Robyn was your typical Irish teenager, lively, full of mischief, head over heels in love and not a worry or a responsibility in the world.

However, a few months following Robyn's 19th birthday she discovered she was pregnant with her boyfriend's child.

Her carefree world was rapidly consumed with diapers, a hungry baby and a whole lot of growing up to do.

Robyn, who asked for her last name not to be disclosed, said that the weeks following her discovery were the hardest months of her life.

Robyn, who resides in Co. Kerry, had the daunting task of telling her family she was going to be a young mother. Her boyfriend turned his back on her and she had to give up what she then considered "the fun" in her life.

Whether it was stress or excitement Robyn's bundle of joy, whom she named Noah, arrived into this world on May 26 last year. He was four weeks early.

Robyn, who had just finished school when she learned she was expecting, never planned to have a baby so young. She says she was "shocked" and refused to "believe I was pregnant."

She had been cautious. She had been taking the pill for months.

"I just didn't know what to do when all the tests were coming back positive. I didn't make any mistakes," she said.

While trying to cope with the news that a baby was on his way, Robyn turned to her aunt (her mother's sister) for advice. "My aunt has always been so supportive and I wanted her there with me when I finally told my mom and dad."

It took her a few months to summon up the courage to break the news to her young parents, both in their early forties, that they were soon to be grandparents.

Remembering her parents' reaction, Robyn said, "My mother didn't take it too well and I didn't tell my father, my mother did, but she said he took it a lot better than she did."

After the reality set in that their daughter was having a baby and she needed their support, they put their disappointment aside. Robyn's relationship with her mother has become even closer now that she has had Noah.

"My parents are the best. My mother calls to me every day to see how I am doing and she helps me out a lot with Noah," says Robyn. "I know it was hard for her at the start but now if I call her up and say I'm not feeling well or I'm really tired she will be down straight away and I really appreciate that."

Robyn's boyfriend, who is nearly 10 years her senior, denied being the father. They dated for more than a year.

"He didn't acknowledge he was Noah's dad and his family gave me a really hard time during my pregnancy," she said sadly.

During the pregnancy, Robyn said she battled with a lot of depression and sadness. "One of the hardest things for me was going to the hospital for appointments alone. I used to see other couples there and it upset me so much that Noah's father was giving me such a hard time."

While her young body was trying to deal with being pregnant she was at the same time emotionally trying to accept the hard facts that she was going to be a mother before the young age of 20.

"I remember I was so tired all of the time, all I wanted to do was stay in bed. I found it so difficult to get up and go to work but I had no choice and through the headaches and the tiredness I did," she said proudly.

Sad that she was alone without a partner by her side while giving birth to her son, Robyn said of Noah's father, "He wasn't there for Noah's birth and that was difficult. I didn't ever see it turning out this way."

It was only when Noah was born that his father finally acknowledged his son. Visitation rights are now being sorted between the pair so Noah has both parents in his life, something Robyn said is very important to her.

"I will leave him see Noah, despite his behavior, because it's so important for my child to have both parents in his lives," she said.

Robyn, who moved out from her family home, which she shared with her parents and siblings when she had Noah, said her life has changed dramatically in a matter of months. Instead of getting up for work now and going out at weekends partying with her friends, Robyn has the responsibility of another human being, which she said could be very difficult at times.

"My routine is something like this: Noah wakes up at 7:30 a.m. or 8 a.m. and I feed him his breakfast. He is normally in great form that early and I get a lot of stuff done around the house," said Robyn. "I play with him then for a while and after I put him in his chair where he likes to watch television."

While Noah is preoccupied with television, Robyn makes time to clean the apartment and get his bottles ready, and then together they take a nap about midday.

"After waking he has his lunch and then we go into town shopping, or I would go up to my family home and there he will have his dinner before heading back to our own apartment."

Robyn then gives her son a bath, another bottle and he drifts off to sleep about 8 p.m. At this stage Robyn herself is exhausted, and it isn't long before she follows suit.

"I'm wrecked tired because I have to give him so much attention throughout the day," she says.

The following morning, Robyn gets up and does it all over again.

Used to being a free bird, coming and going as she pleased, Robyn said she definitely finds it difficult not having time to herself anymore. "Noah requires my attention all day every day. Of course I don't mind, I just miss not being able to do what I want when I want," she admitted.

At the moment, Robyn is a full time single mom but she does aspire to go to college in the next two years. "I would love to go to college to do a beauty course. That is my plan anyway," she said.

Although the idea of having a baby so young frightened the life out of Robyn, now she said she doesn't understand why she was so worried.

"Noah is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I'm glad I had him. When my parents take him for a few hours at the weekend to give me a break I just miss him so much and can't wait for him to come home," she says.

Having a baby at 19 has matured Robyn in a lot of ways. She explains, "I used to be wild. I'd be out every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night and even during the week as well."

Now, she said, she only goes out every now and then and she has no interest it socializing in the bar anymore. "My friends would be having a house party and getting up to all sorts of mischief, and now I find that very immature. I'm always telling them to cop on and grow up," she says.

Glad that having Noah has opened her eyes to reality and priorities in life, Robyn said, "If I didn't fall pregnant you know I'd probably be at the same antics they would be up to, but thankfully Noah has matured me in ways I never thought possible."

While getting pregnant at 19 wasn't in her short-term plan, Robyn said it happened and she is glad it did. Life, she feels, is precious, and she cherishes every waking moment with her baby boy.

"It's hard work but it's worth it all to see my son go to sleep smiling every night."

Said Robyn, "I didn't really want to have a child but now being honest, Noah has changed my world for the better and I wouldn't turn back the clock even if I could."

Her advice to other young women who become pregnant is to hang in there. "It's not the end of the world. You can do it when you set your mind to it, and although there are times when you are depressed and sad and have the 'why me' attitude, at the end of the day it will all work out for itself so try to stay positive and look for as much support as possible," she said.

Robyn resides in a small town in Kerry and will bring Noah up there alongside her family. She hopes to go to college in a year or two and someday find the right man to form a healthy relationship with and maybe have a bigger family.

For now she will continue to lavish her little son with love and provide him with a stable environment.