My name is Kailey Pool. I had a baby at 16, graduated high school at 16, and got married at 17—and that’s just the beginning of my story. To truly understand everything, you have to go back to my childhood. Growing up, I moved constantly because my dad was in the military. You might be wondering, “What does this have to do with teen pregnancy?” Well, I would move to different places and then always move back to my mom’s every six months for about four or five years. This meant I had to make friends quickly, never knowing if I’d see them again. That constant uncertainty shaped how I connected with people—and later, with Nathan.
I met Nathan when I was 13 and he was 15, through a mutual friend. At the time, my best friend was “dating” him—or as much as you can date in middle school. That relationship fizzled after about a month, but Nathan and I became close friends. Later that year, I moved overseas and lost contact with everyone from Alabama, including him. For about a year, we didn’t talk. When I returned to the U.S., we reconnected randomly, and our friendship gradually deepened. By August 2019, I had started my junior year at the high school I used to attend—but just a few weeks into the semester, my life changed completely.
I had a feeling something was off and even had a few dreams that I was pregnant, but I tried to ignore it. Not long before, a doctor had told me that due to hormone issues, I would likely never be able to have a baby. I didn’t fully believe it—it was hard to accept, but I also knew doctors can be wrong. Still, the idea that I might never have a family of my own was painful to hear, because I had always dreamed of having children someday.
One day, I decided to take a pregnancy test, mostly as a joke with a friend to get peace of mind. The moment I saw the positive result, I was completely shocked. The first thing I did was go online and watch YouTube videos about teen moms. So many of them reinforced the stigma: dropouts, no future, nothing but struggle. I wanted to see if that was really the only reality. That’s one of the reasons I eventually started my own YouTube channel—to show the full picture, the highs and lows, and to help girls who might find themselves in the same situation I did.
It took me over a week to tell Nathan because we hadn’t been together very long. I worried he might leave me, and the thought of losing him terrified me. Eventually, my friend convinced me I had to tell him or they would. When I finally did, I took another test with Nathan, which was positive again. We just sat in silence for a moment. Although I was terrified, Nathan was excited about the idea of starting a family and reassured me everything would be okay. Despite that, I was still in denial. We scheduled an ultrasound for later that day, and at that point, only my friend Cory knew.
Because of my age, any doctor’s visit showed up on insurance statements, meaning my dad could see it. I wasn’t ready to tell him, so I called the doctor saying I needed a birth control check-up. Nathan went with me, and during the appointment, the nurse needed to do a pregnancy test. I knew what the results would be, so I invited Nathan back into the room. When the nurse returned, she smiled and said, “Well, you are pregnant. But I assume you already knew that?” She went over all my options, and I scheduled an ultrasound for later that week.
From the moment I learned I was pregnant, abortion was never really an option for me. I accepted responsibility and knew I wanted to see this through. A few weeks later, the ultrasound confirmed I was a little over eight weeks along. It was time to tell my family—and Nathan had to tell his.
Nathan, 18 at the time, shared the news with his family first. They were shocked and a little disappointed, but no one was angry. I think his age and gender played a role in how they reacted. Telling my family was more complicated. My mom knew Nathan and I were dating, but I had been private about it. I wasn’t sure how serious we were and didn’t want to reveal anything prematurely. I almost told her five times before finally finding the courage. I explained the doctor’s infertility diagnosis, how hard it had been to hear, and then shared that I was pregnant, Nathan was the father, and I was keeping the baby. She was shocked and disappointed, but her main concern was that my dad needed to know.
Telling my dad was the hardest. I valued his opinion so much and didn’t want to disappoint him further. I remember calling him one night, only to hang up mid-conversation because I panicked. I broke down crying to my mom, begging her to tell him. She eventually did, and I could hear his shock and anger through the phone. He had no idea who the father was at the time. After a few months, everyone gradually came to accept the situation and became mostly supportive.
I kept my pregnancy secret at school. I had very few friends and didn’t talk much in class. Rumors started, but I mostly stayed under the radar. My bump didn’t show much until late in the year, so hoodies and baggy clothes helped. By the second semester of 2020, I transitioned to online school, which I was used to. I tested out of several classes and graduated two months before turning 17. Physically, pregnancy wasn’t too bad, aside from persistent back pain. Emotionally, it was very challenging, especially staying inside most of the time and avoiding public spaces in a small town where everyone knows everyone.
On March 12, 2020, Nathan and I took a beach trip, about an hour and a half from our home. My back pain was intense, but I planned to mention it at the doctor the next day. At that appointment, they discovered I was four centimeters dilated—I was in active labor. After 21 hours, our daughter Avery was born on March 13, 2020. Postpartum was particularly tough, as COVID had just begun. My dad was still overseas and didn’t meet her until she was six months old. From the moment she was born, she had everyone wrapped around her finger.
Starting my YouTube channel was one of the best decisions I ever made. I faced criticism and mean comments, mostly from people in my town, but I persevered. My channel allowed me to show the reality of teen motherhood—not the dramatized or curated version we often see. I wanted people to see life as it really is. I wouldn’t be where I am without Avery, who is now almost two years old.
I started college at 17, pursuing a career in film. YouTube introduced me to editing and storytelling, something I never expected to fall in love with. I’m on track to earn my bachelor’s degree in digital cinematography before turning 20. Life with Avery and Nathan has exceeded anything I could have imagined. When Avery was seven months old, Nathan enlisted in the military and left the day before Thanksgiving 2020. After many letters and calls, he returned in April 2021.
We moved from Alabama/Florida to Nebraska and began our independent life. Living with my mom had been challenging; even though I was raising a child, I still felt like a kid. Now, with our own home and financial independence, life is amazing, despite the sacrifices we’ve had to make—our “college experience” and personal freedom were postponed. I had to grow up faster than most, but every moment has been worth it.
If I could offer advice to teen moms, it would be this: your life is not over. Yes, there will be sacrifices, but don’t let others dictate your choices. And to families of teen parents: ignore the stigma and support your child. Everything happens for a reason, and my family is proof of that. My life didn’t follow the path I imagined, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. For more of our story, check out my YouTube channel and follow along with our daily adventures.
