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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Hannah Van De Peer & Saffron Otter

'I don't regret becoming a mum at 16 - it's nothing like MTV's Teen Mom'

A woman who first became a mum at 16 said it's nothing like MTV's Teen Mom - and she's still with her daughter's dad more than a decade later.

Louise Mansell, now 29, had 11-year-old Ella when she was in her final year of secondary school.

While it was "overwhelming" looking after a baby while watching her friends having fun and going out, she says she has no regrets.

Louise and Ella's dad, now 30, stuck together - and have since married and welcomed two more children, Olly, eight and Ava, four.

And while many her age are now dealing with newborns, the couple are looking forward to "our independence while we're still young enough to enjoy it".

Louise with her first baby Ella, who she had at 16 (Louise Mansell / SWNS)

Louise "hates horrible" TV programmes like '16 and Pregnant,' which she says are to blame for "completely inaccurate" negative perceptions of teen parents.

The primary school teacher from Canterbury, Kent, said: "Those TV shows always show couples arguing, struggling and splitting up over their children - but we just weren't like that.

"They're dramatised stereotypes and they don't always reflect real life. Being a teen parent isn't the same as it is on TV."

She added: "I was fortunate to have such a good support network around me. Even my husband's mum is a midwife which obviously helped hugely with a new baby.

"But I appreciate that many teenage mums won't have that - or sometimes even the father of the child around to support them."

Louise says she remained "positive" throughout the entire experience and argues that there is one "big" benefit to having children so young.

Olly, Ella, and Ava (Louise Mansell / SWNS)

"By the time I'm 40, my youngest child will be 15, and my oldest will be 22," she said.

"Myself and my husband will be able to get that time back. We've never been on holiday as a couple before, but we plan to travel as much as possible.

"We'll have our independence while we're still young enough to enjoy it."

Louise didn't doubt for a moment she'd keep her baby - but did find the news 'scary' at first.

"It was a bit scary because we were dreading breaking the news to our parents," she admitted.

"There was never any question that I wouldn’t keep the baby and I wasn't daunted by the thought of looking after her."

She has no regrets over having Ella at a young age (Louise Mansell / SWNS)
The couple are looking forward to travelling once their kids are older (Louise Mansell / SWNS)

Luckily, she didn't suffer any judgement from her sixth form friends or peers - and said by the time school had ended, "everyone was moving on" anyway.

In June 2011, she gave birth to Ella, three months shy of her starting a health and social care AS level at Chaucer School, Canterbury.

But her pregnancy, while "very good", ultimately meant she wouldn't be able to travel, and she changed course to train as a primary school teacher.

The birth was "easy" - and Ella was born at 3pm on June 5, weighing 8lb 4oz.

Louise studied for a degree in primary teaching (Louise Mansell / SWNS)
Louise and Ella look like they could be sisters (Louise Mansell / SWNS)

And the mum-of-three cites the emotional support from her husband as well as the government's Care To Learn scheme with giving her the stability to thrive alongside her family.

The Care To Learn scheme helps with childcare costs while young parents study - as long as they're under the age of 20.

Louise, who now has a postgraduate degree from Christ Church University and works as a year one teacher at a primary school, said: "If you're a teenager giving birth, you don't have to lose hope. There's support out there for you.

"Through financial support systems, I was able to finish sixth form, go to Canterbury Christ Church University and study a degree in Early Childhood Studies.

"Obviously, I wasn't able to have the 'full uni experience' when it came to going out and drinking with friends - but my husband has been really brilliant.

"On the rare occasion I did go out, he looked after Ella - and to be honest, I was breastfeeding at the time and I found it more stressful going out than staying in."

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