Living with Teen Pregnancy

My name is Rielle. I’m 21 years old. When I was 18, I got pregnant with my boyfriend of 8 months. We were actually doing the right thing - he always wore a condom although I wasn’t on birth control due to other meds I was taking. One time, and one time alone, the condom broke. Two weeks later, I got a home pregnancy test because I had missed my period. When the stick produced a purple strip, I cried.

I was and am extremely lucky to have the support of that same boyfriend (who is now my fiancée), and his mother. My parents, unfortunately, haven’t talked to me for 3 years. I graduated high school 7 months pregnant, in the top 2% of my class. The father and I both ended up on the East Coast for school, and have since decided to settle here. He graduated a month ago, and I’ll be graduating next year.

Along with double-majoring in Spanish and Russian, I work thirty hours a week. The proud father works two jobs now that he’s done with school. The future is bright - I don’t have much debt from school because I was in Honors College and was a lucky recipient of many scholarships. My fiancée and I now have our own apartment (and a nice one, too!), and are looking forward to spending the rest of our lives future together.

While the future ahead is sunny, the road to where we are now wasn’t as smooth as I’ve made it sound. For example, getting a good night’s sleep the night before two finals may not happen if your little one can’t stay asleep, or you may have to take time off work when the daycare calls to say your child just got sick during storytime. Joining a teen parent support group was a lifesaver during times such as these. Talking to people who are going through the same things as you is an experience that cannot be valued enough, and I strongly recommend it to any parent going through a tough situation.

All in all though, I look back to the day when I found out I was pregnant, and I am so grateful for it. I have come so far, grown so much, and have so much happiness in my life. I have a beautiful, precocious three year old girl, a caring partner, and a wonderful life ahead of me.

Am I a standard statistic of a teen pregnancy? No. And nobody has to be. Work hard to get what you want, cherish what you have, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. These are the three things I’ve done the last three years - and look where I am now.