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?

2) Was your pregnancy planned?

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

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?

6) How did they support you?

7) Did you get support from anywhere else?

8) What other support did you feel you needed?

9) Did you have any friends in the same situation as you at the same time? If yes, how did they help?

10) What did you find hard about your pregnancy?

11) Did you look after your baby on your own or did you have support?

12) Were you able to continue with your education?

13) What advice would you give to other young girls?

Think this may need to be in press and research x

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

2) Was your pregnancy planned?No

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

4) Do you feel your pregnancy was due to: Lack of sex education(e.g. teh quality of it)

* 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 mum

6) How did they support you? Yes every step of the way

7) Did you get support from anywhere else? yes my boyfriend, family and teenage pregnancy support service

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? I had 2 in the same situation, and they helped because they knew what i was going through

10) What did you find hard about your pregnancy? My SPD and toward the end the wieght of carrying my son around got so uncomfortable

11) Did you look after your baby on your own or did you have support? Mostly on my own but there was support if i needed it

12) Were you able to continue with your education? Yes i have got 10 GCSE's and i am now on a level 3 childcare course. In two years i will be a fully qualified nursery nurse.

13) What advice would you give to other young girls? Be very careful and if you are thinking about having a baby young. Really have a good long think because even though babies are all cute and cuddely, they are such hard work to and you have to grow up so quickly.

1) How old were you when you first became pregnant? - 17

2) Was your pregnancy planned? - Yes and No. We both wanted children and knew it would be with each other just not as soon as it happened!

3) How did you feel when you found out you were pregnant? - Happy, Excited, Nervous, Scared

4) Do you feel your pregnancy was due to: - I was on the pill for almost a year but the kind got changed and I took a bad reaction so I had to stop. Then it was just a condom being snapped and a trip to the doctors lol

* 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 Fiance

6) How did they support you? - So far, in everyway possible, anything i need He's there.

7) Did you get support from anywhere else? - His family have been great so far, They all accepted it straight away

What other support did you feel you needed? - I need better finacial support, but we'll manage

9) Did you have any friends in the same situation as you at the same time? If yes, how did they help? - I have a few, but they are more people I just know, not really friends but its helping because I know that I'm not the only one in this situation. Also I have one friend that is a Dad at the age of 17 and he ahs been great to talk to because he knows what its like.

10) What did you find hard about your pregnancy? - Telling my family.

11) Did you look after your baby on your own or did you have support? - I am going to do it mostly myself and my OH but of course am sure like everyone else if we need it our families will be there.

12) Were you able to continue with your education? - I only have 2 months left at school so of course I will continue, I'm then taking a year out and then heading to Uni

13) What advice would you give to other young girls? - It's scary, but it will be okay. Tell your parents as soon as you can because it will be a huge relief to you and make sure you do have plenty of support around you.

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?
Happy but terrified (Id had 3 previous miscarriages)

4) Do you feel your pregnancy was due to:Felt ready to have a baby

* 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? Friends and OH

6) How did they support you? Every way they could.Joining for scans etc. OH helped with financial support

7) Did you get support from anywhere else? No

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? The sickness!

11) Did you look after your baby on your own or did you have support? Mostly just myself and OH

12) Were you able to continue with your education? I wasnt in education...My career is on hold for now though!

13) What advice would you give to other young girls?

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

2) Was your pregnancy planned? No.

3) How did you feel when you found out you were pregnant? Honestly i was gutted.

4) Do you feel your pregnancy was due to: Alcohol and lack of Contraception.

* 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 friend who was with me when i tested.

6) How did they support you? They told me that it would be fine.

7) Did you get support from anywhere else? My Mum... when i eventually told her.

What other support did you feel you needed? My family especially my Aunt.

9) Did you have any friends in the same situation as you at the same time? If yes, how did they help? Yes my friend was 8 months pregnant and she told me to tell my Mum.

10) What did you find hard about your pregnancy? Pregnancy was easy no problems, labour however resulted in me becoming very sick and i was in hospital on and off for a month after i gave birth.

11) Did you look after your baby on your own or did you have support? I looked after her on my own, i was living with my Mum and she helped loads as well.

12) Were you able to continue with your education? I was, i went back to college and became a Nursery Nurse.

13) What advice would you give to other young girls? If you can, wait and really think about it. Having a baby is such a massive responsibilty and i was lucky to have a good support network but sadly some girls are not so lucky. Babies are gorgeous but they are hard work and its not easy, far from it. You have to end your childhood very quickly and become a responsible parent.

1) How old were you when you first became pregnant?
I was 18 when I found out I was pregnant, turned 19 during the pregnancy.

2) Was your pregnancy planned?
No.

3) How did you feel when you found out you were pregnant?
I was scared, worried, upset. Felt very unsure of how things would pan out.

4) Do you feel your pregnancy was due to: LOL having sex? I was on birth control, sober, and none of the other options really apply..

* 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?
I took the pregnancy test at my friend's house and showed her the results immediately of course because she knew what I was doing.

6) How did they support you?
She just listened to me, didn't pass judgment or freak out asking what I was gonna do, etc.

7) Did you get support from anywhere else?
I've had a lot of support- my boyfriend has stuck by me and been amazing. My parents and his parents both came around and have been wonderful. Our extended families have helped us, our friends have been very supportive.. medical professionals, and we've had the ability to access several community organizations/programs (have not used them YET but plan to after the baby is here).

