Amanda's story

Amanda is 19 and pregnant with her first baby. She has been with her partner for a couple of years now. They are looking forward to being parents, even though the baby was not planned.

Amanda was in foster care from an early age and has no contact with her birth parents. Currently she is living with her partners family.

She finished school a couple of years ago and left with some GCSEs but she'd like to re-do some as she feels she could do better. She did not learn to read until quite late and puts this down to a lack of communication from her birth parents.

Since leaving school Amanda has had several jobs waitressing, working in bars and restaurants. At her last job they asked her to leave because she was pregnant. She hopes to study after her baby is born. She wants to be an osteopath.

Amanda says: "I need to get a job and I want to study while I'm bringing up the baby. Maybe get an evening job or something, because then my other half can look after the baby in the evening. I need to go to university to do what I want to do."

Money is a concern for the couple and being able to fund childcare if Amanda finds work or goes to college.

"Financially it's ridiculous, but we're going to have to find a way," she says.

At the suggestion of her midwife, Amanda now goes to YWCA London West. There shes met lots of other mums-to-be and mums of her own age. The girls share their experiences and learn new things as well as supporting each other and making friends.