TEENAGE pregnancy rates in Scotland has fallen for the 13th consecutive year - reaching the lowest level since records began.
A report by Public Health Scotland puts the rate at 23.9 per 1,000 women under 20 years old in 2020 - the equivalent of 3,300 pregnancies.
But while rates are falling stigma remains - and the perception teens who have kids will regret their choice isn’t always accurate.
Shannon Henderson fell pregnant at 14 and was bombarded with opinions about why having a baby so young would set her back.
But the resilient teenager, now 22, focused on making sure daughter Brooke, now seven, had the same opportunities as every other child.
The single mum, from Cumbernauld, even took her little one to school as helpful teachers acted as babysitters while she studied for exams.
It all paid off for Shannon, a HR and Admin assistant, who studied English and Spanish at uni and is returning to learn History, Sociology and Professional Education with the aim of giving back to others by becoming a teacher.
And it’s important to her that other teenage parents know life doesn’t stop just because you’ve had a baby.
SOMEBODY once asked me the question, who do you look up to in life?
And honestly - it’s 14-year old-me.
I was a better mum at that age than anyone could have predicted, my whole life was Brooke.
When you think about being a teenager, you don’t have many responsibilities so all my time went to her.
As I had her when I was so young, Brooke became my whole personality - I hadn’t had the chance to become my own person yet. That’s the role I jumped into and I feel like I’ve done a good job.
Sometimes I’m still too harsh on myself.
I left school, went to university, moved out and was caring for Brooke all at the same time and I got so overwhelmed and I struggled. I really didn’t want to fit into the typical young mum stereotype so I was putting a lot of pressure on myself.
At the beginning when I had her and I was in school I was doing really well and now I am again, but I have really struggled - for those who are going through the same thing, it’s good to know it’s ok to not be ok.
Everything I wanted to do was harder because I am a parent first and foremost.
I managed to make my life fit around Brooke and she’d come along to anything I was doing anyway.
I had no boundaries, I took her everywhere with me. I found an amazing group of friends who just knew that Brooke and I come as a pair.
BABY WENT TO SCHOOL
If I didn’t have childcare, she would come to school with me. I feel she can go into any situation and be comfortable and respectful now because of this.
I’d get the comments and things like that but at some point it started going over my head. I was so focused on getting my qualifications and a good start in life for us both.
When I was that age I thought I knew everything and I felt older than what I was. When people were shocked at what I was doing, it didn’t feel like a big deal to me.
Now I look back and I can’t believe it. I’m so proud of all that I’ve gone through.
With the smaller age gap between us, there are so many things I’ll be able to do as a parent.
As I’m young, I feel like I have different ways of parenting compared to a lot of older parents.
I have such strong memories of being a teenager and I will be able to support her.
MY BEST FRIEND
Brooke is my best friend and people say you shouldn’t have that kind of relationship with your children but we have gone through so much together and are just so close.
The thought of her having kids when I did is crazy. If she had kids when I had her, I would be 30 and a grandparent and that just sounds mad.
However, one of the best things about being a young parent was the fact Brooke knew my dad who passed away.
Brooke and my nieces called my dad “Grumpa” and I am so glad Brooke had six years with him. If I had her when I was older, they wouldn’t have had that time together.
I don’t know if she will remember much but I hope she will have memories of him, we went on holiday together, and had amazing birthdays and Christmases.
NO FATHER FIGURE
Brooke hasn’t got a dad in her life so he was her father figure, she watched how he still looked after me and I’m glad she has an idea of what a dad is supposed to be.
I’ve gotten really ok and happy with being on my own and the thought of being in a relationship and adding someone else to the picture is complicated.
Now that we are older and she is more independent, I’m able to focus on work, running our home and building a better life for us.
And I’m trying to do more for myself - as well as being Brooke’s mum. I’m trying to make a life for myself because one day she will have a life of her own too.
I’m so proud of having her at that age - it’s a role I jumped into and I feel like I’ve done a good job.
