Pregnant 14-Year-Old Says Having a Child Is the Newest Fashion Among Teens

[jon1856]

Saturday , February 24, 2007

LONDON —
The newest fashion among schoolgirls is getting knocked up, according to one pregnant 14-year-old whose four friends are also expecting.


British teen Kizzy Neal says she's been approached for advice from other pregnant girls her age ever since she conceived, reported London's Daily Mail.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,254341,00.html

[KSUViolet06]

I know teen pregnancy is nothing new, but I am still like "Whoa" when I hear about girls getting pregant in like 8th/9th grade. In my opinion, you're not even a TEEN at that point- you can't even DRIVE.

It boggles my mind why kids would even be thinking about babies at that age. At 14, my priorities included: getting front row NSYNC tickets, who I was going to take to my first homecoming dance, and how I could convince my mom to let me stay out past curfew. They did not include having a baby so I could be like my friends.

I wonder if this "OMG babies are like the hawt new thing" attitude is just a UK thing? I know that accidents happen, but I've never heard of a 14 yr old actually WANTING to get pregnant.

[AKA_Monet]

I can say many crass things about this report. But the sad part is that anything said is...

Let's just say the next stat they see rise in the number of women under that age of 20 have higher rates of HIV/AIDS infections because they failed to use a condom.

The next item low birth weights due to poor pre-natal care that can increased the risk of brain damage with proper neural connections.

Then the increased rates of unavailable constructive children's activities that causes a lax in readiness for school...

Oh well.

[PhoenixAzul]

Arg, even as a journalist, I think the Daily Mail is a...creative? newspaper. The tabloid tradition is very much alive and kicking in Britain, and this one leads the way. They're famous in media law text books...almost every major Press Complaints Commission standard is because of them. Good section on the football though!


ETA: Not to say that this isn't a very real statistic in Britain, it is. Sex ed is still very much a question mark, especially because the school system is run so very differently and with so many hands in the pot (meaning government, religious institutions of all sects, etc) . My criticism is maybe the "mountain from a molehill" from one girls comment. Statistics are good, should be played to more, but the handbag comment was run into the ground.

[James]

AKA_Monet,

From a biological standpoint, when is a human girl's body most primed to have kids?

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

I can say many crass things about this report. But the sad part is that anything said is...

Let's just say the next stat they see rise in the number of women under that age of 20 have higher rates of HIV/AIDS infections because they failed to use a condom.

The next item low birth weights due to poor pre-natal care that can increased the risk of brain damage with proper neural connections.

Then the increased rates of unavailable constructive children's activities that causes a lax in readiness for school...

Oh well.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by James

AKA_Monet,

From a biological standpoint, when is a human girl's body most primed to have kids?

I have heard cases of 4 year olds getting pregnant. As far as bring the baby to "partuition" [sp?], that is a different story.

But from all that I have read, most human females start their ovulation/menstruation between the ages of 10-14 years old. Some start later. So anytime at those ages, if the girl has sexual intercourse with a human male, then she can be impregnanted.

The issue is extremely young girls becoming pregnant in modern times is increased risk of STI's and HIV/AIDS. Also a lack of experience is child rearing. Moreover, available childcare because when is the last time you priced out diapers? They are pricey--even at Walmart...

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by James

From a biological standpoint, when is a human girl's body most primed to have kids?

I'm not sure, but I read somewhere that it was like 18-25 years old.

[lyrelyre]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I'm not sure, but I read somewhere that it was like 18-25 years old.

Sadly, I'm past my prime. Maybe I should be put out to pasture.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by James

AKA_Monet,

From a biological standpoint, when is a human girl's body most primed to have kids?

It wasn't directed toward me, but I was interested in finding out, so here you go:
http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/Dumm...e/id-1858.html

Calculating your fertility odds at different ages
For women, optimum fertility occurs when you're about 18 years old. It stays pretty constant in the early part of your 20s and then begins a gradual downward turn. By the time you turn 35, the process has accelerated. When you hit 40, the slide becomes even more dramatic; 33 percent of women over 35 have some difficulty getting pregnant, and 66 percent of women over 40 have infertility issues.

Men have it a little easier (don't they always?). Their peak fertility generally remains constant throughout their 30s. It does begin to decline over time, but at a slower pace than their female counterparts. Recent studies, however, do show a rise in chromosomal abnormalities in men over 35, and by age 50, most men show a 33 percent decrease in thenumber of sperm produced. So although their problems may be less obvious when it comes to conceiving, the effects of age may play a significant role down the road.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/...cle1930092.ece
The "biologically optimal" time for childbearing is 20 to 35.

