Where are your parents?
At 16 it will be hard to find housing.
Contact your local WIC office, they can help you with food stamps so you can be healthy while pregnant, they can also advise you on housing situations.
Get a job ASAP and save every dime you can.

By 28 Weeks Pregnant! on Feb 7, 2009

The reason they are happy for her is probably because she is older and has a job and a steady bf or married and does not need to live off tax payers money.

By Dolly on Feb 8, 2009

things will be tough and you are young ?! but im not going to lecture you hun, wheres the dad ? are you two going to sort things out for the baby and yourself, he did prevent this aswell and you need the help off him and so will the baby! you could start by talking to your grandparents im sure they will help and you could start by getting a little job just to make it look like your trying for you your family and baby. why dont you wait till the baby has arrived into the world yet until you start getting a house, that will add more stress if you move into a house on your own and will add more bills which costs more money ?? where is your mam and dad will your sister help you out can you stay with her ? x

By Yasmine R on Feb 8, 2009

The first thing you need to do is talk to your parents. Good luck.

By *Jessy* on Feb 11, 2009

You’ve already started honey…Your keeping the baby!! And I think that that is the most terrific thing you could do!!!!!!

Your ther perfect example of why we have low income housing. Look into that…….The first thing you need to do is find yourself a place to live. Then worry about the rest. It will all come together.

I know i’m not much help…but i’m so incredibly proud of you for keeping the baby and wanting to do the right thing. I wished I lived close to you so I could help you with everything.!!

By Mommy~2~2 on Feb 12, 2009

I found this information online hope it helps. If not they may be able to refer you to someone who can help you.

Grace’s Place Counseling and Training Center
308 S. Main Street, 2nd Floor
Forked River, New Jersey
1-877-50-GRACE

Grace Initiatives offers housing, counseling and life skills training, through our network of Christ-centered shepherding homes and at Grace’s Place Counseling and Training Center.

Serving pregnant teens and young women
Housing and support in a private host family home until childbirth
Non-residential support and classes available at our Counseling & Training Center in Forked River, New Jersey
Educational classes including Your Pregnancy, Labor/Delivery, Nutrition & Newborn Baby Care
Training on budgeting, career assessment, cooking and other necessary life skills
In-depth options counseling on parenting and adoption
Continuing education through home-bound instruction, public school or GED preparation
On-going, one-on-one emotional support
Referrals for medical care, legal aid and other helpful social services
Spiritual care

By lilmamanstl2003 on Feb 15, 2009

–single-mothers.php

Maybe you can start (if you’re good with kids) swapping child care for room and board with your sister. You are going to need to start by getting a job and earning some money. If you finished High school by 16 you must be smart.

By capecodscrapper on Feb 18, 2009

Go to your doctor tell them your pregnant and get all teh necissary tests. Start taking prenatal pills and you can also take extra folic acid.

As far as living with your grand mom and pops it could be the best thing for you right now. People might be upset about your pregnancy at first but once they see how much it means to you they will pretty much have no chpice but to come around and support. I wish I knew more about NJ so I could help more ….

PEOPLE WHO ARE BASHING HER FOR HAVING TO GO ON ASSISTANCE
fuck off …. really! This is the reason things like this were put in place. Its a means to an end. I am on assistance as well and it is the most embarrasing thing ever and I cannot wait until I am able to get off of it in a few months. It’s people like you who make me feel this way and other girls in my situation feel this way when really its nothing to be ashamed of. Like I said it was put in place for people like us to use in a time of need. Not to stay on forever. Shes not a fucking crakchead or something just abusing the system. God.

By BlondeBombShell on Feb 21, 2009

hey,i think you should have a real proper think, i know you probably think you have but you havent obviously otherwise you wouldnt be asking these questions, housing associations wont get you a house in time you need to do it yourself via estate agents etc 9 months sounds a long time but it really isnt, do you really want to be a 16 year old mum?? not to be rude at all but your still a child yourself, before you have any children you need your own decent place and a decent wage coming in, if you dont have that then it is wrong for you to bring a child into this world, think of the child not yourself, children should never have children, and deffinately not in your position, sorry hun x

By Amie3688 on Feb 22, 2009

You can start by giving up, nights out with your friends, holidays, the chance of a good job, your love life as well as any money you might earn.

If you want to give up the best years of your life then good luck but i would really get an abortion if i was you.

(You might not be doing much at the moment but i would guess if your 16 your life will change alot in the next few years. Why not move away to University or College and do a degree first and have a baby afterwards if you still feel like it. i didnt really go out and do much at 16 but after i went to uni things changed. it would be a shame to miss out on these things).

By Simon P on Feb 25, 2009

You need to first go to your local health dept and get a proof of pregnancy sheet there, then take it to the medicaid office, to get set up on medicaid. Then to get set up with housing, you have to apply at the local housing authority. Im not sure if you will get it bc of your age tho. The best thing you can do right now, is go to the docter. You are very brave for keeping the baby, and it’s an amazing thing. I got pregnant with my daughter at 17, now I am having another one at 19. It is hard but it is all worth it.

