HEY

Someone may have already posted something similar on here before, but oh well. Since us younger mums hardly ever write much in here I thought I would start a new thread...
Let's just introduce ourselves and our kids and see where it oges form there...

My name is Tegan and I am 19. My DS is 15 months old. My partner is 25, and I definitely wouldn't say that we are the greatest cuople in the world, but we do okay. We live in our own two bedroom duplex in ocean shores, but i am hoping to move to tweed heads soon. I am studying Children's Services through OTEN...
Not sure what else to say yet...

But hello to everyone... :hug:

Hey there! My names Tegan too lol. My mum-in-law lives in Tweed heads, funny coinsidences!

I'm 21 and my hubby is also 21. We have a 3yo little girl and a 1yo baby boy, with #3 on the way.

Hi, I am new here and was stoked to find a younger parents forum! My name is Nicolle and I am 25 and I have been married for 4 yrs, he is 27 and we started going out when I was 14 and he 16 (seems like a lifetime ago!) and somehow we survived the break-ups and teen troubles and so here we are! Our first baby arrived when I was 19. We bought our first home last year while I was pregnant with our third baby.
I am a SAHM and I am currently studying for a degree in Social Science (counselling).

I am not so new here anymore, but decided to see if we can keep this thread going!
I'm ashlea, am 20, expecting baby #1 late feb! Me and DF are currently living in melbourne but moving to geelong to have baby.
I hope to go back to work before september of next year so df can get back to uni and finish his degree, and from there i want to uptake study part time again.

Hey, im kat, im 23. DP and i have been together about 5 years now lol, he's 25. We started trying for our first baby when i was 20, but it took a while... but happened all on its own :) Annika is 16 months, born at home in a warm pool of water :) She's such a placid little thing! I live in Safety Bay in Western Australia, and absolutely love it! Right near the beach, about 40 mins south of perth... i grew up here, and will never leave :)

Hi im Blanche (21) DP is 20 this year, we have been together for almost 5 years and our DD is 11months and our 2nd is due in may next year!!

I live in WA and im a SAHM :D

Hi Girls, My name is Nina. I'm 23 and pregnant with my first bub. My fiance Joel is 22 and we live in Darwin, about to move to BRISVEGAS with a transfer in the Army.

Hey Tegan, you live in Ocean Shores? I was born in Mullumbimby!! My dad used to live in Ocean Shores but now he is in Ballina. My older brother is living in Byron with his G/F. It is such a small world. I wish so much that we could live in Northern NSW but with the Army it's not really possible. Our wedding is in Byron next October and our reception is going to be at a friends place in "The Pocket" Billinudgel.

Joel and I have only been together for 1yr and a half, but we could never live without eachother... we were engaged on our first anniversary in Thailand, not long after he got home from serving 7mths in Afghanistan.
Everything in our relationship has come so quickly but it just feels right. After all, when you know, you just know!!!

Hi Nina! Welcome to this rarely inhabited thread! Moving to Brissy will be nice, i used to live on the Gold Coast as a child and i can't wait to go back!

My aunty's husband is with the navy and your story reminds me of them, it's so cute! They met and had a one-night-stand turned into nine months worth of emailing while he was overseas and then the moved in together when he got back. They now have custody of his two little girls from a previous marriage and two adorable little baby boys of their own. He travels to and from adelaide for work fortnightly. So it sounds a bit similar!

As for me, DF and i have only been together 8 months, jellybean was a little surprise, but we're now very excited and can't wait for him to arrive. DF says that he can't imagine how people can spend four or five years together and not have realized earlier that it wasn't going to work out... Since we started dating DF has even started believing in the idea of soulmates, which i think is adorable! He is one of the most understanding, compassionate people i have ever met, and for the short time we have been together, the various things we have had to overcome give me the idea that we can sure make it =)

You are very right, when you know, you just know! =)

I don't know if i'm young anymore!!!
I am 26 and DD has just turned 6. I was young when I had her, I was 20. How time flies.
I broke up with her dad when she was about 15 months old, did the single mum things since then quite happily. I've been with DP now for 2 years but still class myself as a single mum as we don't live together. DD and DP get along fantastic, she adores him and he is so wonderful with her.
I've just started working full time this year when DD started school. I am a Massage Therapist
Good to see all the young mums around!

