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| Teenagers 'desperate' for a baby | Teenagers 'desperate' for a baby |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| With the UK's teenage pregnancy rate the highest in Europe, and one in 10 UK babies born to a teenage mother, a BBC documentary crew followed two girls who badly wanted to get pregnant as they were forced to rethink their decision. | With the UK's teenage pregnancy rate the highest in Europe, and one in 10 UK babies born to a teenage mother, a BBC documentary crew followed two girls who badly wanted to get pregnant as they were forced to rethink their decision. |
| The girls were put through their paces by crying dolls | The girls were put through their paces by crying dolls |
| Sixteen-year-old Chantelle lost her virginity at 13. Having been with her boyfriend for a year and a half, she was desperate for a child. | Sixteen-year-old Chantelle lost her virginity at 13. Having been with her boyfriend for a year and a half, she was desperate for a child. |
| "I could see myself as a mum next year pushing a baby around, I get jealous when I see people with babies, I feel like it should be me." | "I could see myself as a mum next year pushing a baby around, I get jealous when I see people with babies, I feel like it should be me." |
| But her mother, Mandy Pitt, was horrified by the idea, as she knew only too well the stark reality of being a teenage mother. | But her mother, Mandy Pitt, was horrified by the idea, as she knew only too well the stark reality of being a teenage mother. |
| "She basically thinks that she's got all the answers and all the solutions, like, 'oh you'll help me', well I won't, I'm not turning my back on her, but I won't help her make that wrong decision." | "She basically thinks that she's got all the answers and all the solutions, like, 'oh you'll help me', well I won't, I'm not turning my back on her, but I won't help her make that wrong decision." |
| "Chantelle wanting a child brings back memories, I made that decision at 17 and thought I was ready to have a baby. | "Chantelle wanting a child brings back memories, I made that decision at 17 and thought I was ready to have a baby. |
| At one point I got the Argos catalogue out and wrote everything down that I'd need if I had a child Lydia, 14 | At one point I got the Argos catalogue out and wrote everything down that I'd need if I had a child Lydia, 14 |
| "I ended up on my own and it was really rough and it was tough and there was no support or nothing it was horrible not having anyone to turn to." | "I ended up on my own and it was really rough and it was tough and there was no support or nothing it was horrible not having anyone to turn to." |
| Mrs Pitt found teenage motherhood so hard she eventually gave her child up for adoption and was adamant that Chantelle did not follow in her footsteps. | Mrs Pitt found teenage motherhood so hard she eventually gave her child up for adoption and was adamant that Chantelle did not follow in her footsteps. |
| But there was an underlying reason why Chantelle was so desperate for a baby. | But there was an underlying reason why Chantelle was so desperate for a baby. |
| "I want a baby because I had an abortion when I was 14, I didn't want to do it but I had to because I needed to live myself and ever since, there's just been that little bit missing." | "I want a baby because I had an abortion when I was 14, I didn't want to do it but I had to because I needed to live myself and ever since, there's just been that little bit missing." |
| Headstrong only child Lydia, was convinced she was independent enough to raise a child, even though she's only 14 and does not have a boyfriend. | Headstrong only child Lydia, was convinced she was independent enough to raise a child, even though she's only 14 and does not have a boyfriend. |
| "I don't know anyone else who wants a baby as much as me I really, really, really, really, really want a baby. | "I don't know anyone else who wants a baby as much as me I really, really, really, really, really want a baby. |
| Chantelle's mother Mandy had her daughter when she was 17 | Chantelle's mother Mandy had her daughter when she was 17 |
| "At one point I got the Argos catalogue out and wrote everything down that I'd need if I had a child." | "At one point I got the Argos catalogue out and wrote everything down that I'd need if I had a child." |
| Lydia's mother Josephine Boggis was 37 when she had her daughter, and cannot understand why she would want to throw her teenage years away. | Lydia's mother Josephine Boggis was 37 when she had her daughter, and cannot understand why she would want to throw her teenage years away. |
