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Oh, Bristol Palin. I had such high hopes for you when you sat down with Greta Van Susteren in an interview that you’d kept secret from your mom and told the world that abstinence was “unrealistic.” I imagine there have been some heart-to-hearts (or hands-to-throats) with your mother since then, because now you’re off ranting to People magazine about how sex is the devil.
“Girls need to imagine and picture their life with a screaming newborn baby and then think before they have sex,” she says of being a teenage mom. “Think about the consequences … If girls realized the consequences of sex, nobody would be having sex. Trust me. Nobody.”
Um, listen up, teenage girls, and all unmarried girls in general: The consequences of sex do not have to be single motherhood. It’s not, like, “Oh, I let my boyfriend put it in me, may as well just give up on protection and start buying rattles.” No one benefits from these fear-based tactics and this fatalist attitude. If you don’t feel you’re ready to have sex, you can make the choice to not have sex. But if you are having sex — ready or not — it’s not a straight shot to single motherhood. You can use protection. You can get on the pill or get an IUD. You can tell your partner to wear a condom, even if you’ve let him go bareback before. It’s never too late to assert yourself and protect yourself in the bedroom, ladies.
It’s frustrating, too, because if anyone in this country had sufficient exposure to abstinence-only propaganda, it’s Bristol Palin. But it didn’t work for you, did it, Bristol? If your mother had suggested you go on birth control, or if you had chosen to yourself, maybe you wouldn’t have this always-screaming baby that you seem to abhor so intensely, and your split from Levi Johnston would have involved a lot less drama. You were aware of the consequences of unprotected sex, but you did it anyway, because you were a teenage girl in love with a teenage boy, and that’s what often happens under those circumstances. But there were ways to prevent the “consequences,” you just didn’t utilize them.
Just because Bristol Palin got herself in this mess doesn’t mean you have to be there, too, ladies. Shut up, Bristol.
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Go away Bristol. Stand up to your mother and stop being a mouthpiece for failed policies.
One quick thing to add Sasha, “You can use protection. You can get on the pill or get an IUD.”
While that’s true, I would say that it’s important to ALWAYS use a condom until you are 100% sure you can trust your partner. I know that sounds paranoid and over the top, but when it comes to your health, are you really gonna take the risk?
So true. There is so much more to worry about when having sex other than pregnancy that only condoms can help prevent.
Paranoia is way better than a life full o’ STDs. Totally agree.
Sorry boyfriend. We’re using condoms forever.
I agree Kevin, she should go away. I thought the same thing during the election every time I saw her mother on television. Sounds like Mommy and her publicist has Bristol in a choke hold.
Maybe in hindsight she does agree with abstinence though, I mean after all she obviously hates the guy who knocked her up and consequently shows a great deal of disdain for her kid. I can’t say that I haven’t had similar thoughts after having a romance that ended badly. There’s been a lot of times I’ve said “I’m NEVER having sex again.” (at least until the next cute boy came along.
I definitely agree with you. Bristol just seems to have flopped her opinions because now apparently her PR is telling her that she really needs the public on her side. But it seems like with this comment, she if further alienating a lot of people.
And I think that these days, a lot of girls understand what it’s like to have a screaming newborn. But just because there are a lot of risks doesn’t mean you can’t protect yourself. You don’t update your will whenever you get into a car. You wear a seatbelt.
Girls have no business having sex, it’s for adults not kids. There is no valid reason why a young girl cannot wait until she’s 18 for that. I really don’t get why people are so quick to throw birth control at the problem. Planned Parenthood and many school clinics have been doing that for years yet teens keep getting pregnant because they are too immature and irresponsible to use it properly.
I think it’s unfair for you to say that because they are too “immature” & “irresponsible” they fail. Many girls don’t receive the education regarding birth control that they need. They get advice from friends or family members who aren’t doctors or pharmacists, but because their BFF FO LIFE told them something, they are certain it’s true. (My fav so far is “Well, I took MOST of the pills this month, so I’m fine, totally covered.”)
It’s not “throwing birth control at the problem” that is wrong, it’s not educating girls how to take care of themselves, mentally & physically.
Really? So why is it that from all my friends none are pregnant, and we are 20 and have been having sex since we’re 15 or 16? Because. We. Use. Birth. Control. Because. We. Received. Sex. Ed.
