1) How old were you when you first became pregnant? 18

2) Was your pregnancy planned? yes

3) How did you feel when you found out you were pregnant? ecstatic

4) Do you feel your pregnancy was due to:

* Felt ready to have a baby

5) Who was the first person you told? My mum, as she was there when I took the test

6) How did they support you? every way she could

7) Did you get support from anywhere else? My OH and his family

What other support did you feel you needed? None

9) Did you have any friends in the same situation as you at the same time? If yes, how did they help? No

10) What did you find hard about your pregnancy? Not sleeping at night lol

11) Did you look after your baby on your own or did you have support? I've not had my baby yet

12) Were you able to continue with your education? I'm not in education

13) What advice would you give to other young girls? They don't stay babies for long, they grow up into children very quickly and it's not all roses all the time

thanks everyone... uve been such a great help! xxx

1) How old were you when you first became pregnant? 18

2) Was your pregnancy planned? No

3) How did you feel when you found out you were pregnant? Confused

4) Do you feel your pregnancy was due to:

* Lack of sex education
* Felt ready to have a baby
* Pressured to have sex
* Lack of knowledge about contraception- Kind of... I was never told by the person who gave me my pills that antibiotics stopped them from working, despite telling me everything else. I was on antibiotics for a UTI at the time
* Alcohol related
* Drug related
* None of these, other reason (please state)

5) Who was the first person you told? My then boyfriend

6) How did they support you? He told me he would always be there for me and we would be a family (big fat lie lol)

7) Did you get support from anywhere else? Yes, my family were very supportive

What other support did you feel you needed? I think I could have got more from then OH.

9) Did you have any friends in the same situation as you at the same time? If yes, how did they help? No

10) What did you find hard about your pregnancy? The tiredness, the aches and pains

11) Did you look after your baby on your own or did you have support? I was pretty much a single parent, people would help out now and again. Baby's dad saw her more as a novelty toy and never helped and family were quite far away at the time

12) Were you able to continue with your education? No, I was missing a lot of important lectures and seminars due to fatigue and nausea. But will hopefully be carrying on soon

13) What advice would you give to other young girls? Use 2 kinds of protection just in case. Don't assume the guy you are with now will be the person you spend the rest of your life with no matter how amazing they seem. You're still young and have loads of time to meet new people and a baby changes relationships. Don't rush into things. Babies are very very very hard work and you can't live your own life properly anymore. Just wait. There's plenty of time in the future. Live your life first

1) How old were you when you first became pregnant?
I was thirteen with my first baby that i misscarried, then when i was sixteen i fell pregnant again and also lost that baby, a few weeks before my seventeenth birthday i fell pregnant with this baby who is OK so far

2) Was your pregnancy planned?
My first two pregnancies werent but this one was planned as it may have been my last chance

3) How did you feel when you found out you were pregnant?
Scared, i burst into tears actually, but then happy as i knew i was ready this time round.

4) Do you feel your pregnancy was due to:
* Lack of sex education
* Felt ready to have a baby
* Pressured to have sex
* Lack of knowledge about contraception
* Alcohol related
* Drug related
* None of these, other reason (please state)

5) Who was the first person you told?
My longterm boyfriend was there when i took the test then i told my mum after his mum had already accidently found out..

6) How did they support you?
My boyfriend smiled at first but then it all kicked in and he wasnt ready, it shocked him and he was unsupportive for a while but soon got over that and has been greeeat ever since, so has my mummy and family

7) Did you get support from anywhere else?
Maternity grant from the government, healthy start grant during pregnancy

8 ) What other support did you feel you needed?
I didnt feel i needed anything else as i had everything i needed from my mum and family

9) Did you have any friends in the same situation as you at the same time? If yes, how did they help?
No i didnt have any at the time but i had friends before that were pregnant i knew it wouldnt just be a walk in the park.

