Pregnant While Parenting Teenagers: Preparing for a Mid-Life Baby

This Post is brought to you by Tiny Prints. All opinions are my own

My best friend called me with surprising news recently: she’s pregnant! Why is that so surprising? Well, her current youngest child just got her driver’s license! Needless to say, this pregnancy was totally unexpected and a complete surprise to everyone, my best friend included. Once the initial panic wore off though, we went into overdrive to prepare for her mid-life baby.

My friend’s situation isn’t all that uncommon. Many women are having babies later into their 30s these days. Some choose to wait until then to start their families while others decide to expand their nest a bit for a myriad of reasons. Being pregnant with teenagers isn’t exactly rare, but when it’s a surprise pregnancy, it’s definitely an idea that takes getting used to!

In an effort to help both my dear BFF and every other woman out there who finds themselves preparing for a mid-life baby, I’ve come up with some tips and ideas to make the transition from parenting a teenager to parenting a newborn a bit easier. Check them out!

Preparing for a Mid-Life Baby: Your Guide to Unexpected Expecting

Accept your range of emotions as normal. Don’t feel bad if your initial reaction isn’t “hip hip hooray!” It’s okay to feel totally panicked and a little overwhelmed. Okay, make that a lot overwhelmed! Of course, if you do think “yay!” that’s totally normal too. Basically, whatever you’re feeling is normal and okay, so don’t think you have to feel a certain way to be a good person.

Expect shocked reactions, but don’t let them get to you. Expect that there will be at least one negative person out there who gives you the whole “but your children are practically grown, why would you want to start all over?” speech. One of these people may very well be your practically grown children. They’re in shock. They’ll get over it. Don’t let their negativity bring you down. You can do this! You HAVE done this! I suggest sharing the good news with a stylish pregnancy announcement from Tiny Prints. My friend is going with a giraffes theme, so this one is perfect for her!

Preparing for a Mid-Life Baby: Your Guide to Unexpected Expecting

Revel in the fact that you are uber-experienced. Take a deep breath and revel in the fact that you’ve already raised at least one child practically to adulthood. You managed to NOT break that child, right? You’ve learned so much along the way that you’re practically an expert. Your mid-life baby will be a cakewalk compared to the first one!

Get excited over all the cool new things you can buy! Once the initial surprise wore off after my friend’s announcement, we started looking at all the cool new things they have for babies now. Things that they didn’t have 16 years ago. Things they didn’t even have when my own son was born 9 years ago. She sends me texts with all the nifty stuff she absolutely HAS TO HAVE. As her best friend, I can’t wait to go shopping with her!

Have a baby shower! Here’s the thing about a mid-life baby – you get to have another baby shower! While the jury is still out on whether you should have a baby shower for your second baby that’s born shortly after your first, no one will begrudge you a shower when you’re pregnant with teenagers! Don’t forget the invitations! Tiny Prints makes the cutest baby shower invitations. I absolutely LOVE this one, don’t you think it’s classy?

Preparing for a Mid-Life Baby: Your Guide to Unexpected Expecting

Pamper yourself like crazy! When you’re pregnant with teenagers and preparing for a mid-life baby, it’s more important than ever to take good care of yourself. While the risks for pregnancy in your 30s aren’t as scary as they used to be, you may still be at an increased risk for certain complications. Your doctor will tell you more about that. Even if you’re not at risk, take the time to pamper yourself as much as possible before your new bundle of joy arrives.

Most of all, just enjoy the excitement that comes with expecting, even if it is totally unexpected. Lean on your network of friends and family for support. Get your older kids involved in the prenatal excitement. Remember, you thought you’d never be ready when your first child came either, and you did just fine. You’ll do great with your mid-life baby!

Did you have a mid-life baby? Do you have any other tips to offer moms who are pregnant with teenagers? Share them in the comments!

20 thoughts on “Pregnant While Parenting Teenagers: Preparing for a Mid-Life Baby”

  1. I can understand how surprising it is when you know someone is pregnant when they already have teenagers at home. These are really great tips & good way to give them some guidance. I think keeping emotions normal & making sure now one gets over you with their reactions will do the major part.

  2. This would just be too much for me! It would be crazy dealing with teen and baby situations at the same time but I guess you could also get a lot of support from teens as well. Great post!

  3. I’ve totally been in that situation although my kids weren’t that old. My first 3 kids are all 4 years apart and we were totally done. Imagine 8 years later I was totally surprised when we found out I was pregnant. You get used to the idea over time and now I can’t picture my life without her.

  4. First off, congratulations to her! I think it’s great that you’ve written this post as well. I only know two people whom have children but they are all young ones between ages 1-6. I don’t know if they are going to have anymore, but I can’t imagine raising babies when you already have teens.

  5. We arent sure if we are done yet. Silly I know but u would like one more. My hubby is 10 yrs older than me, so I’ve left it up to him. I don’t know if I could do it any older than I am now!

  6. I didn’t have a midlife baby, but I have a lot of friends and family who did. It was neat to be able to buy them baby gifts again, since my kids were almost grown.

  7. We have 14 years between our ds and dd and now have a 3 yo grandson too. We would love another baby even with ds now being 21! I don’t think it’s going to happen since we have been TTC for almost 6 years after losing our youngest dd (she would be 5) and nothing.

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