Do you want me to say that in Spanish and French as well?
Porque usamos contracepción. Porque recibimos clases de educación sexual.
Parce qu’on utilise de la contraception. Parce qu’on a reçu des classes d’education sexuelle.
I hope I have been clear enough.
telling kids to not have sex will NOT keep them from having sex. it’s a ridiculous idea that has proven not to work. we are for sexually education, catfight, to try to teach them the consequences and how to protect themselves.
how is there a huge difference between a 17 year-old having sex and a 18 year-old?
I love how you say “Girls have no business having sex” instead of “TEENS have no business having sex” Bullshit. Btw, Girls are still girls after 18 it’s not necessarily an age based word. OH and just so you know it takes TWO sexes to make a baby, not just the female variety.
Am I the only one who thinks it is irresponsible of People Magazine to put this picture on the cover? Bristol looks beautiful, fresh-faced, and well rested and the baby is absolutely adorable. I PROMISE you there are teenage girls in line at the store, looking at that picture, completely ignoring the words written under it and thinking, “Ooooooooh! That is exactly what I need to go with my cap and gown! I can be a young, pretty mom just like Bristol!”
No Kari I totally agree. That reminds me of the 17-19 girls with the alleged pregnancy pact. I think one of the early comments from one of the girls was that they just wanted someone that would love them unconditionally. Not a very realistic point of view when it comes to parenthood. I wonder how many times they told their mom’s and dad’s they hated them.
Good point.
Hahaha I work at a checkout and that magazine was there today and that is not at all what people were saying. They were most certainly talking about it though.
She looks like Tisdale in this shot.
I feel sorry for Bristol- she’s so clearly controlled by her mother, and probably feels like it’s her fault that McCain-Palin didn’t get into the White House because her pregnancy was used as a political weapon against her mother.
It’s no wonder she doesn’t really sound like she likes her child, she probably felt more punished by her parents than other pregnant teens; Bristol would have known it was the worst time for her to get pregnant and whether or not her parents mentioned this she probably beat herself up mentally for it.
um by 25, I totally understand all the bad things that come out of sex. That doesn’t keep me away from sex. It just makes me responsible in my sexual decisions. I have been having sex for a long time, and I have never been knocked up or gotten an STD.
Sorry that you made a shitty decision and didn’t make your boyfriend wear a condom, Alaska girl. Sorry you weren’t on the pill. Sorry your experience turned out so negative. But if anything, it only reaffirms my beliefs of the importance of birth control and sexual education. Having unprotected sex with your boyfriend is easily avoidable.
Learn to shut your mouth tho, if anything, out of respect for your baby. Do you really think he(she? don’t even care) wants to grow up knowing what a huge regret he was?
Yay you rock
thanks mireee :)
THANK YOU for writing this Sasha. Bristol Palin’s words in that article made me laugh out loud. Then I realized how many young girls most likely admire this girl and will listen to her.. my laughter stopped pretty quickly. She really only has a one track mind when it comes to sex and birth control. It’s a little sickening.
I’m getting really sick with disgust over everyone picking on Bristol. She’s just a kid and obviously lives a sheltered life up in Alaska so why don’t we just give the kid a break? I’m sure when the reality of teen motherhood sets in on any kid they would say the same thing. Your life comes to a screeching halt when you give birth at that age. She’s trying to do the right thing by warning other young girls to keep their legs closed. If you’re so horny you can’t control yourself go whack off.
She’s in the public spotlight which (1) opens her up to criticisms and (2) allows opponents of her position to disagree with her.
This isn’t some liberal attack on her, this is people that think sex ed should be more than a footnote in biology. I’d be able to get on board with her if she said ‘Don’t do it… BUT here’s how you protect yourself if you do.’ Abstinence only education is ridiculous. It’s not education at all. It’s a rule, and we all know how much we loved following rules during our teens.
I actually felt bad for her when everyone first learned she was pregnant. I mean, it’s not her fault that she is related to her mother. But she took the publicity train and rode it. If you want to be on the cover of People, and you want to give out interviews, and you keep feeding all of it… turns out, you’re not just some kid anymore.
I’m mostly just disappointed because first she was all “yeah abstinence education obviously doesn’t work” (I MEAN OBVIOUSLY. she’s a mom now, isn’t she?) and now she is like, “nevermind, just don’t have sex. Babies suck.”
