18 pregnant and want to go UNI!

Having a child forces you to mature faster

It'd be a lot easier if our 'peers' didn't look down on us just because we are young

Student finance + child tax credits + housing benefit + childcare vouchers

That's an issue with general parenting, not specific to the age you have children at

Our society has changed so it has now become more acceptable to leave your partner, as opposed to be shunned upon for doing so

Over 30's start to lead to more complications, such as difficulty conceiving and higher chances of genetic disorders. A 20 year old is 'ripe' for birth.

I'm fully aware of the disadvantages of teenage pregnancies, however our society needs to stop stigmatising those people who already have children. I find it annoying as hell when people spout off about things which we know a lot more about as parents, then they do from watching someone else raise a kid. I particularly loathe it when people look down on me just because I've had a kid young, I love my daughter and playing with her, and I'd much rather be doing that alongside my law degree than going out drinking, partying etc, because that's just not me.

Some under 16s are parents, so what? Granted there are some that can't cope- and social services intervene and the child is taken into care.

The maturity on this thread, in fact this forum, is shocking. I can only hope that you mature with age- for some it cannot be learnt obviously.

I'm sorry if you've been feeling attacked by the forum. But you have to remember the general demographics of the forum. Middle-class, very well educated youths. Far less likely to be part of or sympathetic to a teenage pregnancy. I don't mean that to come off as somehow superior - I'm from a working class background as well, my sibling was a teenage parent multiple times over. I'm just saying that it's a possible cause of the hostility.

Because I don't think it's a matter of maturity at all. There's nothing that says mature people support teenage pregnancy and immature people don't. I think it's simply a matter of being judgemental. Every single person on the thread is being judgemental, including you. It's human nature. Try not to let it get to you, it's nothing personal/a slight against you as a parent.

Your clueless. I don't blame you for that, because people who don't have children have no idea what its like.

They pee, they poop, they eat, they sleep. You comfort their cries, you change their diapers, you put food in their mouths.

There isn't an appropriate age for that. Maturity does come into play, obviously when they get older and they start to learn by example.

Age is a number.

I'm clueless? Having a child at age 18 would be an awful desicion for the majority of people in this day and age. They require so much attention, you have to put your life on hold - Most aren't going to be willing to do that when they feel they're meant to be out, having fun and enjoying life.

What?! Age is a hell of a lot more than a number! At the end of the day, having a child at such a young age is a terrible idea, not just for them but for the kid as well.

I'm not convincing myself of anything, what I want is for this crappy stigmatising of young parents to stop. Yes, I'll miss so many life experiences, however I gain so many more in turn. I'm still able to do mooting, competitions, planning to apply for some pupillages next year, apply for CAB etc. I'm sorry if your struggling with your law degree, but I find that I'm coping pretty damn well with looking after my daughter. I have a responsibility to take care of my daughter, that makes me want to get to the top end of the bar (Well, to be accurate, I'm planning on becoming a Supreme Court Justice by the time im 60 ). Prior to my daughter, I was pretty damn lazy and had a half arsed dream about becoming a doctor without even going to any of my classes in high school. So having my daughter was good for me. I'm not trying to convince you to have one, I'm trying to convince you to accept the fact that people have kids young, and to accept that they can be just as good of parents as a 30 year old.

Wouldn't happen in a million years. If you keep your child, you would have to break your own heart to give it up- especially if you have been playing a role in their up bringing.

Why do you have to put your life on hold? I study, I work, I managed to get out to see friends 2/3 times a week.

What am i putting on hold, exactly?

Sorry- you know my background do you? If you must know, my father is a Pilot and my mother is a Surgeon. I grew up in Manhattan for 10 years and then we came home when my sister died as it caused my mother a lot of stress to be there and wanted to be back in her home country.

Class background has nothing to do with it. Again, a sign of pure immaturity.

And sorry if you don't think someone who gets straight As in her A levels to be well educated, well educated enough to go to a prestige university to study veterinary science.

I could easily go back and do veterinary science if I want too, but I have decided on another career path. My child might not go to the best private school in Chelsea when she is at school age- but she will be fed, clothed, well mannered and I will make damn sure she has more manners than 95% of this forum put together. Thats what matters.

Most won't be able to do that without planning well in advance and will often have to cancel, plus be exhausted by staying up all night because the infant can't sleep. Most can't cope with it and as a result the kid grows up unhappy along with attention issues. The vast majority of 18 year olds are not fit to be parents, as I have already stated. It is not a good idea.

Way to miss the point of my post, which was anything but a personal attack (I also like how you saw me mentioning the words working class, not even directed at you, as an insult - nice touch.) But thank you for providing us with the delicious irony of being a rude bitch on the forum and then lashing out at everyone for having "poor manners". God help the little blighter.

Some manhattan princesses need to get over themselves..(that's all I'm saying....)

Most infants sleep through the night at 3/4 months (unless the hit a sleep regression) if you establish a proper routine, sucks to be you if you don't. So, next?