Pregnant at 22

[nat_84]

As some of you now know i found out back in December that i was prergnant.

Done my first pregnancy test and it came back negative, so when i did a second test a week later and it confirmed that i was indeed "up the duff" i was in shock, as was my fella.

Anyway after much deliberation over what to do (terminate or go through with having the baby) i decided i wanted to give this baby a chance.

Me and my boyfriend are both on decent wages for our age and only yesterday i was given a payrise (my boss doesnt know yet!).

Anwyay, thought i'd break the news in the infamous "body and soul" as i'm sure a lot of you dont check the "family" section.

So what are your honest views? 22 too young?

Nat xxx

[nat_84]

spurslady...Thanks a lot for sharing your experiences, sounds like you went through a rollarcoaster of emotions!!!

redcrx...i certainly hope i dont resemble Vicky Pollard...!! And i'm thinking exactly what u said...when people see me being a great mum to my child maybe their frowns will turn to smiles...?

loobie...by the time i've had my baby i think i'll be too busy and probably stressed to care about the people frowning upon the "young-mum".

Pregnancy so far has been hellish to be frank....

My parents "indirectly" adivsed me to terminate, i've been vomitting constantly (1st few weeks i came on AB and suggested i might have a stomach flu..how wrong i was!), i've been completely exhausted, stressing about telling work, had to lie to my friends about why i was no longer coming out and drinking (but they all know now and i have earned the title MILF)!!

Unfortunately i'm STILL awaiting my first scan...so just waiting for a letter from the hospital. So its difficult to rest until we know everythings ok.

But on the other hand, my boyfriends excited, my firends have been brill and are all proud of me and best of all my parents have finally come to terms with it!!

xxx

[nat_84]

lmao - sorry king_arthur i meant he doesnt know i'm pregnant - will tell him once my first scan has been done, if not before the end of the month.

[redcrx]

how far along are you now nat? does your hospital do a nuchal scan at 12 weeks as there is a tight window for the nuchal i think (thats a scan that looks for markers for downs)
It may be that they only do a dating scan and they dont have such a concern for getting you in at a certain time for that.

[Pippa68]

Hey nat ~ I have already passed on my congrats, but will do it again anyway :o)

Hmmmm..age is a difficult subject. Yes, you are very young (the same age as me when I had my first!) and plenty of times since I have thought to myself ''yes, I was way too young!'' but there are pros and cons to all ages when it comes to having children.

As for getting strange looks ~ people are always telling me I am way too young to have 4 children, let alone a 16 year old! a few have even said that I must have been about 14 when I had her...lol. It has got to the stage where if I am meeting someone for the first time I make a point about my age ;o)

As has previously been said ~ you are a mature 22 year old. My sister is 29 (30 this year) and is still incredibly immature to be a mum of two. She still behaves like a 16 year old..constantly :o(

You will be fine, hun xx

[nat_84]

My boyfriend reckons i'll be 14 weeks tomorrow. Everythings so late because i left my decision so late...

i know the first scan is meant to be at 12 weeks... told my doctor my final decision a week today.

What do u recommend i do redcrx? Think its worth ringing the hospital and seeing if they have a date set for me?

[nat_84]

Thanks pippa - thats really reassuring and i'm confident that i'll be a good mother and my boyfriend a good father - especially due to the fact that he lost his dad at the age of 7, i know he'd never let his own child down.

I think you should be flattered that people consider you to be too young to have 4 children! a yummy mummy! ;o)

[Pippa68]

Hi again nat,

I would ring the hospital if I were you. There shouldn't be a problem with your bubba anyway..but I know you are itching to get it sorted!

I remember going for my first scan at 9 weeks. I couldn't see a thing..LOL. With my next pregnancy I was 12 weeks + and it was very clear that there was a baby there instead of a blob :o)

[ummmm1]

nat, to be honest I found it quite easy. Although she was a good baby. You have nothing to worry about. Enjoy being a mum and just remember that most problems only last a short time, as in waking in the night and things.

Now I'm having the problems as she is 15....say no more!!!

[Pippa68]

Sorry nat..cross posted!

awww thanks for that :o)

Your comment about your boyfriend and his dad made me shed a little tear. Damn those hormones (I am due on, not pregnant, heh heh!)

[tradey]

no too young at all i was 16 when we had my 1st child, 21 when we had our 2nd, then out of the blue at the age of 36 we had our third,please dont worry that you too young at the end of the day its up to you two and no one else,i wish you all the luck in the world,keeps us informed of how your getting on xxx

[redcrx]

have you seen a midwife yet? Your GP surgery should have given you a booking in appoint ment where they take all your details, family medical history of mother and father etc.
The midwife then send your info off to the hospital and you await the date of scan. They will also advise you of all the blood tests you will need to have and can give you advice of what foods to avoid. You will also be given a form for to give to your employer and also a form to apply for free prescriptions.
If youve not had a booking in appointment then i suggest you call your surgery and ask for one. make sure you tell them you estimate your pregnancy to be 14 weeks (its taken from first day of last period)

[nat_84]

pippa...i think i'll take your advice and give the hospital a ring once my boss goes out for lunch.

I'm extremely excited about the scan, can't wait to see the baby and hear the heartbeat!!!

ummmm...ive heard and read all different scenarios concerning babies...some well behaved, the others nightmares!! Just hope i dont get the latter!

[Purple Haze]

Congrats To you!

I dont think 22 is too young at all, i was 19 when i had my daughter and i thought i was too young but looking back now it was the best decision i ever made! :)

[caz247]

Hi Nat

I had my son at 18 which was unplanned and then my
daughter which was planned and she was born 3 days after i turned 21. from the advise you have given on here
to loads of ABers myself included, you are most
certainly not immature or too young.good luck and keep us all posted. i personally think you will be a great mum.

take care

caz x

[nat_84]

tradey...thanks a lot....will defintely keep u all updated! be asking for advice in all sorts of situations too!!

redcrx...all my GP did was ask what hospital i wanted to be referred to and said that i should get a letter....?! Its been a week now and i've had nothing...just spoke to my mum and nothing in the post today either.

My GP is absolutely awful to be honest...e.g. my brother had hernia...spoke to a doctor who said he'd refer him...this was about 6 months ago...me and my mum went into the hospital and they had no letter of referal from our docs...only last week he got a letter giving a "consultant" appointment and his hernia is massive (dont mean to be graphic...but it is).

I think the best thing to do would be to call the hospital this lunch time and see if they've recived anything, i'll also tell them how far along i am...might hurry things up a bit!

[ummmm1]

Purple Haze......Thats because she is a cutie clever clogs

[redcrx]

ok let us know what the hospital say nat.
you really ought to be under the care of a midwife though, call your surgery up and ask the receptionist if they have midwives based there.

[noxlumos]

Nothing to add here except my congratulations, and 22 is a grand age to have a child, you'll do a great job. May you all have long and happy lives.

[nat_84]

I hope your right caz247!!

And i hope i can prove my parents wrong and that i will end up with a good career even if i do have this child!

[Purple Haze]

Yes ummmm.... your right, she is!!