is 19 years old.....

lets say someone was planning on having a baby around the age of 19... thats not to young is it?

 

I personally think parenting skills, financial stability, and lifestyle have more to do with it than age. Usually 19 yr olds are NOT financially stable, ready to give up a party life (not even old enough to drink in the u.s. at least, barely graduated from highschool) or have the resources to raise a child, but obviously not all are in this category. Many ppl do it, but the majority that I have known of have struggled a lot and required a lot of help, but that's not to say it can't be done: it's done all the time.

 

It depends on the person. I had my first child when I was 19 (Not planned) and I didnt think I was ready. Luckily, everything worked out okay, but I had to live with my parents for 9 months, which isnt necessarily a bad thing, but it would have been nice to move out, get settled, and be ready for everything before it happened rather than doing it all while I was pregnant and after she was born.
Like tigerlily said, most 19 year olds aren't ready to have kids, but a lot of them do. I have a lot of friends who had their kids in thier late teens and (most of them) are wonderful parents.

 

ty

 

It depends on the person. I know some people who were married at 18 and now have four children and are doing great. I know other people who are much older (late 20s and early 30s) and can't even support themselves, let alone their baby. It depends more on your maturity level.

 

i think the question you need to ask yourself is can you support two people, meaning you and your future baby, then there's your answer. typically a 19 yo doesn't make over $10/hour and well you can't support a child with that. That's what I make and i can barely support myself.

 

Word, bumble...

I was 19 when I got pregnant, and it worked out. But only because I'd been willing to give up the party life, and set aside my own dreams to welcome in my daughter.

And without the help of my loving husband, I don't think it would have been possible at all! I gives tons of kudos to every single parent, but I don't think I could do it!

 

I got pregnant at 18, and had my daughter at 19. She's 18 months now, and I'm 20. Everyday is a struggle. It can be done. But if you're planning, make sure you're financially stable. My daughter was unplanned, and every day is hard. Like someone said, If you don't make over $10/hr it's hard. Well, I make less than that, and it's definately hard. Worth it. But difficult. Just make your decisions wisely.

 

I also got pregnant when I was 18...
I always wanted a baby young, and I was so excited when I found out that i was finally having one. I lived with me husband (bf at the time), who was 20. We both looked so foward to having Leane, but it has been tough.
We're in college now, and Leane's first birthday is in 4 days. I was lucky enough to be able to move in with my mom for a while so that we could get our lives in order for us to be able to go back to college. Now, we're back on our own, and we're living on student bugets. Our life is not bad by anymeans, just stressful. We all love eachother, and that's what keeps us going.
So yeah, it really depends on the person. There have been people I've known who had their babies young and they end up pawning them off on their parents because they can't handle giving up on partying. Then there's other's who i thought would seriously hate being parents and turned out just awesome.
I never ever regret having Leane, but I do wish that i would have been smart enough to do some things with my life first that really only young single people can do. But then I sit back and think about the fact that i never got up off my ass to do anything and that having Leane is what kicked my ass into gear.
As long as you're financially stable and think that you can handle the responsibility of having a baby, then do what you please. I don't want to sound like an old, broken record, but babies are hard work and a lot of responsibitily, and there's a LOT to learn.

 

I think 19 is too young to get pregnant. Accidents happen, but to plan is a big mistake in my opinion. Waiting a few more years to mature can only be a good thing, plus financial stability is a must.

Wait till you are financially stable and a bit more grown up. You can be a good parent at 19, but the financial and emotional stability that age brings can only make you a better parent.

 

There shouldn't be any hurry in my opinion. I've known so many people (particularly American women) who think that the clock to start a family runs out in the early 20's. But there's plenty of time to wait until you are really a "grown up" and are finished living your own life as a single entity. Because once you have a baby, even though you remain yourself - a unique individual - you are essentially signing off your life, from now on, or at least for many years YOU are no longer the first priority in your own life. You need to be prepared to drop anything for your child(ren). My mom still says she feels this way, even though all her kids are grown. When I was sick a couple of years ago she called me just to say that if I ever NEEDED her, really and truely, she would come right out to me whatever was going on.

