15-year-old Georgia Hageman lives at home with her parents in New Zealand.
In November last year, Georgia found out she was pregnant.
After splitting with the baby’s father and enduring hospitalisations at 30 weeks after going into pre-term labour, Georgia has cited her unborn son as the reason she keeps going.
She has already named her son Mason and now, at 35 weeks, Georgia has decided to speak out about her experiences in the hope of helping other young, teenage mothers.
Speaking to the New Zealand Herald, Georgia was adamant she was ‘lucky’ to have the support not many other young mums could dream of.
“I’ve been incredibly, incredibly fortunate to have my parents support me in the way they have. I don’t know what I would have done without them,” she said.
“A lot of girls that are in my position … they don’t have the support. That’s why I want to offer as much support to them because I can understand and relate what feelings and emotions you go through.”
Her letter begins:
Sometimes I look in the mirror, and I wish what I saw was a normal teen girl’s body and tummy. Clothes that didn’t have to be three sizes bigger. A face that wasn’t puffy from pregnancy fluid and eyes that weren’t outlined with a bruised colour because of endless broken sleeps. I wish I didn’t have to put up with a back that’s constantly aching, feeling nauseous all day, having pinched nerves, needing to pee every five minutes, struggling to keep down food and breathe without getting puffed, just from sitting there watching TV.
Georgia goes on to say that she misses her old life, and that she “made the decision to grow up too quickly” because she thought “everybody else was doing it. However, the hardest part is knowing what other people are thinking, and that she would have thought the same:
I got used to the stares, the whispering, and the disgusted looks and so on. However, it doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. To think that once upon a time, I would’ve been the person to look at a young girl with a mummy tummy and think: “Oh my God … She must have a hard life”.
But Georgia is determined to give her son the best start in life. She writes:
When he needs changing, I’ll be there. When he needs feeding, I’ll be there. When he plays his first soccer game, I’ll be there. When he gets a certificate for being a star, I’ll be there. When he needs a hug, I will be there. As hard as this journey has been, Mason is what I have been living for these last nine months. He is the person I have stayed strong for and fought for, and I will continue to do so. My age no longer matters. He needs me and that’s what matters.
She ends with a message for both those who judge, and for those girls in her situation:
Next time you go to judge somebody about their age and situation, I can tell you with 100 per cent confidence they know what they’re missing out on and they know how their life will never be the same as yours and they do not need reminding. They need encouragement to look forward into the future at what they do have. The positives in life. The experiences that they’re in line for! So many things that happen to us that break our hearts and leave us feeling empty or make us cry for joy. Love yourself, love your life and love what you’re doing, because you are the only person that can make it count. Don’t let the stares and whispers win, prove them wrong.
What an incredible young woman.
Georgia is currently engaged in New Zealand’s Teen Parent Unit, a support system attached to a nominated school to nurture and care for young mothers.
Top Comments
I too was a young mum (probably am still classed as one to be honest). I was 18 when I fell pregnant with my first child and gave birth at 19. I birthed at a private hospital and had the added views of older midwives who couldn't work out how at 19 I was even affording to be in a private hospital let along having a child, I had one amazing midwife who left an impression on me to this day - she told me I could do it and that I would be and was amazing and that no matter what I would be a great mum. She got me through those first few scary days. My daughter was 10 months when my husband and I married, we then went on to have our first son when I was 21 and our last son last year, at the age of 27.
I was 24 when my daughter started school and foolishly made that statement during a group conversation with some fellows mums at school pick up, they were shocked to put it nicely with one getting quiet a kick out of working out I was 19 when I had her.
Life is full of ups and downs, you can make amazing things happen regardless of your age, you can change your world and the life of your children regardless of how young you were when you had them. Your age does not dictate how good of a parent you will be!
My husband and I run a successful contracting business, have owned 2 houses and have 3 wonderful children - don't let people on the outside change how you feel on the inside!
I am a young mom as well, i had my beautiful daughter at 14years old who iss now almost 8. Like her i had a amazing support group my parents, his parents, my 4 older brothers, with other family and even friends. And with thhat it wase sTill uunbelievably hard. I hind away almost my entire pregnancy stayed close to my mom att all times in fear of something going wrong. I was scared and happy. But most of all unknowledgeable. But even at 14 wanted my baby. I was gonna fight for her for our lifes. My daughter was born 2weeks early and beyond healthy at 7lb7oz. At 15 i left home went back a few times when life got rough but really have been on my on raising my girl. I worked 2full time jobs to get by and unfortunately didn't finish school, i went in to high school as a freshman with a 2month old baby. Wasn't easy. Actually was to hard to painful so i did alternative school. Online school. GED. I tryed it all. But took on working deciding i was now a mom i am now here to rasie babies. I was gonna make it si she would go to the top not me. That i still feel strongly, now att 22 i have a smartbeautiful 8year old, a 4 year old step daughter, and am now 21 weeks along with my baby boy. So i would have to say i live a rich life. I would never change my age when i started being a mom. For i have had more time in my life with my babies. 14 year wwithout hearing mommy mommy. That was enough for me. :-) :-) :-) so you go girl have faith and trust in your self and never give up the fight.