Hi there everyone, my name is Joanne and i'm 23 pregnant with #1 due 30/01/2008, DP is 26 (27 in Feb). Have been with DP for 4 years we've recently moved to QLD residing in Tanah Merah. I finished my apprenticeship in early April this year and was pregnant by the end of April, we had talked about starting a family but didnt think it would happen this quickly. All in all we're happy and excited and looking forward to being parents.

Hi There,
My Name is Nat and i am 24 i have a 19 month old DD and am pg with no 2 (we suspect is another dd) i am booked in for a CS in just under 3 weeks on the 13/11. My DH is 29 and we have been together for just over 6 years and married for almost 3 :) We met when i was 18, got engaged and bought our house at 19, married at 21 and had dd a wk b4 i turned 23. Alot of ppl have told me in the last 6 years i am mad for "rushing" my life but DH and i are happy and wouldnt change things for the world. We live in WA about 40 minutes North of Perth. I am getting used to been a SAHM again after finishing work 5 weeks ago. Ppl always tell me i am a young mum but i dont feel very young iykwim.

Hi Nat, congrats on bubby#2, wishing you the best of luck for the rest of your pg and c-section!
It seems ironic that trends change, when thirty years ago it was perfectly acceptable for women to be having children at your age. And now they want us to have careers, risk our fertility and not have babies until we're forty!
I think parenting is a huuuge step at any age, and the strength of character it takes to raise a child should be appreciated and acknowledged for parents of any age.

Ps Ashnant...great name! My DD is and Ashlea too :D

Hi all! DH and I are both 26, DS was born when we were 25, just after our 6-years-dating anniversary. I find it very frustrating that people think I'm "very young" to have a family... we're married, own our own home (where we are in the UK it's nigh on impossible to buy atm) and yes, not over 30 but we didn't want to be!

hi

my names Jody (Jo) im 23, my df is 24, and our fabulous accident is michael who is 3 months +. We've been together for 3 1/2 years, been engaged for 2 1/2 years and was supposed to be married sept just gone however last november we discovered our little suprise and beleive me when i say i could NOT be happier :dance: - our crazy little family unit works - and the wedding has been re-finalised for Feb '08.

Michaels at that age where he's learning so much everyday - he rolled over for the first time on his own today and he is constantly making some noise or another or laughing his little head off at something

To all you first time mums about to pop just a little advise i wish i got - when you get to that point in the delivery room where your screaming i don't wanna do this anymore just tell yourself to get through the next contraction and listen to all the sugestions the midwives make - they seen it a million times, and probably been there themselves, so they know what works for different situations - i loved my midwife - without her i would have been a mess

hope to be back soon

It's all so good that we have this thread going. I think we should keep it up. I really enjoy the interaction with the other women in the other forums but most of the time they are 10yrs older than me. Although we are all going through the same thing.....it's still different.
I all seems that we have a similar story to tell. Everything moving so fast but instead of running and freaking out we have all done the RIGHT thing. Ppl should look up to young mothers and admire them for being so strong. Like Ashlea pointed out now they want us to have careers, risk our fertility and not have babies until we're forty! The world is so confused!!!

Thanks for the words of wisdom Jo. I hope to have a natural birth and to tell you the truth, I am worried that I might not be able to cope.

Ashlea- I LOVE your story!

you would be amazed at what you can do when the time calls for it - child birth and motherhood are the ultimate

Hi all, thought I'd jump in too. I'm no so new either. I'm 21, my partner is 26, and we're trying for our first. It's funny what society see's as young now. 50 years ago young was the norm, funny how times change.