8) What other support did you feel you needed?
It would have been nice to get more financial support from the government; if I hadn't graduated high school I would have been able to get more help paying for the big ticket items like the crib, stroller, high chair, my post-secondary education and childcare.

9) Did you have any friends in the same situation as you at the same time? If yes, how did they help?
No friends that were pregnant at the same time but two friends who have 1 year olds at the moment.. they're both younger than me and had their kids before I did (I guess they got pregnant in 2007?) so they were definitely a source of inspiration to me, if they could do it I could too! Gave a lot of helpful advice, gave/offered us old baby stuff they didn't need anymore.

10) What did you find hard about your pregnancy?
The feeling of being sort of isolated and being lonely.. lost touch with a lot of my friends and I used to party A LOT before I was pregnant and had a lot of friends, so it was very hard for me to adjust to being at home all the time. I miss that part of my life, but I don't think I could go back to it now, ever.

11) Did you look after your baby on your own or did you have support?
I'm going to be responsible for the majority of things but my boyfriend will be providing for us financially and we'll have help from our families with watching the baby so that I can get a shower in, do my school work, etc.

12) Were you able to continue with your education?
I went to school until I was about 25 weeks pregnant, but I'll be starting a new online program in September 2009.

13) What advice would you give to other young girls?
Try to wait.. at least finish high school, it makes things a lot easier.
Stick to your guns if you are pregnant- speak up for yourself & your baby, be clear about what you want and don't let people pressure you into making any decisions you're not comfortable with.
If you look for help, you'll find some. Help won't come looking for you.
Don't let anyone (including yourself) bring you down/tell you that you can't do something- it sounds cliche but the sky's the limit, the only thing stopping you from getting your degree, etc. is yourself most of the time!

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

2) Was your pregnancy planned? No, it was a complete surprise

3) How did you feel when you found out you were pregnant? Shocked, scared, worried...did not know whats gonna happen next

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 actually on birth control and fell pregnant on it. I was taking it properly and by the rules so I just simply got caught.

5) Who was the first person you told?
My best friend.
6) How did they support you?
At first she was really rooting for a termination but in the end she became a really great support.

7) Did you get support from anywhere else?
Yes. My sister and my other friends...They were the best.

8) What other support did you feel you needed?
The one of my parents.

9) Did you have any friends in the same situation as you at the same time? If yes, how did they help?
No, I don't have any friends who are moms.

10) What did you find hard about your pregnancy?
Well, the fact that I no longer was able to go out and have normal teenage fun.
I actually loved my pregnancy but it was a very big change and adjustment period in my life.

11) Did you look after your baby on your own or did you have support?
I look after my baby on my own.
I have the support from her dad (who I am not together with and don't live with him) and other people around me but I live alone and take care of her all alone in the end.

12) Were you able to continue with your education?
Yes. I am currently doing uni from home. I'm on my second year.

13) What advice would you give to other young girls?
I would definitely advise girls who are trying for a baby to wait. The other ones to be more careful in regards to birth control, there is such a variety of it these days and it's simple to get it.

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

2) Was your pregnancy planned? No.

3) How did you feel when you found out you were pregnant? Shocked, terrified, excited, uncertain.

4) Do you feel your pregnancy was due to:

* Lack of sex education - no.
* Felt ready to have a baby - no.
* Pressured to have sex - no.
* Lack of knowledge about contraception - ish. In coming off the implant and onto the pill, the level of hormones was altered and my body didn't cope too well with it, meaning the damn things were useless. I didn't find this out until a good few weeks too late.
* Alcohol related - no.
* Drug related - no.
* None of these, other reason (please state)

5) Who was the first person you told? My mum.

6) How did they support you? She told me a baby could never be a bad thing and gave me a hug. She's supported me financially as well as emotionally. She's helped me through all the things I found too much.

7) Did you get support from anywhere else? Yes, my partner Dan, family, and friends.

What other support did you feel you needed? None, they've all been amazing.

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? Dealing with the backlash from the public. Coping with the physical symptoms.

11) Did you look after your baby on your own or did you have support? I'm still pregnant.

12) Were you able to continue with your education? I gave up college because if I carry on, I'm a dependant child and can't claim income support, which I'm going to need.

13) What advice would you give to other young girls? When dealing with your body and sexual health, never leave it to chance. Don't just take your doctors word for it, ask about everything. ALWAYS use condoms, never rely on the pill/implant/whatever else.

1) How old were you when you first became pregnant? 21

2) Was your pregnancy planned?yes

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

4) Do you feel your pregnancy was due to:

* Lack of sex education
* Felt ready to have a babyyes
* 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?OH was there when i tested

6) How did they support you?every way possible

7) Did you get support from anywhere else?government grant

What other support did you feel you needed?more from my parents

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?spd towards the end

11) Did you look after your baby on your own or did you have support?me and fiance are still together, living together

12) Were you able to continue with your education?no, as i was about to start uni

13) What advice would you give to other young girls?always wear protection and wait till your ready, wait for mr right and being a mum isn't ll sunshine and rainbows especially when all your mates are busy getting wasted, they soon forget you exist and its a big world out there on your own