Proud Young Parents

Chantelle's story

2008-09-01T22:11:00.000-07:00

My name is Chantelle I’m a young mum of two adorable little girls, named Eva and Amelia, when I first got pregnant with my first baby Eva, so many things were running through my head, like will I finish school will the baby’s father stick around I was thinking of every thing you could ever imagine when you get pregnant, I was so scared when she arrived I had no idea, but because I had my mum there I eventually figured out what to do.
When my second baby came along I felt like a pro, I now no the ins and outs of it all.

My Story

2008-09-01T22:01:00.000-07:00

Hi my name’s Kimberly, I’m nineteen and have three children. I have had many good times and many hard times. Well I guess I should start from the beginning I met my partner when I was 15 and fell pregnant three months later and my family did not approve of my partner or of my illegitimate child so they demanded that I have an abortion. I refused because I believe that it is murder, I will not kill my child just because it was not convenient for me, everything happens for a reason.
Ever since then my relationship with my family has never been the same, but it is slowly healing.
I moved out with my partner and things did not go as smoothly as I would of hoped. When I had my son I had no idea what I was doing and it didn’t help that he was born premature. He was born at 29 weeks and 4 days and spent 5 weeks in hospital. When he was discharged I slipped into post natal depression and fund myself in a rut. Not even my partner could help me out of my depression. I eventually found help through my partner and with counseling I slowly got out of my depression. It took about a year. During this time my partner had a serious drug problem and we found ourselves struggling to survive. It was a very difficult time especially trying to do the best I could as a mother without the support of my partner. Before I knew it I became pregnant again with my daughter. I was 17 years old. From here everything seemed to get worse. When I was about 6 months pregnant I confronted my partner about his drug problem and asked him to choose between his drugs or his family. My partner chose drugs. I was heart broken. I left him and went into emergency accommodation. I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. It was so difficult as I felt alone and lost. I found I was still trying to fight for my partner’s affection even though he had hurt me more that anyone ever had. We had lost our house and my partner moved to my mother’s house. I chased after him because I didn’t think I could do it on my own. I went to a member of his family who supported me and understood how I was feeling. She was wonderful however I still wanted to be a family especially as I grew up in a broken family. I developed a plan. I thought we could have a new beginning. I found a house and worked towards getting together again with my partner. He told me he was drug free however not long after we moved in together everything went backwards. He started to reuse and even drive his car illegally. Before I knew it he was in jail sentenced to two years. I moved into my mother’s as I had no where else to go. Sadly this also fell apart as she too has mental health issues. I left my mothers with my two children and also my sisters as they were at risk of harm staying with my mother. During this period I discovered I was once again pregnant. I was 18 years.
I contacted DoCs for their support. Docs were concerned as I had no accommodation. My children and my younger sister were taken into care while I found supportive accommodation. So the fun begins. I have currently been staying in a supported accommodation service

stuff about me and my kid

2008-09-01T21:46:00.000-07:00

Well since my kid has been born, I have learned that kids are a valuable thing and should know both their parents so that in the up and coming years it makes it easy to visit and to talk to them. Now that I am single and don’t see my kid that often I see that things have changed and ant the same any more coz I am not around al the time and won’t get to see them grow up….. the Love Makes me stick around

Some of my mates are jealous, when the girls come into our lives, everything changes. Because we’re young dads we can’t g out anymore and everyone takes a certain point of view because of that. I kept one or two friends, but not many. I don’t have that many friends now. This all happened about three years ago, I’d finished school, and was working.

When they really want stuff from you that’s when they’ll ring.

Basically you lose friends when you have kids. Often they (friends) move away.
It’s not to bad, it’s all good. I love being a Dad, I love having kids. The best bit is seeing the kids, and having quality time with them, having your own kids.

It’s a full time job being a parent, in a way because you have lots of responsibilities, but you can still have quality time to yourself, you have that choice. Kids don’t stop you having fun, but there’s less time, you can’t do it every day of the week.

Ÿou build a bridge now and you get over it you got kids now and it’s a new life”.

It was good being present at the births. It was scary but it makes you more alert.

The hardest bit was learning everything about what kids was about.

I appreciate the kids

We were ready to go, and we really wanted it, but not when we expected it.

