
A teenage boy is reflecting on his shock after finding out he was becoming a dad in the eighth grade.
Hunter and his girlfriend Bella are featured in the new season of the TLC series Unexpected, which focuses on the ups and downs of unplanned pregnancies, particularly among teen mothers.
The pair have documented their road to parenthood on the show, as viewers will get an inside look into the relationship of the teens as they prepare to welcome their first child.
Becoming a parent and finishing eighth grade are each defining milestones in a person’s life. Raising a child brings responsibility, while preparing for high school has its own challenges. Each transition alone is huge, and rarely do we hear about someone navigating both at the same time.
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“I was 12 when I found out I was going to be a dad,” Hunter explains in a confessional for the new TLC series. “Now I’m 13. I didn’t think I would be finishing 8th grade and becoming a dad at the same time.”
Hunter’s dad said he had ‘ruined’ his life, however the teen disagrees. “I do not feel like I ruined my life,” he says on the show.
Hunter’s girlfriend Bella was just 14 when she discovered she was expecting which came as a shock. “I didn’t think at 15 I would be pregnant,” she said in a confessional. “I didn’t think with a 13-year-old either.”
The young dad also faced challenges completing the 8th grade, with Bella offering encouragement as she didn’t want to be two grades above him while raising their toddler. Plus, as a freshman, he wouldn’t be able to be her date for prom.
Bella, who has a social media following after discussing her pregnancy online, explained that she immediately knew she was pregnant when her period was late.
“We could have waited a little bit longer, I guess. But it was his idea,” she claimed.

While sitting next to her mother, Falen, for the confessional, the teen says, ‘the condom broke’ after her mother says she was ‘trying to prevent teenage pregnancy’.
Her mother adds: “I literally think my heart sank that day.”
Hunter and Bella welcomed their baby in March 2025, and she’s been keeping her followers updated with how things are going.
Bella defended her decision to take part in the TLC series amid backlash.
"If I didn't want to share my story and let people know my situation, 'cause it is pretty unique compared to other people's, I wouldn't do it.
"The other reason my mom posts TikToks is 'cause it was my idea,” she said.

"My idea to share my story for other girls out there going through the same thing. They struggle with it because it's hard, it's not easy, it's really, really hard.
"And I would never recommend it to anybody. But everyone out there saying I'm being exploited, this is not true."
Bella's father Kris also spoke out to defend of the family’s decision to take part.
“Due to all the trolls and the women quickly being known as what I have to say on TV as the unscrewables, they are going to make season 7 hot. It’s going to be a hot season.
“All [the critics] are doing is making us the stars of the show and I got to tell y’all, my royalty check is going to be so fat.
“We’re going to be able to buy a lot of groceries, so thank you all. It’s freaking awesome and you all have a great night.”
Topics: Film and TV, Parenting