HI I'm Ellie I'm 20 Dp is 25. I had my first bub Tyler when I was 17 and second bub Paige when I was 19. We live in the logan area in Brisbane. I'm also another that hates the way society looks at me for being a young mum.


Ellie

We'll i've "set up" my career in which i finished my apprenticeship before we thought about starting a family so if in the future i decide to go back to work i've got my trade to fall back on. That was always my plan, i didnt want to half finish it or give it up i would have regretted it. As it turned out i finished my apprenticeship only a few weeks before i fell pregnant

:

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I don't know if i'm young anymore!!!

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lol!! thats what I was thinking when I posted ,but I think we still qaulify! My dd is 6 aswell, its weird being the mother of a school child, but I am really happy it is that way.
Congrats to all the new mummies and mummies to be. Enjoy it, sometimes I wish I could have it all over again..its such a wonderful time. Its good to see so many happy and comfortable young mums. I dont know many people IRL that are my age with kids my age. All my friends drifted fom me when my life took a different turn, so I rarely see them now even though they are starting to become mums themselves.
good luck everyone.

Hi everyone,
I was 19 when I had my first bub, 21 when no 2 was born and 24 when the 3rd bub was born. I am a nurse and i am studying for my degree. I was working and i will go back to it fairly soon. Young mums do alot more than society likes to think and i am sick of not getting any recognition for having a go! My kids are not neglected and they thrive from having a cariety of family members included in their lives. We are paying off our own house and doing a bit of renovating.
Bec

Hello to everyone that's dropped in here recently!
Would be great to hear more of everyone's stories of being a young mum.
I myself am terribly excited to having being in the midst of achieving the one 'true ambition' i have set for myself, and cannot wait to raise my own family.
Sounds like all the already-mothers are doing a fantastic job, and you're all very inspiring to an almost-mum like me =)

ETA: Bec, congrats on birth of new bubby Toby!

Hi girls.....My name is Leah i'm 26, DH is 32 ... we have been together for 10years & married for 5 years.

I was 21 when we welcomed our first little bubba into the world & 24 when our second little bubba came along....we also lost a bubba when i was 23.

Sounds like everyone is doing a great job!!!!

I can't wait to be a mummy....When I was little mum would say to me "what do you want to be when you grow up Nina?" and I'd say "A mummy just like you" I can't even begin to believe that there are women out there who would rather have a job over a child. It just doesn't make sense.

I'm really excited but nervous at the same time about the whole birthing process. I watched a vid on the net last night about a c section....it didn't look that bad (as bad as surgery can look) I just want to be prepared and know everything about it just in case it is un avoidable. I plan to have an active birth with midwifery care. Standing up and moving around as much as I can. What about the rest of you ladies? What are your plans?

I'm trying to be as educated as possible between now and then, so i am fully aware of what risks there are, and how they become more preventable etc.
I want to spend as much time at home as possible (being bombarded by medical staff will just irritate me, stress me out, and hence prolonging labour), but as it will be my first birth, and at this stage i don't know what my body is capable of, and how fast things are likely to progress, i don't know how smoothly this idea will run.
I am aiming to have a completely drug-free labour. I've heard some inspiring stories from my mum, and she went without, so i have an instilled belief that i can do it to. I can understand there are times when it may be unavoidable, as may a C-section (my worst fear of labour, i am absolutely terrified of surgery), but i have discussed things with DF and am thinking about a doula/birth attendant to assist me in sticking with these goals.
I also would like an actively managed birth, movement as much as possible, use of bath and shower etc... the stories i have read about waterbirthing have made me feel very confident that the use of water to be calm and tranquil - so to speak - will be of great assistance to relaxation whilst in labour. I'd also like to do some yoga classes between now and then, but i think i'm getting a little ambitious :P
I am highly discouraged by the idea of a c-section, and if it becomes necessary, it is going to ruin my birthing experience. As i mentioned, i am terrified of surgery and for a c-section i would be requesting to be put to sleep, i could not handle being awake on the table. Which would then mean i would not see my beautiful baby for a few hours and etc... I still planned to be as informed as possible, and if on the day, i feel that i can 'handle it' i will, but i just think i would end up freaking out.
The only query i do have is, is it technically considered a 'natural, drug free' birth if you have the synthetic oxytocin injection for third stage delivery?? I know that breastfeeding the baby is the body's natural stimulant for producing the oxytocin itself, but as i don't know all that much about PPH and how likely one is to suffer from it, etc, i am unsure whether turning it down is a good idea... And then the way i see it is, i've gotten through the hard part, i've birthed a baby, all pain no drugs, if the oxytocin is not pain relief, is it ok?
Sorry for my long ramble!!!