[Scandia]

At 14 my priorities were: watching my favorite TV shows (Clarissa explains it all, Full House, Step by Step, and Captain Planet), buying and wearing make-up, listening to the radio/watching music videos, and excelling in school. OK, so I had a late puberty and may not be the best gauge.

I have heard of teens considering this trendy before. I have seen middle schoolers get pregnant- and my friend who is a media specialist at a middle school does mention many of them bragging about how they are mature enough to be active, yet not realizing the consequences.

Many high school girls do choose to get pregnant on purpose- or at least to keep the baby even if the pregnancy was not planned- because they want someone to love. They feel lonely and want someone to give them attention.

Scariest part is, many of these teenagers are getting impregnated by older guys. A friend of mine knew someone who got pregnant and gave birth at age 15- the baby's father was 21.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by AGDee

It wasn't directed toward me, but I was interested in finding out, so here you go:
http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/Dumm...e/id-1858.html

Calculating your fertility odds at different ages
For women, optimum fertility occurs when you're about 18 years old. It stays pretty constant in the early part of your 20s and then begins a gradual downward turn. By the time you turn 35, the process has accelerated. When you hit 40, the slide becomes even more dramatic; 33 percent of women over 35 have some difficulty getting pregnant, and 66 percent of women over 40 have infertility issues.

Men have it a little easier (don't they always?). Their peak fertility generally remains constant throughout their 30s. It does begin to decline over time, but at a slower pace than their female counterparts. Recent studies, however, do show a rise in chromosomal abnormalities in men over 35, and by age 50, most men show a 33 percent decrease in thenumber of sperm produced. So although their problems may be less obvious when it comes to conceiving, the effects of age may play a significant role down the road.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/...cle1930092.ece
The "biologically optimal" time for childbearing is 20 to 35.

For the men, now that they have "Vitamin V", they never have to worry about loss of fertility. Loss of intelligent kids is another issue or biologically successful breeding...

For women, I know plenty of cases where girls are getting pregnant at age 12... The life of child my not be biologically successful, i.e. knowing when to feed the child based on their cries. But the physical process of having children is not impaired in those girls under 18 years old.

It is start of ovulation that influences fertility.

[PrettyBoy]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I know teen pregnancy is nothing new, but I am still like "Whoa" when I hear about girls getting pregant in like 8th/9th grade. In my opinion, you're not even a TEEN at that point- you can't even DRIVE.

It boggles my mind why kids would even be thinking about babies at that age. At 14, my priorities included: getting front row NSYNC tickets, who I was going to take to my first homecoming dance, and how I could convince my mom to let me stay out past curfew. They did not include having a baby so I could be like my friends.

I wonder if this "OMG babies are like the hawt new thing" attitude is just a UK thing? I know that accidents happen, but I've never heard of a 14 yr old actually WANTING to get pregnant.

Yeah, that's very early. It must be something in the fast food. LOL.

[sdsuchelle]

I've read in several places that teenage pregnancy is actually declining.

However the girls on Maury who are like I WANT A BABY SO I CAN DRESS HIM IN CUTE CLOTHES AND I'LL PROSTITUTE TO GET ONE!!! freak me out.

Case in point:

http://www.youtube.com/v/RARokyU6rIQ

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

I have heard cases of 4 year olds getting pregnant. As far as bring the baby to "partuition" [sp?], that is a different story.

4 year olds? Do you mean 14 year olds? 4 year olds don't get their period, so they cannot have a baby. 4 year old bodies haven't produced any of the hormones to start puberty...not till about 7 y/o. then puberty comes a few years later. 4 year olds do, unfortunately, are victims of sexual abuse. they can get STIs, but cannot produce a baby. I would like to see a study where 4 year olds have ovulated and produced an embryo.

However, I think you make really great points about adolescent sexuality in general. I just saw this movie, called "Thirteen" it's really disturbing, but excellent. Anyone interested in adolescent sexuality, substance abuse should see it. Especially if you're an educator.

[VAgirl18]

Originally Posted by ErinKathleenNJ

4 year olds? Do you mean 14 year olds? 4 year olds don't get their period, so they cannot have a baby. 4 year old bodies haven't produced any of the hormones to start puberty...not till about 7 y/o. then puberty comes a few years later.l 4 year olds do, unfortunately, are victims of sexual abuse. they can get STIs, but cannot produce a baby.

However, I think you make really great points about adolescent sexuality in general. I just saw this movie, called "Thirteen" it's really disturbing, but excellent. Anyone interested in adolescent sexuality, substance abuse should see it. Especially if you're an educator.

As far as getting pregnant at age 4, I'm not sure. What I am sure of is that girls even younger have gotten their periods.