Motherhood came to me a lot earlier than I ever thought it would. I became a mom two months after my 19th birthday. I don’t usually like to volunteer that information. I like for people to assume that I’m pushing 30 when I go somewhere with my 3 crazy kids, but it’s not the case. I was a teen mom.
My husband and I found out we were expecting one month after we got engaged. It was shocking to find out, and we had no idea what we were doing. We got diaper changes and breastfeeding down, but there are so many things that no one told us about being young parents.
1. You don’t know everything…
I truly thought I knew a lot before I had my son. I thought I could just eat whatever I wanted when I was pregnant because breastfeeding would be like liposuction. I thought that birth was just like it was in Birth Story; where the mom gets an epidural and sleeps through labor and everything goes well and there’s no screaming or anything more than minor discomfort. When he was born, I thought that breastfeeding would just come naturally for both of us and that there was nothing more to it than “hold baby near boob and it’ll work out.” I thought I would just know what to do with a crying baby who was colicky. Or that I’d know what to do when he had his first cold. I didn’t. And I paid for it.
2. … and you don’t know “nothing”.
People were constantly talking down to me. Kind of like “you’re a young mom so you MUST be dumb.” No. I’m a person who, yes, made some poor decisions that threw me for a loop. But getting pregnant young doesn’t mean that I’m an idiot. There’s a learning curve with any new mom, regardless of age, but every flaw seems to be put under a microscope when it comes to young moms. Just because a mom has a baby young doesn’t mean that she’s going to be a bad mom.
3. Be educated about pregnancy and infancy
Because people WILL look down on you, it’s important to learn as much as you can. Read as many pregnancy books as you can to make sure you’re not doing something that will make people think you’re a bad parent. (I ate sushi ONCE when I was pregnant… it was a cucumber roll. I knew not to eat fish, but you’d think I was sitting there doing a line of coke! People were freaking out! But I had read the books, I know it’s the FISH that’s bad!) I used to swear by What To Expect When You’re Expecting, but now that I’m a hippie homebirther, I’m a bigger fan of the Sears’ books. They’re not geared specifically toward homebirth or anything, but it’s much less medical than What to Expect; everything is much more relaxed and much less alarmist. They cover everything from conception, to natural birth, to breastfeeding, to the toddler years. Definitely worth checking out if What to Expect just didn’t feel like it’s cutting it for you.
4. Figure out your parenting plans and stick with it
I was so blind. I knew I wanted to breastfeed, but in the hospital the doctor told me he was losing weight (which is apparently NORMAL, but the doctor didn’t tell me that) and that I wasn’t making enough milk to sustain him. She guilted me into giving him forumla. If I had done my research, I would’ve known that babies tend to lose 10% of their body weight in the first days after birth but once mom’s milk comes in, they fatten right back up!
But there are other things you need to know your stance on BEFORE you have your baby. In my experience, doctors push their beliefs on young moms and guilt them into a lot. Know where you stand on everything: natural or medicated birth, eye drops when the baby is born, vaccines, circumcision, cosleeping, breastfeeding, bottle feeding, baby staying in the nursery… everything.
5. Babies make relationships hard.
Especially with young moms having babies, the odds are not in favor of your relationship lasting. Whether you’re married or had an “oopsies baby,” babies make relationships hard. There’s stress, sleep deprivation, physical exhaustion, emotional exhaustion, lack of alone time, lack of quality time together, and sometimes there’s resentment. All of these things are a recipe for disaster for young parents. Statistically, young parents don’t stay together. It’s hard. It’s really, really hard. But if you stick it out, it’s so worth it for a baby to have both of his parents.
My husband absolutely loved the book So You’re Going To Be A Dad when we were expecting our first. It really helped him look realistically at being a father, being in a relationship with a child, and it does it all while being funny!
6. It’s ok to ask for help…
Babies are exhausting! There’s no shame in asking for help after delivery when you just need someone to make dinner or do the laundry. If you have friends or family who can come over at some point during the day and hold the baby so you can sleep or take a shower, ask them to come over! Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re weak. Ask any first time mom, regardless of her age, if she needed help with her first baby and she’ll tell you she absolutely did!
7. …Just make sure you’re not asking help from the wrong places.
We all have that friend. The man-hater who, for one reason or another, is always telling you to break up with your partner. So when you ask about what to do when your partner doesn’t get up with you for the 8 night feedings, her answer is to dump him… which might seem like a logical answer in your sleep deprived state, but not waking up for the 5th time before 5am typically isn’t a reason to break up with someone.
8. You’ll lose a lot of friends…
Being young, not many of your peers will have kids. And most of them will be childless for more than a few years. You won’t be able to relate to a lot of them and they won’t be able to relate to you. And that’s ok. You’ll find out very quickly who is a real friend and who isn’t.
9. … But you’ll make new ones.
Suddenly, all of your friends who are moms are at least 6 years older than you. Age won’t matter too much any more, since you’re ALL going through the same thing as moms. You’ll get to swap birth stories and first solid food pictures and probably have more than one serious conversation about the consistency of poop. And that will be normal!
