Teenage/underage pregnancy

[jelly-baby]

Am I the only one fed up with these girls?

I thought it was illegal to have sex under 16, yet a 14-year old can get pregnant and be thrown money from the state, and while they're at it - throw in a little house too so they can bring their child up to be as lovely as they are. Don't worry love, we don't expect you to earn a penny from now on, we will hand you all the benefits you need.

Do they do it as an easy way out of getting a job and so they won't have to get a mortgage to buy a house? or is it just a fashion accessory these days?

I am pretty sure that 99% of these pregnancies are not 'accidents' - it is exactly what the immature little minds want.

[jay139]

Think you should stop reading the Daily Mail. I agree Tennage pregancys are a problem, but what do you suggest ? Stringing them up?.It seems you need to look down on people to make you feel better about your life.

Tennage pregnancy have always been with us, society now has a different way of coping, thankfully we nolonger have workhouses, or back street abornists, but dont kid yourself this is a new phenomon.

[jelly-baby]

What I suggest is that parents bring their children up a bit better with a bit more knowledge and integrity.

Don't insult me by assuming my views come from a newspaper.

[treacle84]

I can see your point jelly-baby but a lot of teenagers who fall pregnant are in relationships and probably think 'it won't happen to me' sort of thing. My mum and dad got together at 15 and had me at 18. I wasn't planned but they were very much in love and willing to make a go of it.

My friend also fell pregnant at 16 so her and her boyfriend moved into her parents and raised their son, who is now 5, together until they could afford a place of their own.

I do think there are some teens who see falling pregnant as an easy way to get a house etc but these are very few plus the reality is never like the dream. I think for these teens there must be something wrong at home for them to want to do this though

[jelly-baby]

Also, if my 14-year old daughter got pregnant, I would make her have an abortion.

[jelly-baby]

treacle84 - good on your friend for standing her own feet with a supportive boyfriend. I'm not talking about people like her, I'm talking about the ones who are in a council house before they have even had the baby when their own parents should still be responsible for them.

You and I know the reality is far from what they expect, but they don't know that do they.

[Lonnie]

jay139, your right, teenage pregnacies are not new, but what is, is the amount, Go back to the 50s,60, and 70s, teenagers didn't get pregnant for the benefits, or housing, they got pregnant because they made a mistake, and i'm not talking about crimes like rape.

Of course, i'm talking about my point of view, and yes, underage sex is a criminal offence, and if some were prosecuted for it, maybe we'd see less of it, or is it thats its their 'human right', to do as they please.

[jay139]

Can I ask where your views do come from ? The media is very powerful, do you have friends in this situation?, have you done research in to tennage pregancy?

[dancealot13]

Sex is actually illegal in the UK if you're under 16? Wow, that's a great law. They attempt to teach abstinence in the USA, but that doesn't work.

[tigilou]

My friend got pregnant at 13 had her daughter at 14 and she did not get ONE PENNY at all from the government until she was 16 she has brought her daughter up properly has her own house works all the hours she can and loves her daughter like any mother would. I am also a young mum pregnant at 19 and it was an "accident" i certainly didnt think of it as an easy way of getting a house nor not having to work. The council list in my area has a 3 to 4 year waiting list for a poxy smelly flat living next door to a smack head. i worked up until i had the baby and work part time now i rent privatly and pay my bills and love my daughter more than anything. If your daughter fell pregnant at 14 could you explain how you would make her have an abortion? what if she wanted the baby wood you turn your back on her? I dont think you have a clue really and its totally unfair to tie every teenage mum with the same brush. What about all the druggies and capable adults etc going out to work there sitting their "spunging" off the dole when there capable of going out and working

[jelly-baby]

dancealot - it's the only law that is never enforced, waste of time really.

jay139 - my views are from what I see every day in life. 16/17 year-old girls (and younger) pushing their children round the shops, smoking, swearing, and living in a house paid for by every hard-working person in this country. No chance of them ever getting a job and a generation of vicki pollards to appear in a few years time.

[jelly-baby]

tigilou - this post is about teenage pregnancy, can't cover every social misfit in one go. You were obviously one of the unlucky ones that didn't get a house.

[jelly-baby]

I also said 99%, so I guess you are in the 1% too.

[jelly-baby]

are you also saying you don't get your rent paid by the government?

[mimififi]

I fell pregnant at 17. I had my baby at 18 4 days before my first A level exam, which i sat. I then took a year out from studying, and I did get a council flat because i tried living with my daugher's father's parents, but he was excessively violent and a danger to me and her. i was housed as an emergency.

I then sat my degree in English literature and followed it up with a PGCE in secondary English and drama. I worked my butt off trying to get qualified, I stretched myself between two jobs, parenting and studying. I didn't not recieve benefits at this time, I lived on my student grant and my student loan. I am still have the debts of that time now. My daughter is 11.

I am now married and my husband pays 40% tax on his wages. I work from home now. I feel as though I have paid back my debt to society for giving me a safe place to live.

I was one of the lucky ones. I was given a safe place to stay until I could get myself straight. I didn't plan to get pregnant, I was young and naive. However, i do not regret it.

I hope that this time reminds me to have the humility to accept that we all fail sometimes and fall short of that which is required of us, and I hope I retain enough of that painful memory to make me compassionate to others when they are in need, but that it has healed enough so that I no longer grieve.

I think you are quick to judge, and if you are perfect in every way, then by all means judge. If you have any faults at all however small, then maybe you could agree for the grace of God go I?

[nannon]

I know what you mean but dont agree with you...

Yes its annoying that i'm going through uni to provide for a family of my own one day, waiting until i'm financially secure, working all i can and getting taxed...No they shouldnt have gotten pregnant, they should have kept their legs closed but at the end of the day they didnt... They cant change it now their 14, have a baby and society cant really turn their backs on them. They have a baby, they need money and somewhere to live.

And dont forget that there is a percentage of teenage mothers who go back to education,have family around them to support them by loooking after the baby (not that i totally agree with that) so they can work and provide. Not all teenage mums/dads are scroungers!!

[nannon]

I didnt even see your comment about making your daughter have an abortion - thats disgusting and i think you should be ashamed of yourself for saying it

[tigilou]

Thats right i dont get my rent paid by the government my partner and i pay it anyway my partner probably pays more tax than what you earn in year. Lets just hope your daughter dont fall pregnant i bet youd be first in the que for hand outs

[jelly-baby]

How can you possibly guess how much I earn? Well done tigilou for finding yourself a high earner to support you!

[jelly-baby]

don't worry nannon, I don't have a daughter but if I did, I would bring her up well enough to avoid underage pregnancy.

[tigilou]

Cant win can ya