10) What did you find hard about your pregnancy?
The morning sickness, and towards the end the weight of the bump starts taking its toll

11) Did you look after your baby on your own or did you have support?
Baby isnt here yet, oops LOOL

12) Were you able to continue with your education?
I done all my education i got all my GCSE grades A-C, then passed two A levels in law and english

13) What advice would you give to other young girls?
I really would say wait, it is not the easiest thing in the world and babies ARE NOT babies for long, they will grow up and you will soon have a teenager on your hands that looks to you for everything, you cannot just send them back once they become lots of work, you really need to be ready and have a stable secure home ready for them, i do not promote teenagers gettng pregnant or trying to concieve on purpose when they are under eighteen, because i think it is best to wait. I know i sound a tad hypocrytical but mine was my only chance of a baby ever, ut if i could have waited i would of

teenage pregnancy - by accident or by design

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I am a third year student at university studying Childhood and Youth. I have been asked to do a research project and have chosen to do teenage pregnancy.

I would be very grateful if you could just spare a few minutes of your time to answer the questions but please feel free to leave any questions that you dont want to answer. If you know anyone who has had a teenage pregnancy, please could forward on this message to them. Thank you.

If you dont want anyone here to see your answers, you can private message me. All information will be treated confidentially:


1) How old were you when you first became pregnant? 19

2) Was your pregnancy planned? No

3) How did you feel when you found out you were pregnant? Sick, unsure

4) Do you feel your pregnancy was due to:

* Lack of sex education
* Felt ready to have a baby
* Pressured to have sex
* Lack of knowledge about contraception - Came off the pill and stupidly thought it would keep working even tho i knew in the back of my mind that it wouldn't so i think a part of me wanted a baby.
* Alcohol related
* Drug related
* None of these, other reason (please state)

5) Who was the first person you told? My flatmate

6) How did they support you? She was brilliant through the pregnancy but as soon a baby was born she got very jealous as she has always wanted a baby herself so she went round telling my other friends i was a bad mum and had PND... Crazy bitch!!

7) Did you get support from anywhere else? My OH and family were FANTASTIC!!!

What other support did you feel you needed? Meeting other young mum would have helped!!

9) Did you have any friends in the same situation as you at the same time? If yes, how did they help? My friend is currently 34 weeks preg and she texts me for advice quite alot so i would like to think im supporting her. she lives very far away from me but if we were closer i think we would support eachother more - shes 22 tho so not really a teen

10) What did you find hard about your pregnancy? Morning sickness and boredom in the last few weeks waiting for baby to be born!!

11) Did you look after your baby on your own or did you have support? My and my OH are a family and have a house, car, dog the whole package really - we wanted t go the whole hog and be a "proper" family.

12) Were you able to continue with your education? - I was 1 year in to my course at uni and was given 10 months off maternity leave so i hope to goback to study in september

13) What advice would you give to other young girls? Contraception is the key because once u become pregnant whatever you decide to do or if nature makes the decision for you ur life will never be the same again!!

Hope this helps!!

Hi, I'm not sure if you only want UK girls to do this or not, but I figured I would send one to you just in case. Actually, I'm going to do two, because I'm pregnant with #2. It's fine if you don't use it, but I figured I'd do it anyways.

1) How old were you when you first became pregnant? 16

2) Was your pregnancy planned? Kind of. My boyfriend and I were neither trying nor preventing

3) How did you feel when you found out you were pregnant? I was terrified. I couldn't imagine what I had just gotten myself into. Eventually, I was excited, but my initial reaction was complete terror.

4) Do you feel your pregnancy was due to:

* Lack of sex education
* Felt ready to have a baby
* Pressured to have sex
* Lack of knowledge about contraception
* Alcohol related
* Drug related
* None of these, other reason (please state)
It was pretty much just that I felt ready. But it was also just sheer stupidity on my part.

5) Who was the first person you told? My "best friend" was the first person to know after my mom, followed by my brother and then I told my boyfriend the next morning

6) How did they support you? I've gotten a emotional and financial support from just about all of mine and my boyfriends family (immediate and extended).

7) Did you get support from anywhere else? I got on WIC and am on Medicaid (although I was on that before I got pregnant)

What other support did you feel you needed?
I didn't feel like I needed anymore support.

9) Did you have any friends in the same situation as you at the same time? If yes, how did they help?Since I come from a small town, I was the only one pregnant. There was another girl around with a young daughter, but I wasn't friends with her.

10) What did you find hard about your pregnancy?
My actual pregnancy (and labor) were relatively easy. The emotional stuff was the hardest for me

11) Did you look after your baby on your own or did you have support?
My boyfriend and I were the ones who looked after the baby for the most part. Occasionally we'd have family help out and everything, but it was pretty much just us.

