By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer
A 13 year-old British boy named Alfie Patten became a father four days ago when his 15 year old girlfriend gave birth to a baby girl.
According to report in London’s Sun, the boy was only 12 when he had sex with his girlfriend, Chantelle Steadman. The pregnancy was discovered after Chantelle went to the doctor complaining of “really bad” stomach pains.
“Me and Alfie went,” Chantelle said. “The doctor asked me whether we had sex. I said yes and he said I should do a pregnancy test. He did the test and said I was pregnant. I started crying and didn’t know what to do. He said I should tell my mum but I was too scared.
“We didn’t think we would need help from our parents. You don’t really think about that when you find out you are pregnant. You just think your parents will kill you.”
The two kept it a secret until six weeks later when Chantelle’s mother, Penny, 38, became suspicious about her weight gain and confronted her.
Alfie and Chantelle’s parents are now supporting the couple and their new baby, Maisie, who was born Feb. 9 at Eastbourne Hospital in East Sussex.
Chantelle and Maisie, who were released from the hospital yesterday, are living with the Steadmans, even though they already have five children of their own and father Steve, 43, is presently out of work. The family is currently eking out a living on government help in a rented home in Eastbourne.
“I told her it was lovely to have the baby but I wish it was in different circumstances,” Penny said. “We have five children already so it’s a big financial responsibility. But we are a family and will pull together and get through. She’s my daughter. I love her and she will want for nothing.”
Alfie, on the other hand, is living with his mother, Nicola, 43, on an estate in another part of town. His parents are presently separated.
“It hasn’t really dawned on him,” said Alfie’s father, Dennis, who has nine children and works for a vehicle recovery firm. “He hasn’t got a clue of what the baby means and can’t explain how he feels. All he knows is mum and dad will help. When you mention money his eyes look away. . . . It’s crazy. They have no idea what lies ahead.”
When he first spoke with his son about the pregnancy, Alfie started crying, he said. “He said it was the first time he’d had sex, that he didn’t know what he was doing and of the complications that could come.
“I will talk to him again and it will be the birds and the bees talk. Some may say it’s too late but he needs to understand so there is not another baby.”
Michaela Aston, of the anti-abortion Christian charity LIFE, said: “We commend these teenagers for their courage in bringing their child into the world. At the same time this is symptomatic of the over-sexualization of our youngsters and shows the policy of value-free sex education just isn’t working.”
As tragic as this story is, Alfie is not the world’s youngest father. An eight year-old Chinese boy currently holds that title.
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