Laura Angels Story

2008-09-01T21:41:00.000-07:00

My name is Laura and I am a 19 year old mother of a beautiful 13 month old little boy Kayne and I love my life ,but this was not always the story. This story is to show people that things do get better when you hit rock bottom and anyone can turn their life around and make a good life for them selves. This story begins with a 14 year old me sitting alone in a room in a refuge in old mount Druitt ,I knew nobody and knew nothing about refuges , I was to scared to leave my room because there were no locks on the doors and I thought someone would come and steal my one bag of belongings I had .When I finally emerged from my room to go for a cigarette I saw a small blonde girl that looked very familiar ,then I realised she was a girl I new from primary school and I thought to myself what is she doing here ,she was one of those girls that looked like they had the perfect life she was beautiful and had lots of friends and was always happy .We started talking and she told me that she has been living in foster care since she was 5 and a lot of terrible things were done to her and she ran away and was found by police and taken to this refuge .It just goes to show that things are not always as they appear .I have to admit I was glad to here that there are people out there that share the same pain and hurt that I feel .Over the next couple of weeks me and Jess got really close maby a bit too close ,we started not wanting to go to school because we had so much fun together we used to go to the shops every day and steal clothes and makeup ,I know how it sounds but when you have no money and you’re a teenage girl the only way to have nice things is to take them. After a couple of months me and jess got expelled from school .

Angela's story

2008-09-01T21:39:00.000-07:00

I am a 20 year old young mum of 3 small children aged 30 months, 20 months and 8 months. My children are the best thing that ever happened to me. I had my first child at 17 years of age her name is Taylor and she was born 3.080 kg 52 cm long she was a healthy little girl. I remember like it was yesterday I was in labor for 16 and a half hours. I ended up getting an epidural after around 8 hours. From my experience the epidural slowed down my labor and then when it came down to pushing I couldn’t feel anything so I had to get a vacuum delivery. I was really a scary thing but in the end it was worth it in the end. After I had her I was in a wheel chair for two days and in hospital for 6 days. I was breast feeding in hospital and the nurses don’t tell you it’s not meant to hurt but I got threw it I was breast feeding for around 6 weeks. I had to stop breast feeding because my milk dried up. I remember the first time I got home from the hospital I started crying because I was so scared there was no nurses to help but I was fine. I never new that you had to get up like 10 times a night to feed them and change there nappies so it was a big shock. It’s funny that I look back at it now and think how unaware I was about every thing. How she is 2 and a half and talking and learning more and more every day sing her ABC and a whole heap of nursery rhymes I’m so glad I can

A dad's experience

2008-09-01T21:30:00.000-07:00

The best thing that could happen to a bloke is becoming a dad is the feeling and actually being there when your child is born knowing that it was well worth the nine months spending and preparing everything plus the trips back and forwards from the hospital and seeing your child develop and hearing the heart beat just makes you proud of yourself and your partner you just know it was a job well done

Kane

New group for young pregnant women

2008-07-14T23:09:00.000-07:00

Our new Ante-Natal group for young parents begins on Wednesday 30th July at 10.30-12.30 at Nepean Interyouth Services Corner Station and Henry St, Penrith. Call Barbara on 024722 3811 or Laura on 4733 1499 for more information.

Emma story

2008-07-02T19:57:00.000-07:00

Hi my name is Emma in Feb 07 I found out I was 15 weeks pregnant and I was over the moon.

After I shared my exciting news with my family and friends. I started receiving beautiful gifts for my baby some of these were bottles. Bottles I have never used.

I stared to attend all these young mums groups and birthing lessons and learnt all about breast feeding. So before my beautiful daughter was born I had decided to breast feed her. I spoke to my midwife about it and it was in my birth plan to have her placed on my stomach as soon as she was born to move her way up to my breast and she did just that, She found my breast and I started to feed her. This is where our special bond began and it continues to grow stronger every day 11 months later.

The last 11 months wasn’t always easy, feeding her there were a lot of people out there also family and some friends who always say that its wrong and that she is to big to still be breast feeding but I just don’t listen and really don’t care what they have to say. I know that it isn’t true and I enjoy feeding my baby girl our bond is the greatest thing ever.