Come on Lisa, look who her mom is. She can’t exactly tout birth control when momma is a republican governor.
Besides I don’t think she’s the sharpest knife if the drawer.
Come on HCF, look who Meghan McCain’s dad is. It’s irresponsible to go around promoting abstinence-only education.
um not all Republicans are against birth control. I, of course, cherish bad things I can say about the other party, but saying that all of them are against birth control is ridiculous. don’t make it that easy for me to hate on Republicans.
Well said. Perfect, even.
I think what’s even more important than thinking about having a “screaming newborn” is thinking about the fact that the newborn isn’t going to be a baby forever. He or she is going to grow up and then what do you do when your baby is a teenager? Or even a school age child? Money isn’t everything, but then again it kind of is when you decide to procreate. How can one be a positive role model for a child/adolescent when they are making such stupid avoidable mistakes? I think that there needs to be so much more focus on education and being able to take care of yourself before you start popping out babies.
My point is just that so many teenagers think that having babies is so cute, but they don’t think that the baby is going to grow up and they are going to need to do more than rely on society to take care of their baby. It pisses me off that I struggle to get financial aid to better myself and provide the best life possible for me and my future family, but yet I have to help take care of half my high school’s graduating class because they chose sex over school.
right wing hypocresy
- Teenage births are associated with lower annual income for the mother. Eighty percent of teen mothers must rely on welfare at some point.
Teenage mothers are more likely to drop out of school. Only about one-third of teen mothers obtain a high school diploma.
- Teenage pregnancies are associated with increased rates of alcohol and substance abuse, lower educational level, and reduced earning potential in teen fathers.
- In the United States, the annual cost of teen pregnancies from lost tax revenues, public assistance, child health care, foster care, and involvement with the criminal justice system is estimated to be about $7 billion.
As a pregnant teenager, you have a higher risk of:
- Premature labor and/or delivery (going into labor before the baby is fully developed)
- Anemia (low iron levels in your blood)
- Preeclampsia (swelling, high blood pressure and protein in your urine)
- Having a baby with a low birth weight (less than five and a half pounds)
Babies that are born prematurely can develop problems for life such as cerebral palsy or learning problems.
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Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia (also called toxemia or pregnancy-related hypertension) is the development of swelling, high blood pressure and protein in your urine during pregnancy. Pregnant teens have a greater chance of developing preeclampsia during their pregnancy. Symptoms include:
- Swelling of the hands or face when you get up in the morning
- Quick weight gain (more than two pounds per week)
- Headaches
- Having less urine when you go to the bathroom
- Feeling sick and/or throwing up
- High blood pressure
- Changes in your eyesight (flashing lights in your eyes)
- Pain in your lower belly
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Low Birth Weight Babies
Teen mothers are much more likely to have low birth weight babies, which can result in serious medical problems, including underdeveloped organs leading to lung, vision, intestinal and other problems.
Smoking during pregnancy is the most common reason for a low birth weight baby and is one one of several habits that you need to control. Not eating right, not gaining enough weight and not taking regular multivitamins are some other reasons teen mothers have low birth weight babies. Drinking alcohol and taking certain drugs during pregnancy can also result in a low birth weight baby.
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A girl can become pregnant even before she begins menstruation. For most girls, a regular menstrual cycle will begin between the ages of 11 and 16. During these formative years, bones are not mature, and over all growth is not yet finished. Becoming pregnant as during the teen years pose some serious health risks, not only to themselves, but to the unborn child.
Many soon to be teen moms neglect to seek care during the first 4 months of the pregnancy because they are either scared or in denial. Not seeking care puts not only the teen mom in danger, but the unborn child as well.
Teen moms are more likely to have a baby that is premature and low birth weight. A premature baby is one that is born too early. Some of these babies do die. The ones that make it tend to have problems later in life, mental and physical problems are included. A low birth weight baby is one that is born with a weight of less than 5 1/2 pounds. These babies have a greater risk of being born with major birth defects.
The risks for the teen mom are great as well. Pregnancy and birth can put a tremendous strain on a teenager’s body. If bone structure is not fully developed, she takes the risk of injuring her spine and pelvic bones, altering her life forever. It is also well known that the irresponsible behaviors some teens exhibit may put them at risk for sexually transmitted diseases. These diseases can be easily spread to an unborn baby. If untreated, disasterous consequences can occur.
