I wouldn't have had one at that age out of choice and definitely not while at uni, but I know people that had unplanned pregnancies at that age and made it work. So I wouldnt advise you to plan a pregnancy if you are early 20s and a student, but if you already are pregnant and you want the baby then you can make it work.

I fell pregnant with my now 9 year old at 22- I obviously wouldn't take it back for the world but if I could- I'd definitely of waited to have him again later on in my twenties x

If your not already pregnant, consider how your life is going to change as a young person with children.
Your not likely to get the same experiences as your friends of the same age, you can't just pop to ibiza for four days, and nights out aren't usually a decision made on a whim.
If your ready to give all that up then yes your definitely old enough, 22 isn't considered young really and everyone's circumstances are different

I net my husband at 18, married at 21, didn't have our first child till 27 because we went on lavish holidays, I got my degree and we were selfish and liked our money for our self's. If we'd have had children when we were just married we wouldn't have had the opportunity to do 75% of the things we've done

I'm 23 and expecting my first, I don't feel like a young mum at all! I feel very ready as i have an old head.
When people say your life will be over- that is a lie, your life is just beginning, you can still go on holidays and have nights out; you can still be you.
I don't intend to give up my life, it will just change... and for the better
I was always worried what people (my family) would think, but I don't care now, I'm ready, so is my partner and that's all that matters.

Xx

Definitely not too young. I had my first ds at 17, pretty young, but that didn't stop me from continuing with college then university, working etc. I'm now pregnant with ds2, some14 years later with different DH. Having a good support system was really key for me, family helped loads!

I got pregnant at 19, had my first child at 20 and went straight to university when she was a few months old. I then had my second child whilst in my second year of uno, actually sitting my exams days before I gave birth, broke up for summer and then went back to finish my final year. No one batted an eyelid. I’m proud to say I did exceptionally well and gained my law degree. Having children pushed me to work harder to prove the nay sayers wrong. Nothing is impossible. Yes I was a young mum but it hasn’t stopped me achieving what I wanted.

Wouldn't call 22/23 young. I was that age and felt very ready. Sister had a child while at uni, went back to finish a placement afterwards, now working as a single parent with a one year old.

It really depends on the person. At 22 I was working full-time time but only on 15k (early 2000s) and living at home. I wasn't in a stable relationship so would have meant getting back with ex into a relationship that just wasn't great. I'd have either moved away from family to live where he was studying, he'd have quit or I'd have got somewhere here with his help and we'd have lived between the two so saw each other weekend only. We'd have coped, good family support etc but I'm now 39, so I reckon I'd be divorced with a 17 and probably a 14/15 year old. I wouldn't have worked for the first five years die to childcare / mil would have been overbearing and insisted she did it all.

I would def have been too young

Doesn't mean you are

I first met my husband end of April 2014, I'd just turned 21 when we met, he was 29. I was a student and he worked full time but we still made it work, and couldn't be happier.
We became a couple 9th may 2014. We decided to start trying for a baby in July 2014, we moved in together in October 2014, I got pregnant in November 2014, we found out I was pregnant 19th December 2014. We got engaged 13th January 2015, and got married 9th April 2015. Baby was due 30th August 2015, was actually born on 5th September 2015.
So we had been together exactly 11 months the day we got married. I know it's very quick, being married and expecting a baby within less than a year of being together, but it worked for us. We had discussed marriage and both agreed it was what we wanted, but we weren't officially engaged. But when we found out I was pregnant we both knew it was important to us to be married before the baby was born, and I didn’t want to be showing if possible, so we made sure we were. It was perfect. Some people might think we only got married because I was pregnant, but that was never the case at all.

This was my situation. It was perfect and I've never regretted it at all. I was ready to be a wife and a mum, I wanted it all.

I've never felt I missed out on anything at all, or wished I'd waited.

Though it depends on the person. As I said my husband is 9 years older than me, he has always said he couldn't imagine being a husband and a dad at 22, which is fine. But I was ready