Like when it comes to feeding in public no matter what her age people look at me like im doing something wrong. Some even say some really mean things but I just chose to ignore them. I don’t care what they have to say although I do in a way but than I just think I’m doing this for Rylee its natural. Like if they had never invented bottles than they would have to do the same and like than how would they like the people staring and saying all the stuff. And there was times when I had to sit in sperate room including with some family members but really I was never really alone cause I had Rylee there with me and its not like I’m feeding her all the time.

People think breast feeding stops your life but that is not true as I still go out with my friends attend, play groups and still go shop even late night and pretty much still do all the teenage things I just kinda change it round to times that suit Rylee and myself.

But at the end of the day when it comes to breast feeding there are always gonna be negative comments but also there are a lot of positive people out there towards breast feeding

Sometimes love hurts

2008-06-29T17:31:00.000-07:00

Sometimes in relationships it's not always easy to see what's happening when things start to go wrong. These are a few helpful web sites that may assist when things start to get out of control.

Preventing violence This site has links to other sites for young people that discuss some of the issues associated with Domestic Violence and Family Violence.

This site explains some of the signs that appear when relationships begin to get into a bad pattern click here and here

If things are not going well and love is hurting it is important to talk to someone you trust, a friend, sister, brother, parents or a counsellor. Don't suffer alone. Stand up 4 U click here

Remember if you are in serious trouble phone the Police by calling 000 here are some more websites which maybe of assistance NSW rape crisis , Reachout both these sites are helpful for both young women and young men, violence can happen to anyone.

Everyone needs help at some stage don't be afraid to reachout.

Links

2008-06-18T23:00:00.000-07:00

Dear All

congratulations on the Great new BLog!!!

Here are some links that you may find helpful

Tresillian is a great source of info, advice and has a 24 hour helpline: (02) 9787 0855 or
Freecall 1800 637 357

Nepean Hospital also has a specialist service for teenage pregnancy support, called NAPSconnect

The Department of Community Services can be found here

Family Planning also offers advice and assistance with everything connected with sexual health and family planning.

We also found a link to a great site in Penrith for young mum's, called BubHub

"SuSaNs sTORie"

2008-06-18T20:22:00.003-07:00

Hay my name is Susan im 17 years old; I have an 8 month old daughter named keliesha. I fell pregnant January 2007, found out in February and my due date was October. My pregnancy wasn’t planned but I couldn’t happier. I had great pregnancy other then a few little minor problems.

Being pregnant was the best feeling I loved feeling her kicks; I still remember the first time she kicked like it was yesterday. I found out I was having a little girl at 18wks and the first thing I did was go out shopping for outfits and little shoes, I didn’t stop shopping for baby things till I couldn’t handle long trips anymore((lol)).

At the end of my pregnancy my due date came and went, it was the most impatient I had ever been. I tried every thing to bring my labour on but it wasn’t till November 4th(which is just before my birthday)she decided it was time too come.

I got too the hospital some time around 8 and had her at 2am the next morning, I had a 19 hour labour. The plan was not to have any drugs but that didn’t happen ((lol)). I had the gas, pethidine and epidural which work well (although I still say no drugs is better). Well I didn’t really have a good birth but I won’t get into detail.

I took her home a week or so later and went out the same day too show her off. I have to admit it wasn’t easy being on my own at first but I got use too it and now I love being a mum. Now 8 months later she is full of smiles and loves mummy and daddy. She started crawling not long ago and it’s not as easy as I thought having to chase her around ((BUT I WOULDN’T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY))
SuSaN”08

young dads

2008-06-18T20:22:00.002-07:00

Young dad
Overwhelmed
Useful
Never ending support
Ggreat feeling
Devoted
Always proud
Determined
Soothing

Welcome

2008-06-18T20:22:00.001-07:00

Hi Young parents just want to welcome you to our new bloggspot. This is my inaugural posting 19/6/08. Please feel free to email me with content and I will see that it gets posted.

Two members have written poetry which has been added to the site. This is all new for me so we are learning at the same time. What fun!

A Poem

2008-06-18T20:22:00.000-07:00

Youth, strength and wisdom
Outstanding patience
Understanding
Nurturing and caring
Givers of life

Mothers of the next generation
United together
Memory makers
Safe and secure