Juggling the demands of everyday life plus the additional demands of a young child is difficult for parents of all ages, but teen moms face a unique and daunting set of challenges. There are the parental responsibilities of feeding, sheltering and caring for your baby, in addition to the stresses associated with being a teenager such as attending school, finding your first job, leaving the family home and struggling with adolescent hormones. It is important to find advice, comfort and inspiration in the experiences of other moms in similar circumstances. Here are some teen moms stories, more than one of which may be familiar to you!

Real Teen Mom Stories

“I’m a 16 year old mom of a 1 year old boy. My parents freaked out when they found out I was pregnant. Mom took a couple of months to start talking to me again, while my dad and I only just started talking a few weeks ago. When I found out I was pregnant I was living in a tiny 2 bedroom apartment with my mom and 3 other people, and I knew that I would have to move. My grandma lived somewhere 3 hours away and I had no choice but to go live with her. Shesinglehandedly supported me and my son while I tried to finish school. Everything got on top of me recently and I dropped out, but I’m trying to complete my G.E.D. Grandma is doing so much for us, but we’re running really low on money. I love my son so much, and I couldn’t imagine life without him, but things have been really hard. My boyfriend does the best he can, but our long distance relationship makes it hard for him to be there for us. Our little family keeps me going.

All I can say is keep your head up! Things will be hard, but it’s totally worth it.”

--Sophie

“Hi! I’m 16 and I’m pregnant. I’m pretty excited. I know that I’m having a boy and I want to call him Luke I think. I had no idea when I was pregnant; my belly was still flat and it wasn’t until I was 5 months pregnant that I found out. I took a pregnancy test and was praying that it would be negative. When it came up positive, I told my mom. I was terrified of what she would say, but she took it really well. My boyfriend was in shock when I told him. He simply didn’t believe me at first. My mind was racing! What am I going to do with a baby at my age? I am still in junior high and I had no idea how to look after a baby. Fortunately, my family has been amazing, but my boyfriend has turned out to be a liar. I’m going to do the best I can to be the best mom. I thought about adoption, but then I realized that my parents stuck by me no matter how tough it got. And that’s what I’ll do for my baby.”

--Savannah

“I’m a teen mom. Never thought I’d call myself that. I would never have thought that I would be here now, with this tiny person who relies on me and who I love so much. My daughter Amy was born about 17 hours ago and weighed in at 6lb 6 ounces. I went into labor the night before just after dinner and had her safely in my arms early this morning. I could never have imagined that this tiny beautiful person could have such an impact on my life. Her dad and I love her so very much. But I’m still hoping to go back to school and finish my senior year next year!”

--Anonymous

“I’m not a teen anymore, but I was a teen mom and I thought I would share my experience. When I was 16 I met a boy, and fell pregnant a few months after we started dating. Totally not part of my life plan! My aunty tried to convince me to have an abortion, but I was adamant that I was going to have the baby and care for it myself. Adoption or abortion was simply not an option as far as I was concerned. Some months later, after a 13 hour labor a happy, health 8lbs bub was put in my arms. It’s hard to explain the joy, love and exhaustion I felt at this time. Her dad and I stayed together for a couple of years, but it didn’t last. I’ve had a few long term boyfriends during my daughter’s life and my current partner and I have been together for 3 years and have expanded our family. Basically being a teen mom was hard at times, but I don’t regret a minute of it.”

--Ashley

Tips on Being a Teen Mom

No two babies and moms are the same, but here are a few general hints and tips to help you along the way.

• Don’t quit school: It can be very difficult to juggle with time and financial constraints of schooling and a baby, but it will be worth it in the long run. An education can allow you to provide a better life for both yourself and your baby.
• Ask for help: “It takes a village to raise a child,” it’s an old saying, but it’s true. Draw on the knowledge and experience of other moms around you. Getting connected with playgroups and mother’s groups can help!
• Get legal certificate: Ensure that your baby’s dad is on the birth certificate, even if you don’t want to contact. If you need his help, or more to the point if his child needs his help in the future, getting the legal stuff such as birth certificates, child support and the like sorted early can save you a major headache later on.
• Get medical care for both of you: Don’t neglect your health! You can’t look after bub if you don’t take care of yourself. Set up regular appointments with your GP or maternal health nurse.
• Calm down and take it easy: Don’t expect the house to be clean, or to achieve too much in a day. Just enjoy this new tiny person as much as you can. They don’t stay tiny for long.
• Nurse your baby: Take the time to bond with your baby. Breast feed if you can. If you can’t, don’t stress; just hold her while she eats. Physical contact with your baby is so important for both of you.
• Just try your best: Don’t set the bar too high. There are so many theories on how to parent and what to do for your baby. So long as you follow medical advice, love and nurture your child that is really all they need.

Want to learn some tips from a real teen mom? Check this video out: