Teen pregnancy the "in" thing to do, Apparently it is. Options

[Robb]

Got linked to this article by a friend, and made me think of this place to be honest.

A pregnant 14-year-old has told how having a baby is now regarded as "fashionable" among schoolgirls.

Kizzy Neal has been asked to give advice to four of her classmates who have also fallen pregnant since Christmas.

The teen, from Torbay in Devon, said: "When my friends see my bump they say they wish they could have a baby, then three weeks later they're pregnant and don't know what to do.

"Teenage girls think babies are cute, but they forget the physical side of being pregnant, then having to give up your own childhood to look after a baby.

"It seems to be fashionable to get pregnant."

Family campaigners said her comments showed how the Government's sex education policy had left teens with the "ridiculous but extremely worrying" misconception that having a child was no different to getting a new handbag.

Her revelations come as official figures show England and Wales have the highest rates of teenage pregnancies in Europe - with the biggest increase among girls under 16.

Kizzy became pregnant the first time she had sex with her 13-year-old boyfriend.

She is due to give birth in May and aims to take three months off her studies at Paignton Community College in Devon, before resuming her GCSE lessons next September.

The teenager, who wants to become a social worker, said: "I'm lucky because my parents have stood by me. "Others think their parents will do the same, but that's not necessarily the case."

Her father Kevin, 43, blamed the rise in underage pregnancies on growing "gang culture" where teenagers hang around drinking, taking drugs and having sex.

He said: "There's a mentality that wearing a condom is 'uncool' whereas having sex is glamorised on the television and in music videos every day.

"As a parent it's quite horrifying to hear about all the young girls falling pregnant.

"The fact that Kizzy has had to help four pregnant girls just goes to show we're all failing somewhere.

"And it's not just the parents, the school and the local authority - it's a social problem."

His wife, Kerry, 41, insisted she 'couldn't have done more' to educate her daughter about the risks of under age sex.

She said: "No-one was to blame for her getting pregnant apart from herself. She was defiant.

"There's nothing for children to do in Paignton. I honestly think they get bored and think it's a fashionable thing to get pregnant."

Of the four other girls at aged 14 and 15 at Paignton Community College have also fallen pregnant, two have already had abortions, one is keeping her baby and the fourth is undecided what to do.

Dr Adrian Rogers, of pressure group Family Focus, said: "It is absolutely vital that we start to teach teenagers that having a baby is nothing like having a fashion accessory like a new handbag.

"Falling pregnant so young will damage their child's chances of wealth, health and happiness. In many cases it will also change the girl's body forever and make her anything but fashionable."

Norman Wells, from the pressure group Family and Youth Concern, said the sex education in schools had cheapened it and reduced it to a "casual recreational activity."

On Thursday, Labour announced it would conduct a major review of its sex education policy after figures from Office for National Statistics revealed that the number of pregnancies among under-18s in 2005 was 39,683, up from the 35,400 recorded a decade ago.

These included 7,917 pregnancies recorded among girls under 16.

The bleak figures mean the Government is less than a quarter of the way to meeting its promise to halve pregnancy rates among under-18s in England by 2010.

All I know is I think it's terrible, and the lack of common sense while having sex shown in this article is mirrored by a lot of what I see on here too.

All teenage girls should get that implant during their teen years. Yes that's right.Why? Because there is nothing the equivalent for guys. If there was I say do them too.

[Ebola]

Perfect example of the education system failing at what it's supposed to do and the government doing nothing about it.

They're spending billions on ID card schemes and the potential computer databases to go with it, we all know the british government fails at setting up computer systems, and the olympics. It's obvious that they should be spending that money on social reform instead, which would hopefully help to prevent this kind of thing from happening.

Girls getting pregnant because they're bored or it's fashionable?
What ever happened to having children for reproduction?

[Kyrawesome]

I completely agree that it's seen as fashionable now. I remember when I found out I was pregnant there were two girls I used to be friends with who were still in their teens and they thought it was "so cool" that I was pregnant too (while I myself was struggling with the thought). They wanted to compare our bellies and then were all about our kids playing together when they got older. You could just tell that they didn't quite understand the responsibilities that go along with motherhood. I wasn't planning to conceive Jacob, but I knew the responsibility it would require and I was scared to death and it worries me that other younger girls don't feel afraid like they should.

A lot of girls think it will be fun to be pregnant or even think its fun while being pregnant - but I think they often don't realize that babies are eventually born and then you are a parent - not pregnant.

"It is absolutely vital that we start to teach teenagers that having a baby is nothing like having a fashion accessory like a new handbag."

Sadly I don't think this much should even just be about teenagers. Lots of women seem to be having children right now just for the hell of it. I'm AMAZED at how many babies I see when I go out and so is Alex - until recently I had never seen so many freaking kids!!

[Element]

My theory is that they don't want to have their period for nine months.

[yellow_lights]

That's terrible. It's just...wow.
I can't imagine ever having a baby until I'm atleast 25 years old.
I guess it all depends on where you were brought up and what kind of education you got about safe sex and babies.
Oh, and thats a good theory Jenn lol.

[Suzy]

I never would have thought that people would see teenage pregnancy as cool. That's just insane, but then I guess the stigma attached with having a baby outside of marriage is gone now. BUT STILL, gods, that's insane. That said I do see a lot of young kids pushing prams these days. I can't see myself having kids, and a child isn't a fashion accessory, it's an actual life. And yeah, I agree with Robb, teenagers should get the implant or the shot or something. Because if they can't keep their knickers on or remember to use a condom I don't see any other way.

[DestinyAvenged]

God I'm glad no one here has that warped sense of 'fashion'.

I don't think anyone would want to have a baby as a teenager after seeing, 'The Miracle of Life'.
*Shudder*

[Lindsey]

Just invite these people into a labor room. Its not at all like on TV! Or lend them a baby thats teething and throwing tantrums. See how they feel about it after that.

I'm glad I dont know anyone like that, thinking a baby is like an accessory. A baby is more expensive than pretty much any designer handbag anyways!

Raising a child is hard, And pregnancy is VERY hard too. People need to know what they are getting themselves into when they choose to have a baby. Not just a pregnancy, or a baby, but a human. You are raising a baby, toddler, child, teenager, etc.

[neetiie_POO x]

I think girls like *that* should really grow up. Im currently going through a teenage pregnancy, and let me tell you it is NOT glamorous and all "omg omgzzz im gonna have a lil babyy i can show off to everyone!!!". Its more like "How am I going to pay for it? How am I going to disipline it? Will my boyfriend REALLY stick by me?" Its stressful.

My ex-friend Emma, was going to intentionally get pregnant after she found out I was, so our babys could be playmates. I mean WTF! Shes crazy. Right now, when she wants to be me, I want to be her. She has a the deb coming up, she has parties all round, she has friends. I have a baby room to organise, no real friends and a very sore back.

To all the girls on AIMgirl who think pregnancy is fun... Its not.

[Suzy]

Wow, that's pretty fucked up, neetie, and your ex-friend is a complete idiot. "Hello there sweetie, you're going to be the playmate of my friend's accident. That's why you were born." Fucking retard.

[luvbeingblond96]

My friend has a friend who I get really bad vibes from and don't like her hanging around with. Up until yesterday I never really had too much of a reason to not like this girl.(Except that she parties a lot and her boyfriend is an idiot) I just found out that she is pregnant and she is incredibly excited about it! I was deffinatley wowed at this lack of maturity. I couldn't beleive that she obviously didn't know what she had gotted herself into.

[kittenJanine]

I hate stuff like this. It gives girls my age a bad name. Most arent like that.

"having a baby is now regarded as "fashionable" among schoolgirls"
Being 17, leaving high school last year i can honestly say i have never experienced such a thing. A girl at my school got pregnant and had the baby. Everyone said that she was so silly and stuff. A friend of mine recently had an abortion because she wasnt careful.

Lack of education? I usually agree with that, but my feeling is that if a girl thinks such a thing, education cant save her.

[Jadey_a7x]

I have one thing to say
i will NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER get pregnant.

But seriously... how could anyone think having a child is fun... That would be the worst thing in the world

[neetiie_POO x]

I have one thing to say
i will NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER get pregnant.

But seriously... how could anyone think having a child is fun... That would be the worst thing in the world

How can you be sure? If you have sex, you CAN get pregnant. Even if you use a condom or are on the pill. I was and then one day, it was BAM! your having a baby... I admit Im not the perfect child, but I have never been the stereotypical "chick who falls pregnant". I dont think you are either, but the chances are there.

[hollipoo]

^dont say never, there dear. *edit lol. neetie got in the way (IMG:http://www.aimgirl.com/talk/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) twas meant for jade

I have to say, it really was odd when I first heard someone at my school was pregnant. I was like, woah? This young? But then it started popping up more and more frequently. My friend "claimed" she was pregnant and then she lost it...and I tried making her feel better about "her loss". But all she could think about how fun it was going to be to be a mommy. I tried telling her that she was already b*tching my out half the time because she didnt have enough time to herself, nor enough money to get a car(she had one that was dying...its dead now and shes driving her moms old mini van) I told her she had her whole life to have kids, and right now to go to school and have fun. Be a kid yet! She basically bit my head off for it. I had a pregnant scare, because I was about a week to almost two weeks late, and I was scared to death, because how would I tell my parents? How would I support it? Would I have help? Would my boyfriend get up here in time? I was scared. Babies arent dollies that you played with when you were 5. They are real living breathing human beings that need much attention, and take up all the time if not more, and they also are expensive. They are NOT fashion statements. If you want a fashion statement go to the store and buy freaking clothes. Not children.

This post has been edited by enos'sgirl: Mar 1 2007, 05:33 AM