Baby news

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 09-28-2002, 02:03 AM

No, I am NOT pregnant, but want a bit of advice on how to proceed. It seems that my sister is going to becaome a grandmother...at age forty

. My oldest niece, the mother-to-be, is FIFTEEN. We are all going to support her decision to keep the baby and the father and his family are going to be a big part of this too. I think that Nichole (my niece) will be living with his family after the baby is born because my sister's place is very small and there is more room at his house.

We are starting to look for baby things, but have awhile since the baby isn't due until May 25th. She has already bought a changing table and bumper pads. My sis took her in and signed her up for the Great Expectations class at the high school. she has also been to sign up for WIC and has her first prenatal appointment on the 16th (her sweet 16 is the next day!).

I am worried that this might set up the entire pattern of her life. she is a very smart girl and has been doing well in school. We had so hoped for her to go to college and my sister is hoping that will still be the case. She WILL finish high school; I pray she will go on. I also hope she doesn't have another baby for ten years!

**mylittle4** · 09-28-2002, 03:23 PM

This hits so close to home. I was fifteen when I found out I was pregnant with my first. I did not have the support this girl is so lucky to have. I quit school, married the father , had my second when I was 18. We did not have anything and everyone around us was so negative about the situation, but one day we decided we would make it work and we did. My husband could not find a decent job in the city we lived in so we set out to find somewhere he could. We moved 150 miles away after he found a joband got our act in gear. I thought it would be so hard away from our family and friends, but with the negativity out of our lives it changed everything. I am now a sahm with 4 children and things have only went up for us. So it does not have to be a devastating thing. I think she will do okay with the support her family is offering, but please please please keep her in school.That is and will always be my only regret. If she or you ever need to talk feel free to email me. mylittle4@earthlink.net. The WIC will be good they give classes and for young breast feeding mothers they provide so much support. They supplied my breast pump and pads for my first. Another program that hepled was Birthright I don't know if you have one in your area, but they help with baby furniture, diapers, maternity clothes, baby food, and all kinds of other stuff. They gave me a layette package that had everything I needed to bring baby home, blankets, bottles, diapers, etc. Sorry to go on and on, but like I said your post just hit so close to home for me.

**heaven** · 09-28-2002, 03:31 PM

yes i was 17 when i had my oldest it isn't going to be easy, but she will manage, it needs to be stressed to her to finish high school that is such a huge thing. Just pick up things when you find them and wish her luck from me. she should be very happy that she has a whole family to support her it will not be easy on her or the family but she can make it thru.

**bamamomto4** · 09-28-2002, 05:30 PM

I had my first at 16 and your niece NEEDS support!! It's great that everyone is helping her so much

WIC will help more than anything.And do everything you can to keep her in school.I quit after I finished the 10th grade and never went back for my GED.

We now have 3 kids,and been married 13 yrs! I didn't have my second till I was 25.Hopefully she'll wait a loooong time as well before she has her 2nd!

Alot of people put down teenage mothers and even though I don't think everyone should be a mom at 16, marriages do last. I know some teenagers that are better mothers than some grown adults! She's very young (I remember those days so clearly..) and she needs all the support she can get!

**Jerseygirl** · 09-28-2002, 08:16 PM

Best of luck, the only thing I can say is make sure she learns basic childcare before baby comes, it is going to be a scary time for her and she should have the confidence to handle at least bathing, diapering and feeding etc. on her own.

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 09-28-2002, 10:01 PM

Thanks, guys. I found her a cute sleeper today at a garage sale for .25 and a NEW Carter's receiving blanket for .75. My friend has a swing for her in perfect condtion and we are networking with others friends. We WILL get the things she needs along with the support from her family.

Mylittle4, thanks for the birthright info. I will pass this on to my sister so she can check it out. We are in Oregon so this might not be a program here, but it's worth checking into!