Teen Moms in Mathare Slums

Being a teen mom is common in Mathare. Some teen moms are actually married, others are single moms, and others married, then separated. People see teen moms as a burden and a bad influence to other girls. Many teen moms are lonely, and sometimes men try to take advantage of you. As a teen mom, sometimes you don’t fit in society.

I wanted to tell a story of teen mothers who have children and survive, despite the many challenges they face. I tell this story because I want the world to know--especially mothers of teen moms, and their daughters--that getting pregnant at a young age is a big challenge, but it is not the end of the world. I also tell this story because I myself am a teen mom.

I got pregnant at 19 years old, and gave birth in 2003. When I realized I was pregnant, I was so ashamed that I could not tell anyone or even ask for help. I was so embarrassed because I had so many dreams of bringing my family out of poverty.

The only thing I could think to do was to have an abortion, and to do it before my mum realized I was pregnant. So, one evening I bought 30 paracetamol pills and swallowed them, hoping that the baby would come out. That night, I was so weak that I thought I would die. In the morning I was still sick, and I couldn’t go to school. My mum told me to go to the hospital, and I did. This is when she learned of the pregnancy. I could not tell her the father of my baby and so she sent me away. I went to my sister’s house--she welcomed me even though her husband did not like the idea of me staying there. I was so ashamed that I didn’t go to the clinic for check ups, and I spent my entire pregnancy reading and sleeping, barely leaving the house.

Eventually I returned home. My mum was not happy; she left and went to a rural area for three months. During my seventh month, I found myself alone and without money. I started selling groundnuts on the roadside just so I could earn money for maternal bills and clothes for my baby. Even with this work, I didn’t save enough to go to the hospital when it was time to deliver, so I gave birth in the house with the help of our neighbor, who was also a midwife and charged me very little.

The struggle continued after I gave birth. When my child was two years, I wanted to go back to school. My mum believed in me and paid part of my school fee; the rest I worked for to earn myself. I used to go to school on foot so that I could save the transport fee that my father provided for my baby’s milk and soap. In the evening I came home and breastfed my baby until I finished my “o” level education. I didn’t perform that well but at least I made my mum proud.

I am now done with my education, and luckily I got a job. I can afford to send my child to a government school, and can pay for the house we are living in.