Planning

I personally think you should wait. Yes…having a baby is a beautiful thing but it is not all fun and games. I had my daughter at 27 years old (unplanned) and her father left when she was 2 months old. She had several medical problems when she was born and I was unable to work for 10 months. It was a constant struggle financially and emotionally. I was not for prepared for this at age 27. I think you should set back and take a look at why you want this so bad. I think it is great that so many of the girls here are making the right decision and keeping their babies. I would guess if you ask some of them, they would tell you if they had it to do over again they would wait awhile. Good luck with your decision.
Denise

OK…let me say this. You seem like a very intelligent young woman. But however even though it seems as if you have everything worked out you, but you really dont. Yeah its really fun on the outside looking in but being a mom is truly hard work. I am a 24 year old married mother of twins. It is not guaranteed that you will only have one baby at a time so that is one thing you need to worry about. At 16 years old what job can you get. Is it enough to pay rent, daycare, car expenses, medical bills, food, diapers, baby food, and the list just goes on. Yeah you say that your mom will help but for how long. I think that you are just excited about a baby. Try babysitting. But this is not the thing to do because it is extremely hard. ANy questions please feel free to email me

While I applaud you for planning ahead and thinking about everything I still can not tell you that this is a good idea. I know you said you changed your mind and for that I am grateful. Have you thought about what you would do if your baby was disabled physically or mentally? Have you thought about whether your mother would really be willing to raise your child? What kind of job can you get at 16? When I was 16 I was working in a fast food restaurant. I made less than $6.00 an hour. I’m now 21 with a 15 month old and I work in the Nondestructive Testing field. I have benefits and a good pay. My boyfriend has a union job and makes excellent money. Yet, I never seem to have enough to make ends meet. I just paid off my credit card after nearly two years. Diapers are somewhere between $10-15 per pack and I need 2-3 packs per week. Formula is $20+ per can and I go through a can every 2-3 days. Now that my daughter is on milk I go through a 3 gallons a week at $2 per gallon. Once your child starts eating real food your looking at 4-5 jars of baby food a day at $0.50 a jar plus juice and snacks. Baby’s constantly ruin or outgrow their clothes. At $8 per outfit and 2-3 outfits needed per day that can add up quick. My daughter ruins at least one outfit per week. Medical bills add up quickly. A single doctor visit can cost over $100 if you don’t have great insurance. A carseat can cost $50 or more. A crib is usually at least $100 and you can’t get used carseats and cribs because it is too dangerous. Baby blankets cost $5-10 each and crib sheets are about the same. A crib mattress is around $20. A swing and bouncer seat are about $20 each. An exersaucer or jumparoo can cost upwards of $50. A baby tub is around $10. Then you have to buy baby wash and baby oil and powder and diaper rash cream. You need baby towels and baby washcloths. Baby’s clothes require a special non-allergenic detergent which costs $15 for a small bottle. Bottles and pacifiers will need replaced often. Nipples will be chewed and ruined. Sippy cups can cost anywhere from $1-5 each. You need baby nail clippers and scratch mits and booties and hats. Baby monitors are a minimum of $20 per set. A playpen can cost $50+. Add in a changing table and a dresser or chest of drawers to store baby’s items in and your looking at well over $1000 in things before baby is even born. Maternity costs without insurance can exceed $10,000. And this is all if you are blessed with a healthy and uneventful pregnancy, delivery, and baby. Please everyone think very hard about what you are willing to give up before you decide to get pregnant. Time and money are two things you will never have enough of again.