What It’s Like to Be a Young Mother

I was 19 when I found out I was pregnant. It was back in August of 2017. I didn’t know what to think. I cried when I first found out. I didn’t think I could be a mom at this age, let alone going to college too.

In April of 2018, I had my beautiful baby girl, Delilah Alaina Nicole Shedd. Yes, it is a mouthful, but I think it’s such a beautiful name. I remember after I gave birth, and the doctors handed her to me, I was filled with tears of joy. I loved her before I even gave birth. I loved her way before then.

I was 20 when I gave birth. I was nervous and scared to give birth. I had so much anxiety about giving birth because of all the stories I heard. I had doubt in myself that I wouldn’t be able to push her out. An epidural to help with the pain was a huge relief and pain relief.

She’s almost five months now as I am writing this. My daughter has already started some things way before she’s supposed to for her age. At five weeks, she was already cooing and having her first couple of teeth starting to come in. Having a teething baby is not very easy to deal with, especially at night. You’ll have sleepless nights. You’ll be exhausted. There are times where I cry and that’s okay. I felt like I was a bad mother if I cried or walked away just because I couldn’t handle the screaming, but my family told me it was okay to do. Sometimes you just need a break.

She can already roll over and she loves it. Sometimes she will get frustrated if you roll her back over. Right now, it’s frustration with her trying to crawl. She is one little persistent baby. She eats baby food now and is already picky! She hates peas and green beans. Guess she’s already picky and stubborn like her mama.

My favorite thing to see is her beautiful little smile. You’ll smile at her and she’ll smile right back! Her blue eyes are absolutely beautiful and I love looking at them. She has a head full of hair which really explains the long nights of heartburn that I had for the last few months of my pregnancy. She is also so chunky, which I think is so cute in babies. Chunky little cheeks and legs. Just full of chunk.

My motherly instincts kicked in when I was pregnant. I was already acting like a parent towards my little sister just because it was my natural motherly instincts kicking in.

I love to hold Delilah’s hand and to tell her that I love her so much and that everything is going to be okay. When she cries, it makes me cry. I don’t want to see her upset or in tears. I don’t want to see her hurt.

Everyday when I look at her, I know that I have to do my best and to never give up for her. I want her to have an amazing life and to not worry or stress about the stuff that I’ve worried and stressed about. I want her to be safe and have a wonderful childhood. I want to see her smile every day. I live for that smile of hers. I've got to do everything that I can to protect her and to not give up on her. I think I am an amazing mom, in my opinion.