Sorry I haven't been back on here to chat after starting the thread. How is everyone?
Since then my DS has been diagnosed with partial epilepsy, but he's not so bad. Just a bit delayed with his walking and has never crawled.
I am also now single. It is the best thing for all concerned, so I know I have made the right choice.
Anyways, how are you and your bubbas all going???

Hello my name is Sally and my partner and i are both 21. We were both 20 when Brendan was born. (my partner's bday is the day after Brendans) We've been together 3 years engaed for 2 at Xmas. I'm 14wks preggers with our 2nd.

:clap:It's nice to see theres a place for younger mums to talk. My lil man was born premature at 30wks. When he finally came home I was doing some shopping in Perth and the amount of people that stop and stare was just stupid. I even had one mum in the parents room say to me, how nice looking after your little brother. Grrr, I was like hes my son.:wall:

Anyway starting to ramble.

Take care!:D

Hi Sally!
It sounds really familiar, everyone in my family seems to have had babies young-ish, and people always assumed my grandmother was my mum. As a child, I used to be embarrassed by it, but then you come to realise all the societal expectations seem to point to it being the norm.
My mum and i are 40 and 21 in the same year, and my grandma will be 62! My Late Nan (or great nan rather) would have been 84 next year, so we've been deflecting young mothers' criticism for years and i'm proud to carry on what seems to have become tradition. LOL :P

Ash, I just turned 21 last month, and my mum turns 40 in December :-) My grandma is 65 or 66 (can't remember lol :p) so I come from a line of young mums too :D I just hope my turn comes round soon... I get a few funny looks from woman in the fertility clinic too...

ashnat- i jsut want to say goodluck with wanting to have a natural birth and i really hope it is something that you can achieve so pls dont take offence to this:
Quote-I am highly discouraged by the idea of a c-section, and if it becomes necessary, it is going to ruin my birthing experience. As i mentioned, i am terrified of surgery and for a c-section i would be requesting to be put to sleep
Dont be too scared it's honestly not that bad. I wanted a natural birthing exp with my 1st but ended up with an emergency cs after 15+ hrs of labour, i was induced 12 days past my edd and had a terrible time. I was so scared when i was told i was having a cs i was crying and so was DH but looking back i barely remember the surgery as such now. I am having an elective cs this time around for medical reasons which i am a little disappointed in as i wanted a vbac but at the end of the day it doesnt matter how bubs gets here as long as its safely. If you are certain you will be wanting to be put to sleep in the event of needing a cs maybe you could pm Nadine216 as i know she was givin a general and regrets it as such.
As i said goodluck for the natural birth and i truly hope you get it but if things dont go to plan i'm sure you would cope with a cs.

STUFF EM ALL I SAY!!!! God..........How rude and ignorant of people!!!! It's LIFE!

Anyway best thing to do is just laugh it off. I mean how childish and immature do they look? Just because we are young doesn't mean that we know any less about being parents. I'm just glad that when Cohen is 20 we will still be young and be able to have lives of our own and not old farts!!! (Not that my mum is an old fart)

Thats cool Tegan. Not so cool about lill bubba. Great news that it is only mild though. Good that you have everything sorted and you have done the right thing. Your very strong. XXXX

my mum was 23 when I was born and her mum was 16. I believe it is easier for younger mums to cope with a newborn. Brendan was born just less than 3 months after my cousin. my Aunt is 34 and she had every test and stressed to the absolute max about their baby, She had so many troubles due to stress. She wouldn't let her baby even cry a little, she was instantly picked up and walked around the house as if she was hysterical!!