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High teen birth rates are an important concern because teen mothers and their babies face increased risks to their health, and their opportunities to build a future are diminished.
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How does a teen mother’s health affect her baby?
Some teens may need to change their lifestyle to improve their chances of having a healthy baby. Eating unhealthy foods, smoking, drinking alcohol and taking drugs can increase the risk that a baby will be born with health problems, such as low birthweight (less than 5½ pounds).
Teens are more likely than women over age 25 to smoke during pregnancy. In 2004, 17 percent of pregnant teens ages 15 to 19 smoked, compared to 10 percent of pregnant women ages 25 to 34. Babies of women who smoke during pregnancy are at increased risk for premature birth, low birthweight and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Women who smoke during pregnancy also have an increased risk for pregnancy complications, including placental problems.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than 1 year old. SIDS is particularly worrying because it can occur without warning in a baby who seems healthy.
SIDS is the leading cause of death in infants between 1 month and 1 year old. Most SIDS cases happen in babies between 2-4 months old.
Because most cases happen when a baby is sleeping, SIDS is sometimes called “crib death.” Cribs do not cause SIDS, but other sleep issues can increase your baby’s risks:
- Sleep position: Babies placed to sleep on their tummies or sides are at higher risk of SIDS than babies placed on their backs. Since the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) started the “Back to Sleep” campaign in the 1990s, SIDS cases in the U.S. have dropped by more than 50 percent.
- Smoking: Mothers who smoke during pregnancy are three times more likely to have a SIDS baby. Being around people who smoke doubles a baby’s risks.
- Bedding: Sleeping on pillows, soft surfaces and soft bedding are linked to a higher SIDS risk.
Other potential risks include:
- Drinking or drug use during pregnancy
- Poor prenatal care
- Premature birth or low birthweight
- Mothers less than 20 years old
- Overheating of the baby during sleep
Placenta
The placenta is an unborn baby’s life support system. It forms from the same cells as the embryo and attaches to the wall of the uterus. The placenta forms connections with the mother’s blood supply, from which it supplies oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. The placenta also connects with the fetus’s blood supply, from which it removes wastes and returns them to the mother’s blood. The mother’s kidneys dispose of the waste.
The placenta has other important functions in pregnancy. It produces hormones that play a role in triggering labor and delivery. The placenta also helps protect the fetus from infections and potentially harmful substances. After the baby is delivered, the placenta’s job is done, and it is delivered as the afterbirth.
The mature placenta is flat and circular and weighs about 1 pound. But sometimes the placenta:
- Is structured abnormally
- Is poorly positioned in the uterus
- Does not function properly
Placental problems are among the most common complications of the second half of pregnancy. Here are some of the most frequent placental problems and how they can affect mother and baby.
What is placental abruption?
Placental abruption (sometimes called abruptio placentae) is a condition in which the placenta peels away from the uterine wall, partially or almost completely, before delivery. Mild cases may cause few problems, but severe cases can deprive the fetus of oxygen and nutrients. Severe cases also can cause bleeding in the mother that can endanger both her and the baby.
Placental abruption increases the risk of premature birth (birth before 37 completed weeks gestation). Studies suggest that abruption contributes to about 10 percent of premature births. Premature babies are at increased risk for health problems during the newborn period, lasting disabilities and even death. Abruption also increases the risk for poor fetal growth and stillbirth.
How common is placental abruption?
Abruption occurs in about 1 in 100 pregnancies. It occurs most often in the third trimester, but it can happen any time after about 20 weeks of pregnancy.
What are the symptoms of abruption?
The main sign of placental abruption is vaginal bleeding. A pregnant woman should contact her health care provider if she has vaginal bleeding.
The pregnant woman also may experience uterine discomfort and tenderness or sudden, continuous abdominal pain. In a few cases, these symptoms may occur without vaginal bleeding because the blood is trapped behind the placenta.
What causes placental abruption?
The cause of abruption is unknown. However, the following factors can increase a woman’s risk for abruption:
- High blood pressure
- Cocaine use
- Cigarette smoking
-Abdominal trauma (such as may occur with an automobile accident or abuse)
- Certain abnormalities of the uterus or umbilical cord
- Being more than 35 years of age
- Pregnant with twins, triplets or more
- Premature rupture of the membranes (bag of waters)
- Having too little amniotic fluid
- Having certain inherited disorders of blood clotting
- Having an infection involving the uterus
Teens are least likely of all maternal age groups to get early and regular prenatal care.
