I was shamed for having a baby at 14 but I don’t care – I’ll be partying whilst older mums are at home doing night feeds
A YOUNG woman has revealed that she gave birth to her first child at the age of 14.
Now 23, mum-of-two Emma Whorlow has revealed that she was judged for being a teen mother, but refused to listen to the haters.
The blonde beauty who is from the UK, confirmed that she was told to abort her first born, a beautiful baby girl, because of her age.
Not only this, but Emma explained that people told her she would “fail”, but she is keen to prove the haters wrong.
Emma welcomed her first baby back in 2015, and explained that she was “always judged, was always told to get rid of [her] because of my age, was always told I would fail.”
Whilst the age of consent in the UK is 16, according to the Office for National Statistics, the average age of mothers who give birth in England and Wales is 30.9 years – almost 17 years older than Emma was when she first gave birth.
In a short clip shared on social media, Emma shared a picture of her in hospital, prior to welcoming her first child.
Alongside the snap, Emma penned: “You had a baby at 14?”
She then shared a series of images with her daughter and clapped back: “Yeah, look at me now.”
Following this, Emma wrote: “People will judge but I’ve proved every single person wrong.”
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @emmawhorlow762, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly gone viral and has since racked up a jaw-dropping 2.7 million views.
But social media users were left totally divided by the clip – whilst some were keen to support Emma, others weren’t as kind.
One person said: “As long as your baby is looked after and loved by you then nothing else in the world matters in my eyes.”
Another added: “Nothing wrong with being a young mum.”
UK Teen Mum Statistics
Teen pregnancies in the UK have been decreasing considerably since 2007...
The under-18 conception rate has decreased considerably since 2007, reports Nuffield Trust.
Between 2007 and 2021, the under-18 conception rate in England and Wales decreased by 68%, from 42 per 1,000 women to 13 per 1,000 women.
This resulted in 13,131 under-18 conceptions in England and Wales in 2021.
At the same time, someone else asked: “I’m not judging, I’m just saying you know that is illegal right?”
Whilst one user slammed: “That’s no flex.”
Which areas of the UK have the highest rate of teen pregnancies?
- Middlesbrough (43.8)
- St Helens (37.1)
- Halton (34.9)
- Hartlepool (33.2)
- North East Lincolnshire (33.2)
- Blackpool (32.9)
- Hyndburn (32.8)
- Kingston upon Hull (32.7)
- Norwich (31.3)
- Salford (30.7)
Source: ONS
Meanwhile, others were keen to reveal how old they were when they first had a child.
One mother explained: “I had my first at 13.”
What does the law say?
The legal age of consent in the UK is 16.
The law is there to protect young people from abuse, harm or being taken advantage of by adults.
It is not designed to criminalise young people and there is no intention to prosecute people under the age of 16 where both mutually agree (consent) and where they are of a similar age.
But children under the age of 13 are considered too young to be able to consent.
Therefore any sexual activity with someone under 13 is illegal and considered rape, sexual abuse or assault.
For more information, visit Brook.
Children aged 13-15 are therefore unlikely to be prosecuted as long as there isn’t a large age difference between partners and sex is consensual.
A second admitted: “I had my first at 16, pregnant at 15. I get it and we get through it.”
Emma later penned: “Wasn’t what I planned having a baby at 14 but no way was I giving my baby up.
Here's why I love being a young mum
Tracy Kiss, who fell pregnant at 19, has revealed what she believes are the pros of being a young mother.
The personal trainer and blogger, from Buckinghamshire, believes women who give birth in their teens make BETTER mothers than those in their 30s.
She claims young mums snap back into shape quicker, have more energy and relate more easily to their children, meaning they’re better behaved and happier.
Tracy told Fabulous: “Women who become first-time mums in their teens make better parents than those in their 30s or 40s.
“I believe if I’d been 10 or so years older before becoming a mother then I wouldn’t have the relationship I have with my children now.
“For a start, being older I would have had less energy and therefore less patience.
“I wouldn’t be as enthusiastic to speak to people after months of sleepless nights as I was in my teens.
“My body snapped back to its pre-pregnancy size through fitness post-birth, which in turn gave me the confidence to date and find love again. I’ve never been happier than I am now at the age of 30 with two children.
“If I’d have been alone at 40 with a newborn baby I’d be more tired, less happy with my body, less energetic and far more stressed from the shock of living my life for myself instead of putting others first. Sometimes age and the innocence of ignorance is a good thing.
“As a teen mum I just got on with it, found my feet and became responsible and capable because at the time I didn’t know any different.”
“It happened and it’s the best thing to happen to me, rather a baby than take drink and drugs at that age making my life s**t.
“Nasty comments don’t bother me. What does is you don’t know me.
“I’m a good mum, I could have done worse – drugs and drink. Proved you haters wrong.
“I’ll be the one out partying while you are home doing night feeds.”
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