Older mums are "set in their ways" they have a routine and particular ways they like to do things. A baby was very disrupting for my Aunt. Where as for me, i had no routine, was just going with the flow. Having Brendan was scary and a difficult exp(I've written a thread in birth stories for those interested), but I've never had a problem with fitting into his routine.

I wanted my kids young, so that once they are old enough to look after themselves, I'm still young enough to have a career, or go out night clubbing with friends and travel. When Brendan is 16 nigel and I will be 36. Still young....

I think people tend to forget what things were like back in their day. We have so much more support, ect available for us. And those who think we have kids for the money are absolute idiots, how stupid do they think we are? I know of a couple of young girls (15/16) who got PG for the money, but they are a minority. For me, I couldn't care less. If the gov took the family pay off me, I'd still make it work and I'd still have more kids.

Anyways starting to ramble on AGAIN...
lol:D

BTW by older mums I mean those who start later.

Oh and Ashnant, congrats. I used to call Brendan "jelly bean" before he was bron. lol

Joel and I used to call our baby Bean before we found out he was a boy. If he was a girl we would have called him Jelly...hahahaha. Even though we have now found a name that we like we still call him Bean!

supa_star323 - Unfortunate news about your little bubba, but you do sound like you're handling things the best you can. It's sad that you're yet to share those experience with your DS, but when you do i'm sure the experience will be just as thrilling and exciting for you! I'm glad you seem comfortable with your choice about your new-found singledom, it's always helpful if you have a positive outset, remember we're all here for you as well!

Leasha - Rustygirl is totally right, we're making just as tough a decision to bring babies into the world and if we feel we are competent and capable, there is no reason we should feel alienated or looked down upon for it! Let them look at you funny all you like, we win on the inside =D Good luck with your TTC journey, i hope it;s a short one for you.

Hoody - thanks for sharing your story with me. I know it's probably a case of needing to harden the %$@# up, so i am going to spend as much time as possible, educating myself on CS and getting used to the possibility. There are reasons that i wouldn't want to be asleep, such as not being able to spend the very first minutes of my child's life with it... I'll be discussing birth preferences with midwife (and maybe a doula) but i want the hospital staff to be clear that if i am to stay awake i want as little to be heard as possible, and if possible for my top have my headphones in theatre so i can't hear what's going on... It's at least a step up from being asleep. I may have a talk to Nadine also. Thanks again for the advice.

Rustygirl - I agree with you, i think it'll be fantastic to only be 40 when my first child is my age, and i feel that i'm just as educated as any woman to be able to be having a child.

Sally - I can totally agree with you! Whilst i know, because it's about a year or so earlier than i expected, that i'm less financially prepared than i would have liked, i still feel that i have all the necessary resources to help me be a mother. Jellybean stemmed form my 9w u/s, i saw bubs and it was bouncing around like a little jellybean, and it just stuck!

I think we all deserve a congratulations for taking the step to be parents at all. At any age, it is a tough job, decision, and wonderful accomplishment. And at any age it should always be seen as an amazing and proud journey!

My mum was 23 when she had my older sister and 25 when she had me and i'd have to ask about mums mum as she passed away when mum was only 15 so i dont know alot about her. I didnt want to be to old to start a family, and i know that if i waited for my older sister to be "first" id be in my thirties and i didnt want that. I'm going to try and have a natural birth, and only have a c-section if its neccessary.

I had been saving for a deposit on a house, so I had some money put away anyway. But even without my savings, which we hardly touched, we were still ok. My DF found another job which payed more, included a house and ammenities paid for. we got given soooo many things for Brendan. He was the first of his generation for both our families.