10. It WILLÂ be hard. But it will be worth it!
There’s no easy way to say it: having a baby at any age is hard! The days are long, the nights are long, the sleeps are sort, the tempers are flared, the personal care goes out the window, the laundry is always dirty, the fridge is full of take out leftovers… but it’s all worth it. My son has made me grow up so quickly, but I’m so thankful to have him! Being a young parent means that I’ll get to spend more time in my life with him.
Aunt Karen says
Very thoughtful and honest and sweet 🙂
Betty says
It would be nice if parenting came with a manual, but thank God for friends, relatives, a website like yours, and the internet.
Caroline says
It takes a village, right?
Erin says
Great article for moms of all ages! I agree about breastfeeding, I had no idea how hard or how complicated it could be!
Caroline says
Thanks, Erin! I thought I was alone in feeling like breastfeeding was supposed to be very easy!
Charlene Asay says
I was married and had children a lot younger then I ever thought. I wouldn’t change it, but it would be nice to have a book that told us what to do right?? 🙂
Caroline says
It’s so true! Where’s THAT book?!
Mrs. AOK says
This is great advice. I was a young mom too, so you had me nodding my head in agreement with you. Confidence. If we could all have a little more confidence in ourselves that would be helpful too, we can do it! I love that you reminded young parents to ask for help, but from the right people.
Once you’re a parent you have to understand that you may need help, and you may have to cut out negative people.
Thanks for sharing with us at Mommy Monday!
XOXO
Caroline says
Absolutely! Confidence is so important! It’s what moms lack sometimes when the best thing in the world to rely on is a mother’s intuition!
Kayla says
This post makes me thankful I don’t have kids yet, but also excited to have them one day! It’s nice when a post can do a little of both 🙂
Thanks for joining us on the Alder Collective! Pinning, and we hope to see you again this week!
Caroline says
Thanks, Kayla! The good far and way outweighs the bad with kids!
Christie says
Yes, if only we could all go back in time with the wisdom we’ve acquired. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing this post with us at Totally Terrific Tuesday Link Party. I hope you’ll stop by to join us again tonight! Here’s to a great week ahead!
Christie ~ Sparkles of Sunshine
Caroline says
Absolutely, Christine! Hindsight is 20/20.
Lindsey says
I can definitely relate to this post Caroline. Although I wasn’t 19, I was just 22 and because I’m small I’m often mistaken for a 16-year old. It can make dealing with baby out in public awkward because of the stares. Sometimes I just want to scream out my age, but I think I’ll be happy with doing it earlier rather than later in the long run. Cheers!
Caroline says
Isn’t that the worst?! People are so quick to judge young moms, even young looking moms. I was talking to a friend who was 24 when she was pregnant, but she was so upset when her fingers got too puffy for her wedding ring and she was getting judgey stares! So mean!
Nicola says
Don’t worry, I became a mum at 31 and I honestly think this is something that ALL mums go through!! The being talked down to, needing to do your research in advance etc. It sounds like you’ve stood your ground though which is good. I found your post via #fartglitter, looking forward to reading more 🙂
Caroline says
I’m so glad it’s not just for young moms, Nicola!
mama says
A really awesome list for any mum to be i think. Most of these applied to me and I was 28 when i had my tot.
Thanks for linking up to #fartglitter
Iryna says
I can totally relate to this. I wish I read more book about baby sleep prior to giving birth, because pregnancy is just one side, but what comes after is a real challenge:)
Caroline says
Yes! Baby sleep is one of those things you don’t think about… until the baby is screaming all day and night!
Hil says
Babies DO make relationships so hard! It is really hard but yes totally worth it. I am going on fourth night in a week of only 3.5 hours sleep (thanks teething baby) and I do not function well, so I totally get that not to break up with someone who won’t get up 5 times before 5 am lol! My house totally! We all have our jobs and specialties though, mine is night-shift and sleep-deprivation 🙂
You should come link up at the Bloggers Spotlight tomorrow night, we pin everything to our group board and have two seperate link-ups, one for regular blog posts and one for pins.
http://www.raisingfairiesandknights.com/category/bloggers-spotlight/
Hope to see you there!
Caroline says
Oh my goodness, Hil! OW! Mom life is a marathon, for sure! And I’ll definitely check it out!
Elizabeth (Plant Based Bride) says
Such an interesting post, Caroline! I’m 23 now and I can’t imagine having a baby. You’re so strong to have done it at 19! I’m sure even when we decide it’s time to have kids I’ll be terrified and not feel ready, but I definitely have a very strong maternal instinct so that day is definitely coming!
Caroline says
Strong or crazy… it’s all in the eye of the beholder! And, take it from someone who was grossly unprepared for motherhood, when it happens, you’ll be ready 🙂
Olivia_Designs says
This is a fantastic read that I will be sharing with a friend of mine. She is a bit older, but she just had her first child one week ago. I’m certain that everyone has 856,342 opinions about everything. All that matters is moms stick together and share advice with each other in a loving way that will encourage instead of fracture confidence in first-time moms.
You are one funny lady. I love how your take no prisoners, straight-shooting personality shines through your writing.
You sound like an amazing momma.
Thank you for linking up with Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop.
Olivia- Co-host
Reinvented Collection
Caroline says
Yes, Olivia! Moms need to stick together! And thanks so much! That’s so sweet of you!!!