Useful Links:
MedlinePlus 4woman.gov pregnancy.org pregnancy.about.com
One cold November morning I found my way to a local pregnancy help center. I was sixteen and suspecting I could pregnant. It was never in my plans to become pregnant.
Upon my arrival, I was greeted at the door. I explained my concerns with the worker and then I took a pregnancy test. While I was waiting, for the results, I was shown a video of a baby’s development in the womb of it’s mother. It was amazing and scary. That ten minutes seemed to last forever. The worker then came into the room, she sit next to me, took my hand and said to me, “The results are back and the Lord has blessed you with a baby!” “What, .. You are saying I am pregnant? … No, cant be!” .. “yes honey .. You are pregnant, about six weeks along”. That is about all I could recall of our conversation. The next few hours were a blur. A few nights later I gathered some courage and then told my parents.
As you can imagine my life was turned up side down. To be honest, I had not been living a very good life up to that point anyway. I was drinking and using drugs. I was a habitual run away. I was actually planning on leaving for Job Corp in one week.
Even with the news, the Job Corp allowed me to continue with my plans and they allowed me to join or at lest until I was 7 months pregnant. So I spent most of my pregnancy at Job Corp, in FrenchBurg Kentucky. It was very difficult to be expected to follow a very demanding schedule and also deal with all the symptoms of early pregnancy.
It was pretty much clear, from the start, that I was going to have little help from the father.
My parents were upset with me but slowly came around and ended up being very supportive. I was so blessed for this.
During the first stage of my pregnancy I had so many emotions. I considered everything from adoption to abortion and finally decided to keep my baby.
I received my GED in Job Corp. I moved back home and gave birth to a healthy baby girl on July 16th 1991.
Of course there is way more to the story, but the most important part is that I decided to take responsibility. I made a decision that even though I was pregnant I would not give up on my dreams and that I would do what ever it took to provide for my child.
Every teenage parent’s situation is different but they all have one thing in common … The uncertainty of what the future will hold.
I have to tell you that just because you are pregnant or already a teenage parent, your life is not over. You still have worth and a chance at a great future. Sure you are going to have to work harder but with dedication you will overcome.
This page is dedicated to exchanging information. I would like to share stories of encouragement and links to resources available to you. If you have information or want to share your story, please email them to me and I will post them here for all to see.
Books you might enjoy reading:
-Healthy child, Whole child by Stuart H Ditcheck
-First aid for babies and children
-What to expect while your expecting by Thomas Hill
-The everything get ready for baby book by Katrina Z Jones
-The joy of pregnancy by Tori Kropp
-Eating well while your expecting by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel
-You and your baby pregnancy: Your ultimate week by week pregnancy guide by Laura Riley
If you were a teen parent and would like to share your story with the community, please email me and I will post them here.
JacquelineN 
