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I want to tell you how it is so you can try to make a decision. In case you are wondering why I feel I am qualified to give you this kind of information. I am 21 I got pregnant when I was 17 had my son when I was 18 and he will be 3 on tuesday.

The first thing I am going to tell you about is keeping I am under the impression that alot of teenagers think it is like the movies, perfect little angel child who sleeps when you want them to. This is not the the truth of the matter if you are considering keeping a child at this time you must be ready to sacrifice everything you enjoy for a person who will need every waking moment of your time, I was ready to sacrifice all those things the question is are you. Below are prime examples of things I have given up.

Clothes shopping, goodluck if you like to shop I spend all of my money on my son.
Movies, maybe if yopu end up with a good job and a free babysitter I didnt go to the movies for almost a year
Dates, Dont make me laugh my husband and I are just hiiting the point were we can date again.
Sex, If you are living with your parents and sharing a room with a baby it is kind of a mood killer.
Parties, Goodluck with that too
Fast food, and eating out, my husband and I are pretty well off now but when he was born we were living on ramen and mac and cheese, all of our money went into formula and diapers that stuff is freaking expensive. It costs almost 15 dollars to feed a baby formula everyday. some babies have allergies to certain things my son was one of these it cost alot more of those kinds of formula

These are things you are going to have to be willing to give up for a child, please dont take this wrong I do not regret my son he is the best thing I ever did but some people who arent ready to give up the stuff above resent there children. If you are going to end up resenting someone who's only crime is being alive then youare not ready to have kids.

Abortion is your next option, if you are going to take this road the longer you wait the harder and more expesive it will be. You must have conviction in the decision to have an abortion, If you are unsure in the least dont do it because you will probably end up depressed. In the united states in most states you have to see a counciller before you have an abortion to make sure you are 100% on the decision.

Adoption Is your other option, If you feel you cant take care of your child but dont want to lose all ties then Open adoption is a really good option for you. It gives you visitation rights, it is hard to find a place that still does it but it is possible. Regular adoption means you will hopefully be giving your child to a family who can take care of them, it takes strength to do it and some mothers cant, If you are in a regualr adoption program it also means that you will not have contact with the child until usually 18 if ever.

I agree with the irresposible sex thing, we must take into account the other things that can occur. I planned on waiting till my fiance and I got married but I got an ear infection and was uneducated about the effect of antibiotics on the pill. things like that and also rape those girls dont ask for this to happen. I hope everyone reads the entire post above it is a little bit harsh for reality but it is true.

I just had my baby almost 2 weeks ago & i am 16yrs. old..when i found out i was pregnant, i knew what was coming & what i was going to be missing out on & all the things i used to do i wouldn't be able to do w/out taking my daughter out w/me..i know what it's like & how it's going to be...but i love my daughter w/all my heart & i believe God had something special in for me, he wanted me to grow up, become mature, and stop acting soo childish..and that's what i did..if it weren't for my daughter, i'd probably be the same low, immature teenager. *sighs* i'm thankful for her, and even if her father isn't around, i have the greatest boyfriend ever, who is now my fiance b/c he asked me to marry him b/c he wants to forever be w/me & my daughter (he loves her like she's his own) we plan on having one of our own some day smile I have a pretty good baby though, she sleeps all through the night, only wakes up to be fed smile

You have a beautiful daughter! blaugh She's so cute!

aww thankie very much smile

I dont think I got through nobody this was aimed at posted.

Not a problem I was actually quite determined when I did I started typing and didnt stop. I just really dont want people to ruin there lives or the life of a child because they think it is a fairy tale. I'm not saying keeping is out of the question just make sure your ready. I hope whoever reads the thread understands that.

I dont want to put names down but I will say it wasnt you, I didnt read your storyuntil after I wrote this. Now that I know your 18 you dont fit into the category as well. Everyone fits in somewhere but the older you are the less you do.