Announcing My Pregnancy at 16

At 16 years old I was a studious, smart student who longed to be in college and graduate as a Doctor. My grades were excelent and my goals were enormous.

One April afternoon I went to the doctor with my mother as I needed a vaccene. I went into the exam room and the nurse asked me if there was any chance I was pregnant as the vaccene would be harmful to a fetus. I told her I didn't think so but to take a test just in case. I gave her a urine sample and when she came back she tells me with the most serious face "girl, you're pregnant". I was in shock. My mother was sitting in the waiting area and the nurse said she had to tell her because I was under age. I begged her to please let me tell her on my own as I knew it would be better that way. I place a quick call to my ex-boyfriend who assures me everything would be okay and that he would take care of me no matter what. I immediately feel better.

When I step out of the exam room, my mom is ready and she gets up to pay. She looks over the paperwork and asks me why the nurse didn't give me the vaccene. So there I was, 16 and 2 months pregnant. I had no choice but to tell my mother right then and there. She, of course started to cry and I felt like the whole world was crumbling right on my shoulders.

When I get in the car, my dad was waiting for us and he noticed right away that something wasn't right. So we drop off my mom and he and I take a drive. I had no other choice but to tell him the news. He was furious. If I recall correctly, my father didn't speak to me until I was about 5 months pregnant but he stood by me anyway.

Things were rocky between my ex-boyfriend and my parents but somehow we made it through okay. The night my daughter was born, my boyfriend was there with me all day and night. He rubbed my back every time a contraction came and was just as worried as my parents were.

I went to school throughout my pregnancy. I endured the strange looks from teachers and even students but I was never bothered. I always walked with my head up high and even though I would hear the rumors and comments, I continued working hard in school and never let anything bring my self-esteem down. I graduated high school in 2002 with excelent grades and even enrolled in College for a year.

My mom and dad helped me throught my pregnancy and througout my last year of high school. Had it not been for them, I would not have been able to finish school. They were never ashamed of me and always supported me in everything I did.

I have now been married for 7 years to the father of my child and things have never been better. My pregnancy wasn't easy at all but when I look back at everything, it was all worth it. I haven't finished college yet but it is something I still plan to do. I have worked very hard but it has all paid off. I probably make more than the average college grad.

I do not regret anyting that happend and although it wasn't the right time to have a child at 16, if I could go back in time, I would not change a sigle thing. I am blessed to have parents that care for me as much as mine and to have a husband that has supported me in everything I've done. My daughter is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I would not change that for anything in the whole world.