This story is part of a series of ‘good news’ stories written by journalism students from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
Vianne Biala’s journey to becoming a mother was not an easy one.
Her pregnancy at 16 came as a shock to her and partner Kai, who were both still at high school at the time.
And when it was time to tell her family, she was met with disapproval and the suggestion of an abortion.
“I was very scared about what my parents would think,” says Vianne, who lives in Ryde in northwest Sydney.
“Just because coming from a Filipino background, they’re very strict … the pressure of being a teen mum, they didn’t want that for me.”
Vianne Biala was still at high school when she got pregnant.
Before she was pregnant, Vianne says she was in an “unstable place” emotionally. Her relationship with her parents had also been “rocky” at times when she was younger.
But the judgement surrounding teen pregnancy wasn’t just coming from those she knew well. She says she will never forget her first ultrasound appointment.
“I didn’t look that pregnant at the time … and I remember, I went with my grandma, and this lady … she thought the ultrasound was for my grandma.
“My grandma was like, ‘No, it’s for her,’ and she kind of looked at me … she looked at me up and down and was just like, ‘How old are you?’
“It was so nerve-wracking at the time, that I had to deal with that and everything.”
Vianne says she became emotionally attached to being pregnant and made the decision to keep the baby. Eventually, her parents accepted her decision and were there to support her on her pregnancy journey.
Aged 17, she gave birth to a daughter, Kira.
Vianne and her newborn daughter, Kira. Credit: Supplied/Michelle Deng
Vianne's mother says: "The midwife said she was very impressed with you because you were calm the whole time even though your labour was difficult and took long."
"She was in awe for your level of calmness for someone your age."
Vianne says Kira became a great source of motivation for her.
“My mental health was just … all over the place. But when I had Kira, it gave me that motivation, that hope to just keep going and just do better. Not just for myself but Kira.”
When I had Kira, it gave me that motivation ... to just keep going and just do better.Vianne Biala
Becoming a mother also strengthened her relationship with her parents.
“I feel like now they treat me more like an adult … I guess with a lot of teenagers, they want to feel seen,” Vianne says.
They’re also pretty smitten with their granddaughter.
“Now they’re best friends with Kira, they all love her.”
But now aged 19, with Kira turning two, the funny looks haven’t stopped.
“I just get a lot of looks and stares and a lot of people think that Kira’s my sister.”
Public perception
Dr Marie Yap is an associate professor and psychologist at Monash University with expertise in parenting and youth mental health.
She says Vianne’s experience of teen pregnancy isn’t uncommon.
“Unfortunately the public’s perception of parents, broadly speaking, is still very quick to judge … that sense of social stigma is unfortunately quite real and can negatively impact any person’s ability to parent well.”
Dr Yap says what matters most is the support system the individual has around them.
Vianne's partner Kai with daughter Kira. Credit: Supplied/Michelle Deng
Vianne is striving to combat any misconceptions and prove that life does not end after becoming a parent.
“Just because I’m a mum, a teen mum even, doesn’t mean I can’t be anything else.
“Just because I’m a teen mum doesn’t mean that I’m not responsible.”
A supportive partner and an immediate support network is a critical factor to how well teenage mums do.Dr Marie Yap
As soon as they found out about the pregnancy, Vianne and her partner began seeking employment and signalled their intent to still pursue tertiary education.
“It was very difficult for us. We actually had to drop out of school early… I don’t think we could’ve had a baby while at school,” she says.
“But we wanted to still be able to do stuff to make sure that our daughter, her future, wouldn’t be in jeopardy … we wanted to study, get a job straight away, and just build that future for her.”
Vianne says she faced cultural pressures when looking for work.
Some older relatives told her to “just stay home, take care of the baby and just be a ‘housewife,’” while her partner worked full-time – but she disagreed.
“I just wanted to have a purpose other than, you know, being a mother.”
Vianne and Kai with daughter Kira. Credit: Supplied/Michelle Deng
As with Vianne, Dr Yap says there are now increasing opportunities for young women in Australia to ‘not just be mothers’.
The “landscape is changing … There’s an ongoing push for gender equity … and empowering women to develop their careers.”
Vianne’s experiences, although challenging, have made her a stronger person.
“Even if I’m known as the ‘teen mum’ [to others] … I shouldn’t let them affect how I should portray myself to the world,” she says.
“Your identity is not just narrowed down to being a teen mum. You can be whatever you want and life definitely does not end when you’re a teen mum.”
Michelle Deng is a Chinese Australian student from Sydney who is studying journalism and law.
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Readers seeking support with teenage pregnancy can contact Pregnancy Help Australia on 1300 139 313. More information is available at