12) Were you able to continue with your education?
I will be graduating with my class this May, but had to transfer to an alternative school to get my HSED (like a GED). Although that was completely unrealated to having a baby. I will be going to college soon, but can't this semester (Fall 2009).

13) What advice would you give to other young girls?
It is best to wait until you have all the means to take care of a child. Financial stability, relationship stability, etc. I'm happy with my life now, and wouldn't change it at all, but I've had a lot of help and support and not everyone has that.

1) How old were you when you first became pregnant? I am 17 but will be turning 18 in May

2) Was your pregnancy planned? [This little one was not planned at all.

3) How did you feel when you found out you were pregnant? I was very happy and excited. After that though, I was depressed and extremley worried about the future. Now I'm not so worried and very excited.

4) Do you feel your pregnancy was due to:

* Lack of sex education
* Felt ready to have a baby
* Pressured to have sex
* Lack of knowledge about contraception
* Alcohol related
* Drug related
* None of these, other reason (please state)
This pregnancy was a result of birth control failure. We just got the luck of the draw.

5) Who was the first person you told?
My boyfriend

6) How did they support you? My boyfriends been there the entire time and he supports me by helping with our son and being a big emotional support.

7) Did you get support from anywhere else? I am getting support from both sides of the family now, since everything has sunk in and no one is quite as worried. I'm also still on WIC and Medicaid.

What other support did you feel you needed?
I still don't feel like I need extra support.

9) Did you have any friends in the same situation as you at the same time? If yes, how did they help?I have two friends who are going through teen pregnancy right now (one is a guy, so technically his girlfriend's actually going through the pregnancy). One of my friends is quite a few weeks behind me, so I'll be helping her out by supporting her and giving her advice, etc. We plan on getting our kids together for a playdate in the future, which will help me get out of the house and reconnect with her. My other friend (the guy) just gives me someone to talk to and to help me understand teen pregnancy from the male's point of view.

10) What did you find hard about your pregnancy?
Emotional things were also making this pregnancy hard, but for the most part, it's been more physical stuff, like morning sickness, but it hasn't been that bad.

11) Did you look after your baby on your own or did you have support?
It will be the same as with my son...My boyfriend and I will be the main caretakers, with family stepping in occasionally to help us out.


12) Were you able to continue with your education?
I will be graduating with my class this May, but had to transfer to an alternative school to get my HSED (like a GED). Although that was completely unrealated to having a baby. I will be going to college soon, but can't this semester (Fall 2009).

13) What advice would you give to other young girls?
Same thing as above


Like I said, I did two different ones because I have a year old son and am 19 weeks pregnant with my second. I hope this helps a little bit.

Before infertility, I was fertile. I miscarried, but will answer this anyway.

1) How old were you when you first became pregnant? 18

2) Was your pregnancy planned? No

3) How did you feel when you found out you were pregnant? Terrified

4) Do you feel your pregnancy was due to:

* Lack of sex education
* Felt ready to have a baby
* Pressured to have sex
* Lack of knowledge about contraception
* Alcohol related
* Drug related
* None of these, other reason (please state)
I was on the pill and using condoms, a diaphragm, AND spemicide, and somehow it all failed.

5) Who was the first person you told? My then-boyfriend

6) How did they support you? Oh hell no. I was forbidden from telling anybody.

7) Did you get support from anywhere else? No one else knew.

What other support did you feel you needed? It would have been nice to be allowed to see a doctor when I was miscarrying.

9) Did you have any friends in the same situation as you at the same time? If yes, how did they help? None of them were pregnant, and none knew.

10) What did you find hard about your pregnancy? Wondering how the hell I was supposed to give birth without anyone knowing, and fear because I was supposed to have a c-section, but he didn't let me see a doctor.

11) Did you look after your baby on your own or did you have support? Well, I lose the baby, but the plan was adoption.

12) Were you able to continue with your education? I'd already finished school.

