"I didn't look any different, so it was easy not to tell anyone. This didn't last long as my belly soon grew. It would do - by this time I was six months pregnant..." I'm 16 years old now and live with my little girl, in my own flat in Hanley. My daughter takes up all of my time - I love looking after her and watching her grow. My story is about myself, my little girl and what an experience I've had being a young mum
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When I was 14 I found out I was pregnant. I couldn't believe it. I was terrified and didn't tell anybody, not even my best friend, until I was five months. I didn't look any different so it was easy not to tell anyone. This didn't last long as my belly soon grew - it would do, by this time I was 6 months pregnant. My family were totally shocked. I decided to leave school rather than tell everyone, and I had a home tutor. I hated the way people stared and passed remarks as they walked past me in the street. Pregnant women usually get help and support from the people they meet. They get helped onto buses and people give up their seats for them. But when you're pregnant at 14, it's lonely. I slipped and fell over when I was nine months pregnant and people just watched me trying to get up again. People judge you. I felt as if people looked down their noses at me and were saying that I was too young and wouldn't be able to look after my baby. After a while, I just blew kisses at them. Everybody thought I'd give my baby up, but I thought 'We'll see', 'cause I'll prove everyone wrong. I didn't mean to get pregnant at 14, but once I was I wanted to make sure I did the right thing. I had a long and painful labour. When Chantelle was born I wanted everyone to see her, but I was so exhausted, I just fell asleep. It was a shock. I went from being a teenager pratting around with my mates, to being a mum with my own home and loads of responsibility. If I hadn't had Chantelle I'd probably be at college now. I'd always wanted to study child care - I wanted to be a nursery nurse. But instead of being at college, I'm studying child care at home. And learning a lot more than I would from a book! My daughter is now ten months old and it's is still hard work but I'd rather have Chantelle than be a millionaire. | 