Think of it this way - you're only able to be childless and carefree and whatnot UNTIL you have a kid - but once you have that kid, you are a parent for the rest of your life.

 

I think it depends on the person too... I was 19 when I was married, and we got pregnant right away. My son was born 6 weeks after my 20th birthday, so I very well could have been a "teenage mom."

BUT I was married, on my own, and in a stable (married) relationship with our own income. So it wasn't exactly your typical teenage pregnancy.

Sure, it can work. But even when you're married & have a steady income... having kids that young is DARN HARD WORK. I grew more between my 19th & 22nd birthdays than I have during the rest of my adult life combined. And while I don't regret my kiddies for a moment... it would have been so much easier to have done all that growing without simultaneously learning how to be a good parent.
love,
mom

 

I had my daughter at 19.

 

It would have been to early for me,but that's not everybody. I had my daughter in my late 20s after my party and Dead tour ramblin' years. However I am now 40 and have a 3 year old son and there are definately days I wish I was 19 so I could keep up with him! and I feel like we wont have as much time together as I'd like, that I am too old. There is something to be said for having them young and enjoying a full long life with your kids,grandkids,great grandkids,etc.

 

I think it can be done, but you need a lot to make it work. Babies need love but they also need other things like health insurance and other material things. I think waiting is best because you really get a chance to see the world and get a good sense of who you really are. If you have a baby young, a lot of things change.

 

That's kinda like saying a baby just ruins your life and all the fun you can have without one. Yes, things change, but that doesn't mean you can't 'see the world' and get to know yourself.

I just had a baby, and I love her. I'm 19. No, she wasn't planned, but I wouldn't give her back for the world. I know that I can still go where I want when I want, but now, I have a baby at home that loves me and I love her, and maybe I'll be a bit more careful than usual. She has everything she needs and some things she doesn't need. I imagine that as she grows and needs more things, it'll get tough, but right now, especially with the support system my boyfriend and I have, we're doing just fine. If you want a baby, and you find someone else that does aswell, and you do decide to have one, just never lose faith in yourself or let others discourage you.

 

if you have a baby you can't travel the way you may have before you had a baby. This passed summer I got a ride to the Rainbow Gathering via a pickup truck. There would have been no way I could have brought a baby with me. my friend's 2yo son was getting into everything at Gaian Mind this summer. he's two and that's expected, but it proved that you can't just bring kids everywhere you go. I found parts of me on my adventures across the country. This coming summer I plan on going to New Zealand. There is no way I could bring a child with me. I think my biggest concern is people who plan on having a child, but barely have enough money to support themselves (no pun intended). No one is helping me with my school bills or the future apartment I'm getting. I see mamas that have babies get almost a free education. How is that fair to people like me who decided that children are not right at this moment? life expectency is like 100 now, so what's the rush?

 

Enjoy life while you can.Worry about getting stuck with a kid later on.

 

Life expectancy is 100, but not fertility expectancy. Don't confuse the two.

It IS possible to travel to other places and do things with a child. It takes a certain amount of planning, and lots of patience, but it is possible. In July, I took a 1000 mile roadtrip with a friend and my two month old baby girl. It was rough, but it was definitely worth it.

And Bumble, educational opportunities should be available GRATIS for anyone needing or wanting them. I have more problems with the daddy's girls going through college on their families dimes and not even trying, or guys on sports scholarships that don't care about what they learn than I do those that utilise the grants given to them for their poor economic circumstances.

Think about it. Most of the women that have children before they go to college, and get the grants to make it usually end up giving back to the community. I'm all for that. They're going to do something, for themselves, their family, and the community. I have the problem with the welfare women able to milk it for all it's worth, having too many children without any real interest in their health, prosperity, or education that don't do anything with themselves except procreate. Don't look down on women with children that want something better.

 

i think there's a huge differnece between planned and unplanned pregnancies. if you're going to PLAN a baby, why put yourself and the baby in a less than ideal situation? why not wait until you can provide a good home for your baby? if you can do this at 19 then go ahead and make babies.