13) What advice would you give to other young girls? This applies to teens who PLAN to get pregnant: You may think you're ready and that you're extremely mature, but you're not. I don't care what heat anyone gives me for this. When you're 30, you WILL look back and realize you had a lot of growing up to do. Part of maturity is the ability to admit and acknowledge that you aren't as mature or brilliant as you think you are, that you have limits that shouldn't be pressed, and that by having a baby on purpose as a teen, you are putting your own desire above the well-being of a baby. Hell, there are plenty of people my age who are too immature to acknowledge this. And if you can't support your own baby without having to rely on government aid, you're not only ready, but, sorry, you're selfish for planning to have others support the baby you say you're ready to have. Part of truly being ready is being able to support your own child.

1) How old were you when you first became pregnant? 18

2) Was your pregnancy planned? no

3) How did you feel when you found out you were pregnant? scared and overwhelmed

4) Do you feel your pregnancy was due to:

* Lack of sex education (never knew what it could really be like to have a baby, spent most of "health class," as my school called it, doing stuff like nutrition and drugs/alcohol/smoking)
* Lack of knowledge about contraception (more like lack of cycle knowlage, like when you ovulate, how long ovulation occurs, etc.)

5) Who was the first person you told? My boyfriend (now husband)

6) How did they support you? They were there for me emotionally untill I got excited, then came to all the doctor appointments he could, later in pregnancy allways rubed my feet, etc.

7) Did you get support from anywhere else? Eh, not really. My parents were disappointed at first but came around, but they weren't supportive. They gave me plenty of time to move out, but made it very clear that I was to move out before baby was due.
What other support did you feel you needed? My hubby (then boyfriend) really gave me all the support I needed.

9) Did you have any friends in the same situation as you at the same time? If yes, how did they help? No, and it was very lonely, it still is.

10) What did you find hard about your pregnancy? back pain, feeling huge at the end, the swollen feet, couldn't walk around for very long.

11) Did you look after your baby on your own or did you have support? My DH works and I'm a stay at home mom, but he helps out when he's home. We live with his mom so she watches the baby occasionally for 1/2 hour at a time.

12) Were you able to continue with your education? Not yet.

13) What advice would you give to other young girls? If you have the choice, don't have a baby so young. It really changes your life, its so much harder then it looks on tv. Live your life, get a good job and hold off a while before becoming a parent. You may think your ready but your not. now if you already are PG and plan to have the baby, then know this: it's the hardest thing, but every smile makes it worth it.

) How old were you when you first became pregnant? 15

2) Was your pregnancy planned? no

3) How did you feel when you found out you were pregnant? shocked, scared, excited

4) Do you feel your pregnancy was due to:

* Lack of sex education
* Felt ready to have a baby
* Pressured to have sex
* Lack of knowledge about contraception
* Alcohol related
* Drug related
* None of these, other reason (please state)

Other...i fell pregnant on the pill

5) Who was the first person you told? Partner

6) How did they support you? He didnt..he left me then got back with me when i was 13weeks gone.

7) Did you get support from anywhere else? All of my family were great, especially my mum

What other support did you feel you needed? None

9) Did you have any friends in the same situation as you at the same time? If yes, how did they help? No

10) What did you find hard about your pregnancy? Peoples horrid reactions and comments and being sick all day for 28weeks lol

11) Did you look after your baby on your own or did you have support? ME and my partner live with my mum who helps when i need it.

12) Were you able to continue with your education? No i got chucked out of school but can go to a college in September were child care is available free

13) What advice would you give to other young girls? No matter what contraception your on always use a condom!

1) How old were you when you first became pregnant?
18

2) Was your pregnancy planned?
yes

3) How did you feel when you found out you were pregnant?
it didn't feel real at all when i did all the tests, toke a very long time for reality to hit!

4) Do you feel your pregnancy was due to
other - we'd been in a relationship for 3 years and both feltready to start a family

5) Who was the first person you told?
my partner

6) How did they support you?
he was over the moon! and was brilliant the whole way through

7) Did you get support from anywhere else?
both families were happy and helpful

8) What other support did you feel you needed?
my friends and better midwives!

9) Did you have any friends in the same situation as you at the same time? If yes, how did they help?
thats why i came on here! i had no one to relate to my own age

10) What did you find hard about your pregnancy?
the remarks and glances from people! the fact that when i went for my scans i'd hve people tutting at me!

11) Did you look after your baby on your own or did you have support?
me and my partner look after her but have help on hand if need be

12)what advice would you give to other young girls?
think carefully about whether or not this is somethingyou want and if it is an accident own up and be responsibleafterall you've created a life that deserves to live!