Miss Gracie-Leigh Park

I was only 17 when I got pregnant, I thought I was 'in love' I thought I was ready to have a family with this person..So we decided we were going to try for a baby. 1 week went by, negative, 2 weeks went by, negative, 3 weeks went by, negative. I was starting to wonder if I'd actually get pregnant, every negative I saw I wanted to cry but the next week I had signs that I was..It was Friday the 13th I thought, no way, bad luck, but I did a test every Friday so I wasn't going to miss this one. I went to the toilet, I waited those long waited 3 minutes, I looked..there it was.. 2 lines. I started to shake..I'm not sure if it was joy or worry..I'd actually got a baby inside me..I went over to my boyfriend to show him..all I heard was 'You're going to get fat' That's when I asked myself, what have I done? How am I going to tell my parents? I was so happy yet so worried. I took a further 5 tests..postive, positive, all positive. I rang my doctors and booked my first appointment.

The day came to go to my first appointment, by this point, I'd moved out of my boyfriends, he didn't understand pregnancy, he didn't want to buy the baby anything, he had his mates over all night, he was chatting up every girl he could, I'd had enough so I was living at home, my parents still didn't know. I went to the doctors, they gave me all this information, they gave me my due date, 17th April 2011. That's when it kicked in..I had to tell my parents. I walked home..I opened the door & there was my now ex boyfriend talking to my mother, I screamed at him to leave..I thought he'd told her..but he hadn't, good. I sat down at the table, started to chat to my mum, she then asked 'you're not pregnant are you?' I looked at my friend..how did she know? That's when she knew for certain..her 17 year old daughter was pregnant, with no job, no boyfriend, nothing. We both cried. I told her I couldn't face my dad & she said she would tell him.

I left and went over to my friends house, I was so scared. My phone started to ring..It was Dad. I was shaking. He screamed down the phone at me 'WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? YOU STUPID GIRL! YOU'RE NOT LIVING IN MY HOME, DON'T YOU DARE COME BACK TO MY HOUSE! I WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS BABY!' I didn't know what to say..I just said sorry..he ended the call.

The next day, mum came to fetch me from my friends house..we went home, I waited for dad to come home from work, he got in..he saw me..I saw the disappointment in his eyes, he didn't want to even look at me, he tried talking me into abortion..I told him I would never kill my baby, I was keeping it.

He didn't speak to me for months..my grandparents didn't want me in their lives or the baby..my dad didn't..I was on my own, just me and my precious bean. Eventually, my dad warmed up to it, he started to help me and accept the fact he was going to be a grandad.


It was my scan date, I was so excited! I asked the babies father if he would come, we'd been broken up 2 months already..I said I'd wait outside and meet him..it got to the time of my scan..he didn't turn up..I went in myself..I laid there scared that they wouldn't find anything..but there my baby was on the screen, so tiny. I was so happy! I left the hospital..I then got a text 'Where are you? I went to the wrong place, sorry.' He was lying..I didn't care, all I care about now is my baby.

My second scan date arrived, I didn't want him there. This was my baby now, he never once asked how I or the baby was..he didn't deserve this baby..he was more bothered about girls his xbox & going out. Anyway, I arrived at the hospital..this time my dad came, this made me so happy..he secretly was happy. I waited, anxious, desperate for a wee..They called my name & I went in..I laid down and was so excited yet scared..there was my baby, much bigger this time, waving its arms and legs, moving their head..I asked 'Can you tell the sex?' she looked..I was having a BABY GIRL! I was ecstatic, I always wanted a girl. She was healthy, I was so so happy.

I decided to try work things out with him..after all this baby needed a family, I tried so hard to make it work but he told me 'I never wanted it, I only said yes to make you happy' 'Now we're back together I suppose you expect me to pay for things for the baby' What?! Then he said 'I only want this, me and you..no baby' I left..a few weeks later it was valentines day, I'd been at college all day, I asked if he would meet me so I could give him his gift, I had no reply..I waited at the train station..an hour had passed and it had started to get dark..I thought to myself 'I'm pregnant..what am I doing?!' I eventually got a text 'I was asleep, I'll get next train' I didn't wait..I went home, I cried..I told him this was it..It was over for good.

I stayed strong through my whole pregnancy, I had a healthy gorgeous girl growing inside me, I was so excited, I'd bought her clothes, her moses basket, her bottles..everything, I couldn't wait.

I was around 35 weeks when I went into slow labour, aching, in pain, I was so fed up. On the 5th April 2011 I was 38 weeks pregnant, I woke up, got out of bed.. I felt some drips..was this it?! I rang my mum and then the hospital who told me to go straight away..mum rushed me to hospital, I was in so much pain..I got there and they told me I wasn't in labour..just take some paracetamol! Are you kidding me?! I couldn't argue..I went home and suffered in pain all day and night..it got to around 8:30 pm and I couldn't take the pain anymore, I sat their crying to take me back..My dad rushed me to hospital..

The midwife checked me out, I was 3cm dilated and ready to pop! I had some gas & air..I laughed at everything..I told the midwife I was becoming a lesbian, apologized for my swearing..although I never actually swore I was off my head. It got too painful though, I'd been sick from the gas and air..it was time for some pethidine. The best drug I've ever had. I fell asleep every 2 minutes, then I'd wake up, sing lady gaga or toploader and go back to sleep..until I needed to push..

At 05:06am on the 6th April 2011 my pain was forgotten, My baby girl arrived weighing 6lb 15oz. She was in my arms, I was so shocked, I asked 'Is she mine?!' I was in love. In love with such a perfect, beautiful baby. She was mine..all mine to care & love for. That moment, my life changed forever. There was no looking back, just towards my future with my girl.

Everyone came to visit my precious girl, that's when they forgave me & fell in love too, how couldn't they, she was perfect.

I'd go through it all again for her, my beautiful girl.