Teenage pregnancy occurs to a woman who are 20 years old below, according to American Pregnancy. I can say that I belong to those adolescents who gave birth at an early age and became a teenage mom.
Becoming a teenage mom
I am 16 years old when my boyfriend and I decided to take a step as live-in partner.
A year passed, I got pregnant without any guardians to guide me on how will I take care of my unborn child. My partner and I lived afar from our family.
The only person that I can rely at that time was my partner. He got his job but it is not enough to support our needs because we are renting a house, and paying for some bills such us water and electricity. We also need to save up money for medicines that I need in my pregnancy, plus our daily supply of food.
Months passed by, My partner got fired on his job because of a company matter. Exactly in that day, I had already experienced the labor anytime I could give birth.
That day, I felt depress because of lack of money to support my bills. Luckily, the hospital provided me an indigency in PhilHealth which is a big help for our medical expenses with my labor.
A lot of things I realized, when I am a teenager, I just worried for my studies and self. Now that I gave birth, I am always worried for my family on how we will be able to support our daughter.
Struggles of providing for my family
When pandemic started, we really don't know what to do to support the needs of our child. It is hard because I did not have a college degree. It was difficult to look for work, and even if I apply. I always failed in interview process. My partner was a fisherman and his earnings are not enough for our family.
After two years of giving birth on my first child and transitioning into a teenage mom, I felt some symptoms that was same when I am pregnant. At that point, it's clear that I am expecting my second child.
I am now 3 months pregnant and experiencing depression. I am not yet starting to enjoy my motherhood with my first child, yet I am expecting another baby.
In the first place, I wished that its just a false pregnancy cause I overthink that we couldn't provide the needs of my children. I thought of finding work to help my partner but I'm not lucky enough to be employed.
All of these are not part of the plan. I've been planning to enter college to get a degree so that I can easily get a job. However, there is maybe a reason why it did not happen.
READ MORE:
REAL STORIES: "I got pregnant at 13 years old. I did not know that it was that easy to get pregnant."
What are the common early pregnancy symptoms?
Mom Confession: "My unplanned pregnancy saved me from depression."
Motivation in life as a teenage mom
I removed negativity in my mind and I always motivated myself. If other poor family who do not have their shelters and lives in the street can survive in this life full of circumstances, how about us, right?
We are still lucky because we do have free shelter that belongs from my family's side. We are lucky because even though I am jobless, my partner is still doing his best for us.
I have realized a lot of things. It is true that in the end you will feel regrets for the decisions that you made, exactly if it turns into mistakes. On the contrary, I couldn't change my life because I am the one who chose it.
What I can do for now is to stand on it, and prove to others that someday I can take a step one to another of my milestones. And one day, I will not let my children make the same mistakes I committed but instead, I will motivate them to reach their goals in life that can help them to have a better future.
Instead of being depressed, I always pray to God that he will help us and provide us our needs, and thankfully He does. He always hear our prayers. There is always a reason in everything. And I know that it is His plan.
I'm glad that my family side wants to adopt us in their home to lessen our bills. The only thing we are thinking nowadays is how we can provide diapers and vitamins for our child.
