Teenage Pregnancy

Hello and good afternoon my fellow peers. Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is That "Teenage Pregnant Girl" Aka as you all may know me Zinnia Mercado. Yes indeed this is my birth name, but at one point in my life teen-mom was my label. Teen pregnancy is something I have experienced first hand.

I was just 17 years old when a single pink line changed my entire life as I know it. I unlike most girls my age was about to have a baby .I was unmarried and pregnant before my 20th birthday. You could only imagine how the wheels in my mind where turning. Then the biggest questions of all had to be answered .What am I going to do now? Naturally I was afraid to tell anyone, Especially my family.

Of course, all of my family was doubting my ability to succeed in life after they heard about my "situation" as they called it. Not to mention all the head shacking and finger pointing .I heard it all : Why would you allow this to happen to yourself? What were you thinking? You have completely ruined your life! The best one of all, No one will ever respect you, you will be looked down apon by everyone!

In all reality I didn't care to listen to any more negative bashing, Even if it may have been the truth. All that really mattered in that moment was that I am about to become a mother and bring a life, my child into this world. So in that instant I went from just a child myself to complete mommy-mode. I told myself that I better start thinking and taking action as an adult.

I needed to be the best mother I could be to this innocent life .So that is exactly what I intended to do. Instead of choosing to just walk my way to the welfare line, I made it a point and priority to think of the best welfare of my child. I worked hard to provide for our new life to come in 9 months. Believe me when I tell u it was extremely difficult. No short cuts or connection to help me get a job. Just hard work on my feet and my determination.

You name it I did it. I worked just about any where that would hire me. I did it all, Mcdonalds, Supermarket cashier, Sales clerk at Rainbows clothing store. My main goal at that time was just to save up enough money to get a place of my own to call home. Finally i saved what was needed and it was a awesome feeling of my independence . Just as I was settling in and fixing up my place mother nature decided to pay me a visit. Not the friendly kind of hello how are you doing it's a beautiful day out full of sun shine and singing birds. It was more like i feel like someone was ripping my stomach open with a double edged sword and I am going to die.

So of course I call my mom and tell her I think it's time please come meet me at the hospital. It was a very scary 24hr painful labor. With no epidural and no amniotic fluid .Doctors called this a "dry birth". I felt like I was being punished for my carelessness. All I could do was pray that

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