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About Lyndsay Mercier
Expertise
I can answer questions regarding pregnancy symptoms, possible ways of becoming pregnant, how to help avoid pregnancy, various options regarding your choices involving an unplanned pregnancy, etc.
I can offer advice, answers, a kind word, or just listen.
Experience
I was once a pregnant 15 year old, and it was traumatizing. I considered adoption, abortion, and parenthood and came to a conclusion. I was fortunate enough to have a supportive family, but not everyone is as lucky as I was. I have firsthand experience on what it feels like to discover an unplanned, teen pregnancy, as well as experience with coping.
Organizations
I am the President of VOX:Voices for Planned Parenthood, which is a non-profit student organization focusing on sexual health and education, as well as reproductive rights and freedom.
Publications
I have written an article regarding my own teen pregnancy story which will be published on www.Teenwire.com on June 24th.
Education/Credentials
I am currently a senior at Northern Michigan University majoring in Psychology and minoring in Sociology and Gender Studies. I am trained and certified in Sexual Health Peer Education and am currently teaching a college course focusing on STI prevention.
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You are here: Experts > Teens > Health for Teens > Teen Pregnancy > 17 and pregnant!
Expert: Lyndsay Mercier
Date: 6/23/2008
Subject: 17 and pregnant!
Question
I know this may seem like a good thing but I just found out i was pregnant and i told him that it was his. He was excited we've known eachother for 8 years. I just want to know how can we go about this without ruinning our lives and our own parents/family? Also I'm alittle nervious that he will leave me even though he says he won't but for some weird and very strange reason to me thats always a line i mean my real dad used it on my mom how do i know he won't just up and leave??
Answer
Kayli,
Being a teenage parent is very difficult, but it doesn't have to ruin anyone's life. All of a sudden you have to grow up real fast and start worrying about things that most teenagers don't have to.
If you are still in school, don't drop out. In most states there is funding available for daycare for parents who are finishing high school. You can conctact your local Department of Human Services. In other cities, there is a wide variety of programs and funding available for low-income families as well, if you plan on living together, away from your parents. I had my daughter when I was 16, and thats how I got through high school. There was also funding available to pay for daycare while I was at work. It helped so much. There are also programs that help pay for formula and food, as well. I'm 22 years old now, and my daughter is now 6, and we still receive a few benefits here and there, though we need them less and less with every year that passes. When I found out I was pregnant, I thought my life was over. I believed I wouldn't be able to go to college or do any of the things I had planned on. But I'm doing just fine, and I'm almost finished with college.
There will be times when you think you can't do it anymore, but in my experience, having a child to think of just gives me that much more motivation to make sure I succeed.
Its normal to worry about your partner leaving you at such a vulnerable time. It happened to me. I don't mean to scare you, but my boyfriend also promised me he wouldn't leave, but he did leave when I was 8 months pregnant. I was devastated for a couple of years, but I kept going, and eventually found someone who wanted to be a part of my little family. I hope you don't have to go through that; I hope your boyfriend is a better person than my partner was.
If you need any more advice, just let me know,
Lyndsay
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