How to Stay Above Water for Teenage Mama’s

      Being a young mother could be one of the hardest things that anyone can go through. It is literally “babies raising babies”, but once such a big decision like this is made, it’s kind of a huge commitment that you can’t fail. For a long time this was one of the hardest topics I could speak about, let alone write about it and share it with others.   For a long time I was embarrassed, but mostly because I had to say, “Oh, she’s not my husband’s daughter.” Or when I got the question, “You look so young, what age did you have her?” Telling people my age wasn’t what I would get embarrassed about, it would be the assumption that people would think that my daughter was an accident. I became a mother at the age of 15 because I wanted to be a mother (yes at 15 I wanted a baby). If getting pregnant was not something you were expecting or planning, let me tell you that this will be your longest and challenging journey, but the most amazing one that you will ever experience.
         Months after moving in with my ex, I got pregnant and I was happy beyond words. Even though I was very happy, nothing could prepare me for what I was about to go through. My joy of carrying atiny human being lasted for about a couple of weeks. I soon started with morning sickness beyond belief. Barfing for six months was definitely not something I imagined was part of having a baby. And don’t get me wrong, I was still happy for my baby. When it came close to my due date, I could no longer see my toes, walk, sit, eat or breathe, but still had the strength to eat chocolate ice cream. My due date came….. and went….ha ha ha. For any adult that are mature, an overdue baby is hard to handle, for a teen mom like I was, I was crying my eyes out cause baby wasn’t coming and I had not slept in weeks now because of pain I had never experience in my life. Finally the day that I was going to be induced, I WENT INTO LABOR!

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.

Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you.

I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

ISAIAH 41:10

     And off I went to have my baby. My mom, my dad and my daughters’ father went with me. The first thing my mother said, “Don’t get the epidural!” and me not knowing any better or worse I listened. I had my baby naturally without pain meds…and I also had her without screaming or crying. I held everything in due to being embarrassed of making any sort of sign of pain. My dad was in the room, but behind a curtain while all the action was going on. After 36 hrs. of pain, my little girl came into this world. I was tired and got to hold her for a little bit before I had to be cleaned and wheeled into my recovery room. I asked for the hospital to keep my baby in the nursery because I didn’t know how to care for a baby. So, I went on to fall asleep and try to get somerest. I was awoken in the middle of the night by a baby crying. I didn’t think it was my baby because she was in the nursery, but when I opened my eyes, there was a baby basket next to me. I got up to see and in amazement I just gazed at this gorgeous baby. With not knowing how to even pick up such a tiny baby, I struggled but I carefully picked her up. I held my gorgeous baby and admired her. I got onto the ball very quickly (more like I had to) and I changed her diaper and nursed her for the first time…both experiences were messy, but done. I finally got to go home and cherish this amazing baby, but with no clue of the millions of trials ahead of me. If you are a teenager and pregnant, get help from people who will support you and there are a lot of programs as well. (Check you state or community for these options) Continue going to school despite others opinions and over all don’t give up and keep going forward. My daughter will be turning 13 this year (2015) and I wouldn’t change a thing because she made me better.

      For all other teenagers, having a baby is no joke or temporary. This is a lifetime commitment. Don’t have babies if you can’t care for them or pay for their needs. Even then, JUST WAIT. Your time as a teen is to grow, learn, have fun and over all learn to love yourself and be yourself. I don’t regret my actions now because they happened and I can’t change them. But if I did have a choice, I would have waited and would’ve gotten my education. Through the things I have learned in life, I know I would’ve had the same beautiful soul come into my life. The only difference is that I would have been more mature to make rational decisions and my baby would’ve been my eternalhusband instead of dealing with my daughters’ father that he doesn’t do anything for my baby. I got very lucky to have met an amazing man that cared for my little girl like if it was his daughter, but unfortunately…that’s not always the case. Everything tastes better when picked (done) at its proper timing.