| "I think she's looking for something or someone she can shower in love, something that she can be in charge of, because she likes to be in charge." | "I think she's looking for something or someone she can shower in love, something that she can be in charge of, because she likes to be in charge." |
| The relationship between Lydia and her mother has been strained, and has played a large part in the reason why Lydia wants a baby. | The relationship between Lydia and her mother has been strained, and has played a large part in the reason why Lydia wants a baby. |
| "Well I'd love to have a baby so you could bring it up like you wanted to have been brought up, if you know what I mean." | "Well I'd love to have a baby so you could bring it up like you wanted to have been brought up, if you know what I mean." |
| In order to help the girls make an informed decision about getting pregnant, both were taken to see what their future could be like. | In order to help the girls make an informed decision about getting pregnant, both were taken to see what their future could be like. |
| They met with teenage mothers who were living in one-bed mother and baby hostels. | They met with teenage mothers who were living in one-bed mother and baby hostels. |
| Kim, who is now 16, gave birth to her son when she was 13. | Kim, who is now 16, gave birth to her son when she was 13. |
| With nowhere to go after he was born, she was one day away from being housed in a hostel for drug users and abused women. | With nowhere to go after he was born, she was one day away from being housed in a hostel for drug users and abused women. |
| "You have no choice, it's not that easy to get a house. | "You have no choice, it's not that easy to get a house. |
| "I don't know why you'd want to have a baby so young. | "I don't know why you'd want to have a baby so young. |
| "I don't want people to make the same mistake as me and to have to face everything that I have, just because they want a child." | "I don't want people to make the same mistake as me and to have to face everything that I have, just because they want a child." |
| Lydia and her mother clashed over her desire to get pregnant | Lydia and her mother clashed over her desire to get pregnant |
| Both families visited a maternity ward and talked openly and honestly about themselves and their relationships with a psychotherapist. | Both families visited a maternity ward and talked openly and honestly about themselves and their relationships with a psychotherapist. |
| The teenagers also had a sleepless night looking after computerised babies, in order to have all the information they needed to make a decision. | The teenagers also had a sleepless night looking after computerised babies, in order to have all the information they needed to make a decision. |
| After going through a week of these tough challenges, Chantelle and Lydia decided that motherhood could most definitely wait. | After going through a week of these tough challenges, Chantelle and Lydia decided that motherhood could most definitely wait. |
| Chantelle has enrolled at a hairdressing college and has decided to wait at least a decade before having a baby. | Chantelle has enrolled at a hairdressing college and has decided to wait at least a decade before having a baby. |
| Chantelle said: "When I see babies and (their) mums now I feel sorry for them and ask, 'are they good sleepers?'. | Chantelle said: "When I see babies and (their) mums now I feel sorry for them and ask, 'are they good sleepers?'. |
| "That's the first thing I ask." | "That's the first thing I ask." |
| Her mother Mandy Pitt has said she is thrilled with her daughter's decision. | Her mother Mandy Pitt has said she is thrilled with her daughter's decision. |
| "To hear her say that now, I think phew, it's amazing, it's just a relief you know, and I just think, thank you." | "To hear her say that now, I think phew, it's amazing, it's just a relief you know, and I just think, thank you." |
| And while Lydia still likes the idea of having a baby, she has decided to pursue a career in the catering trade first. | And while Lydia still likes the idea of having a baby, she has decided to pursue a career in the catering trade first. |
| "When I see babies I think, 'oh how sweet', I'll definitely have one one day in the future." | "When I see babies I think, 'oh how sweet', I'll definitely have one one day in the future." |
| Watch more on Pregnancy - My big decision, part of the BBC's Adult Season, to be broadcast on BBC Three, Thursday 16 July at 2100 BST. | Watch more on Pregnancy - My big decision, part of the BBC's Adult Season, to be broadcast on BBC Three, Thursday 16 July at 2100 BST. |
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