By Makayla on Feb 26, 2009

DO NOT HAVE AN ABORTION I can not believe someone wrote that. A child is a wonderful thing I have been trying for 6 years to have one and can’t because of my ovaries. A baby is a live person and a gift from GOD! Call the youth court or social services I am a guardian ad litem and alot of them have great ideas and programs for youth parents. Congrats and God bless!

By mnjlknight on Feb 26, 2009

OK 1st contact HUD they will help with you with your housing costs
2nd: Make an appointment with WIC not for Food Stamps but for milk and cheese and cereal, and when baby is born they give him his/her formula
3rd Apply for Medicaid and Food Stamps, Look in the Phone Book for those Numbers
4th Congratulations On your bundle of Joy.

Dont lIsten to the rude comments, its your choice and you made the right one!

By Princess_Mexicana on Feb 28, 2009

Oh, sweetie…don’t be disheartened that people are having a different reaction to your sister’s pregnancy than yours–it sounds like she’s probably older than you and more prepared. The lecturing and the yelling is mostly from shock, it sounds like. It’s a shame that people aren’t being more supportive of you because you have never needed anyone in your whole life more than you need them now. Be honest with them about how you’re feeling–you need them.

As far as getting things together, you can start with counseling at a Planned Parenthood clinic, they’re pretty accessible in New Jersey (I used to live in the Parsipanny area). It looks like you have internet access, you can also probably find a lot of good places in your area to go for free counseling services to help you gather some more information.

Even though you say you want to keep the baby, it’s very prudent to think about what would be best for you AND the baby. You’re right, you can’t raise a baby while you’re on the couch at your grandparents’ house and it will be very difficult for you to be able to support yourself at this point, let alone a newborn. Adoption is a very beautiful option–and there are SO many wonderful, wonderful people trying to. These families can give babies SO much.

Good luck to you.

By ashoflower08 on Feb 28, 2009

you go to the doctors to make sure everything is ok then you can ask them where can you go to get help. They’ll be able to tell you all you need to know. And no person can tell you what to do. You should also talk to the father of the baby about this. Don’t forget about the laws with sex and the age of consent in your state.

By steph on Mar 2, 2009

omg you should tell your grand pop and mom and also your parents if you havent.get a job.never do abrotion it is sick its killing a living thing.

By kissygirl98 on Mar 3, 2009

im in the uk scotland so i don’t no the answer, but what i will say is just because ur 16 doesn’t mean you will be a bad parent every new mum struggles and its how you deal with those struggles that counts. if you feel ready and you re sure,theres no reason why you cant do a good job and cope.. try and get some support not just because your 16 because every mum needs it.. good luck stay strong don’t listen to these negative comments they don’t know you . have a good pregnancy xx

By tash on Mar 5, 2009

whats done is done. you can’t undo it. I applaude you for keeping the baby. It’s now time to put your Motherly instincts to work. If there is a Planned Parenthood center around, I’m sure they can offer help and suggestions. Talk to your Grandparents about what to do. Continue taking classes in College. Perhaps your grandparents can baby sit…or maybe a close friend or relative…get your distant family involved, explain to them the situation….I don’t care who it is, nieces, Aunts, Uncles, Nephews, Cousins, Great Aunts, Great Uncles, Brothers, Sisters, Step Mom, Step Dad, Neighbors, just find anyone who can help. You might be able to find used baby items at a GoodWill store or Dollar General. Look on the internet for teenage mothers. I know a Woman who might also be able to help you. She has youtube account and has gone through this before. ITS ON YOU TUBE. Her name is alilbabyphat. If find the ” water birth original video” on you tube, you will find her. Talk to her. Good luck and hope this helps!

By carrie_adams19 on Mar 7, 2009

College is hard enough without kids and you being at such a young age it is very unlikely you will be able to provide a good quality of life for this baby or yourself. How is that baby going to feel knowing that it was created by a rape? Consider abortion or adoption.

By ChemE-Kaun on Mar 8, 2009

I was 16 years old when I had my son i’m now 21 everything comes together I promise my family were very hard on me but it push me to do better. well i didn’t have any money cause i didn’t work so I collected items for the baby from Craigslist.org and freecycle.org people give out things all the time and most of my experince they’re pertty good. I got a crib,lots of clothes, diapers, formula, etc….and the baby grow out of it so fast than I just pass it on. than I had a little job babysitting here and there to get bottles or mostly things I didn’t have. but medical benefits when I had my son they came to the hospital and signed me up asked me if i needed resources than another worker called than another by the time i know it.everything was done…Congrats!!!! be strong when times get tough i mean tougher cuz it will but all worth it.

By Debbie M on Mar 11, 2009