Sarah Steven

“My names Sarah and I fell pregnant at the start of September 2009 when I was 17. However I did not find out until the start of February, just before my 18th birthday. People ask me how I didn’t know for so long but I was on the pill when I fell pregnant, had took two pregnancy tests in September that came back negative and went to the doctors several times because I was feeling sick and they put it down to the flu. So the thought had left my mind, until the start of February when I was laying down felt a kick. I have never been so terrified in my life, so the next day I went and got a pregnancy test that instantly came up positive. I am thankful for the support that my family gave me when I told them. After my pregnancy was confirmed by the doctors I then got an appointment for a dating scan. The next week I was up at the hospital to find out everything. I was expecting to be around 8/9 weeks, but when they then told me I was 23 weeks with a baby boy! I could not have been more shocked. My due date was the 10th of June; I was a high risk pregnancy because I found out so late. They thought my son was going to be a tiny baby, so had to go for weekly scans to check on him. I rushed to get things ready on time and then my due date came and left… On the 19th of June I was taken into RAH to be induced, no one was allowed to stay with me until I was in proper labor so it was scary, but I got induced and then the next morning my contractions started. I called my mum to come up and then was took down to the labor ward to give birth. I had gas and air and an injection and waited for my little boy to decide he was ready to arrive. Hours passed and nothing. The midwives felt it was important to get him out quickly but did not want me to get a cesarean so they gave me an epidural and told me he would be a forceps delivery. I was not given much choice in the matter which was distressing; however they delivered my son quickly. He was placed on me and took off just as quick because I got rushed into theater. Once I was on the recovery ward they weighed him. My little boy, Jack George Steven, was born at 8lb 06oz. Yes, I had been told he would be a tiny baby and was at risk. He was just perfect. I settled into the ward for a 3 day stay and was then finally was allowed home to my family. Adjusting to a new baby wasn’t easy and I lost the majority of my friends because they just didn’t understand I had other priorities in my life now. But I got on with it. I suffered post natal depression badly so I started to surround myself with positive people and tried to connect with new mums to which helped me so much and kept me motivated to achieving my goals. Jack will be two in June and he is starting nursery soon, so that I can study a degree in psychology at the Open University. I don’t like when people think that just because you are a young mum that means you are a bad mum, all young mums I know are hardworking and would do anything for their children.”