MTV's 16 and Pregnant

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

They probably never thought they'd get pregnant. No kid ever does. They have the "it won't happen to me" syndrome.

Since they don't think it will happen to them, they rarely take their parents advice and get on the pill or use a condom, and that typically = a baby.

I know you know this, but it's not just kids. Of the five or so births in my circle of friends/associates, only ONE was conceived intentionally, or even within a long-term relationship. Most were pretty new in their relationships. So, unfortunately, the "it won't happen to me" syndrome hits people in their late 20s and early 30s just as often. Most of the time I actually think they've been dodging bullets for 10-15 years as far as not taking birth control properly, or even at all.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

I know you know this, but it's not just kids. Of the five or so births in my circle of friends/associates, only ONE was conceived intentionally, or even within a long-term relationship. Most were pretty new in their relationships. So, unfortunately, the "it won't happen to me" syndrome hits people in their late 20s and early 30s just as often. Most of the time I actually think they've been dodging bullets for 10-15 years as far as not taking birth control properly, or even at all.

Oh of course, I was just using "kids" in the in the context of this thread.

I think everyone has at least one friend who had an "oops baby" with a boyfriend that she's had for like 6 months.

And I agree that these are typically the women who have "gotten lucky" in the past with pregnancy scares.

I'm invited to a baby shower for a co-worker who is 28 and having an unplanned baby with a guy whom I think she had been dating for 3. She was of the same mindset.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Oh of course, I was just using "kids" in the in the context of this thread.

I think everyone has at least one friend who had an "oops baby" with a boyfriend that she's had for like 6 months.

And I agree that these are typically the women who have "gotten lucky" in the past with pregnancy scares.

No, you're absolutely right. The "oops baby" phenomenon right now is blowing my mind.

For some reason, I am surrounded by "oops babies" right now. I can understand an "oops baby" at 16 more than I can at 26, because you're young and stupid about everything, but that's just me.

I guess no one ever thinks it will "happen to them," but it's just a little more tragic when the person in question hasn't gotten to really live their lives...or graduate from high school.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I think everyone has at least one friend who had an "oops baby" with a boyfriend that she's had for like 6 months.

Not me. Not trying to sound snotty, but it's the truth. All of my friends with kids got pregnant after being married for a while.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I think everyone has at least one friend who had an "oops baby" with a boyfriend that she's had for like 6 months.

Most definitely!

The most recent "oops baby" in my circle of friends, was a product of an extra marital one-night stand. My friend & her hubby were going through tough times, separated for a little (like less than a month or so) and she ended up pregnant within that time. She didn't know if it was her hubby (who she was still having sex with) or the dude. It was VERY clear who was the daddy when the baby popped out though.

My cousins bff has an "oops baby." She's 14.

[1stSoon2BePhD]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Some things to think about:

These are 16 year old KIDS. They didn't think about the stuff you're talking about because they weren't LOOKING at the BIG PICTURE.

I'm also sure that no one "decided" anything before sleeping with anyone. Again, these are kids and they didn't plan for this to happen.

All they were interested in was having sex with their bfs.

They probably never thought they'd get pregnant. No kid ever does. They have the "it won't happen to me" syndrome.

Since they don't think it will happen to them, they rarely take their parents advice and get on the pill or use a condom, and that typically = a baby.

THANK YOU for the explanation! Even at 21, I admit I am VERY sheltered, and I don't have any friends who had an "oops baby" incident. I totally understand now. I seriously did not know that this happened in this country SO MUCH where MTV could find enough girls to make a whole show about it! I am almost embarrassed to say that, but I'm just being honest. I guess this show AND this thread have really opened my eyes!

[Penguin08]

Although I really don't think teenagers should be having children in the first place, I really only had a problem with one episode of this show. I hated the last episode! That girl's boyfriend was a total piece of trash who's probably going to leave her some day very soon. I think it was completely naive and down-right stupid of her to sacrifice so much for him, on the sole idea that he'd take care of her and her child. She didn't even get to graduate! So now, she's a 17 year old mother without even a high school diploma who's whole life is basically riding on the possibility that her boyfriend (who didn't even want to talk about marriage) will support her and her baby. I hope things work out well for her, but it's looking very grim as of now. I just hope we don't see them on the Maury show next season.

[christiangirl]

Lol, through this entire page, all I could think was, "I'm an oops baby." My parents were married and in their 40s but I was totally unplanned. It really can happen to anyone.

However, the episode I saw of this show featured a girl who didn't know what a "crib" was called. That was sad. She was so not ready for a baby that I couldn't even crack a joke. But when she said "I got pregnant because my boyfriend said he didn't like how condoms felt and I was too stupid to make him wear one anyway," my respect for increased. She knew where the responsibility fell and was honest about it, which is more than a lot of teens (and women in general) will cough up to. I have one friend who had an oops baby recently and all she could say is "Why is God doing this to me?!" Uuuhhh, I'm pretty sure it wasn't God on top of you, honey. Honestly, people say so much about girls "not protecting themselves" but I've met and/or heard of 5 different children who were conceived even with a condom (including my own nephew). I don't put much stock in them at all, but it's better than nothing. To think people would go without even that because "I got caught up in the moment" or "He didn't want one" just boggles my mind. It's one of those "I get it but because I never had that experience, I don't really understand" kind of things.

[DrPhil]

Let me get this straight, the mother of your child is hungry and you tell her to go cook. She tells you her feet are swollen and you say "well you can't eat if you don't cook."

Uh...why can't YOU cook for the mother of your child?! You aren't DOING ANYTHING ELSE. And then she gets a lecture from her mother about just going in the kitchen and cooking. "You're gonna have to do it all at the same time...cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the baby."

Uh...what the hell will HE be doing in all of this? I swear I'm so tired of men being taught that as long as there's a woman present she's the one responsible for the household and the children.

Woosah. I'll end my rant there.

(The grandma missed the cup coke (so did I) and overreacted. It was very strange and kind of funny. I think grandma is just tired of all the preggers women in that house. She was just waiting for a chance to express it.)

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Uh...what the hell will HE be doing in all of this?

Didn't you watch the episode?

He'll be working part-time. Duh.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Didn't you watch the episode?

He'll be working part-time. Duh.

That's right! Busy guy.

Hopefully he'll have time to do a family drive-by. Ya know...babysit HIS OWN child and stuff.

[carnation]

One of my grown daughters alerted me to this show because oh crap, I think that this last girl (Whitney?) is a local. Here we have 4 colleges and 2 huge medical centers and aaaaah! They go out into the trailer parks waaay out in the county (her former school is very close to us but the district extends to the Alabama line) and find some fabulous kids like these.

Well, this area has some stellar programs for teen mothers but a dollar says that this girl won't look into them and in 16 years (maybe 14?), we'll be seeing a show with all 3 generations pregnant and living in the same ole trailer. I highly doubt she'd place the baby for adoption. I've taught in the region for too long to believe that; black, white, and Hispanic, they almost all keep their babies.

[DaffyKD]

An update on Whitney, Weston and Owen. Seems Owen has a liver disease.

http://remotecontrol.mtv.com/2009/07...iver-disorder/

DaffyKD

[twinkle555]

I thought Weston and Whitney were a very sweet couple..I just think Whitney is a little delusional lol

[Penguin08]

Well none of them seem very bright, lol. She shouldn't have dropped out, and she could have at least done her GEE work. I mean, you do that from home! She was just lazy and spoiled.