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A teenage mother is at greater risk than women over age 20 for pregnancy complications, such as premature labor, anemia and high blood pressure. These risks are even greater for teens who are under 15 years old.
Premature Labor
Babies who are born preterm are at higher risk of needing hospitalization, having long-term health problems and of dying than babies born at the right time. Preterm birth is any birth that occurs before the 37th week of pregnancy. It is the cause of many infant deaths and lingering infant illnesses.
Some studies have found that certain lifestyle and environmental factors may put a woman at greater risk of preterm labor. These factors include:
- Late or no prenatal care
- Smoking
- Drinking alcohol
- Using illegal drugs
- Exposure to the medication DES
- Domestic violence, including physical, sexual or emotional abuse
- Lack of social support
- Stress
- Long working hours with long periods of standing
Certain medical conditions during pregnancy may increase the likelihood that a woman will have preterm labor. These conditions include:
- Urinary tract infections, vaginal infections, sexually transmitted infections and possibly other infections
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Clotting disorders (thrombophilia)
- Bleeding from the vagina
- Certain birth defects in the baby
- Being pregnant with a single fetus after in vitro fertilization (IVF)
- Being underweight before pregnancy
- Obesity
- Short time period between pregnancies (less than 6-9 months between birth and the beginning of the next pregnancy)
Women younger than 17 or older than 35, and poor women are at greater risk than other women.
Anemia
Anemia occurs when the number or size of a person’s red blood cells are too low. Red blood cells are important because they carry oxygen from your lungs to all parts of your body. Without enough oxygen, your body cannot work as well as it should, and you feel tired and run down.
Anemia can affect anyone, but women are at greater risk for this condition. In women, iron and red blood cells are lost when bleeding occurs from very heavy or long periods (menstruation).
Anemia is common in pregnancy because a woman needs to have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen around her body and to her baby. So it’s important for women to prevent anemia before, during and after pregnancy. Women will probably be tested for anemia at least twice during pregnancy: during the first prenatal visit and then again between 24 and 28 weeks.
Iron Deficiency
Usually, a woman becomes anemic (has anemia) because her body isn’t getting enough iron. Iron is a mineral that helps to create red blood cells. About half of all pregnant women don’t have enough iron in their body (iron deficiency). In pregnancy, iron deficiency has been linked to an increased risk of preterm birth and low birthweight.
Illness or Disease
Some women may have an illness that causes anemia. Diseases such as sickle cell anemia or thalassemia affect the quality and number of red blood cells the body produces.
Signs of Anemia
Anemia takes some time to develop. In the beginning, you may not have any signs or they may be mild. But as it gets worse, you may have these symptoms:
- Fatigue (very common)
- Weakness (very common)
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Numbness or coldness in your hands and feet
- Low body temperature
- Pale skin
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Irritability
- Not doing well at work or in school
High Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries (blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to all parts of the body). When the pressure in the arteries becomes too high, it is called high blood pressure or hypertension.
About 8 percent of women have problems with high blood pressure during pregnancy. There are several types of high blood pressure that affect pregnant women. Some types start before pregnancy, and others develop during pregnancy. All types of high blood pressure can pose risks to the pregnant woman and her baby.
What forms of high blood pressure occur in pregnancy?
There are four main forms of high blood pressure in pregnancy:
- Preeclampsia: This potentially serious disorder is characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine. It usually develops after the 20th week of pregnancy and goes away after delivery.
- Gestational hypertension: This form of high blood pressure develops after the 20th week of pregnancy and goes away after delivery. Affected women do not have protein in the urine. However, some women with gestational hypertension develop preeclampsia later in pregnancy.
- Chronic hypertension: This is high blood pressure that is diagnosed before pregnancy or before the 20th week of pregnancy. It does not go away after delivery.
- Chronic hypertension with preeclampsia: About 25 percent of women with chronic hypertension also develop preeclampsia.
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Of 19 million new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) reported each year, more than 9 million affect young people ages 15 to 24. These STIs include:
- Chlamydia, which can cause sterility in the affected individual and eye infections and pneumonia in the newborn.
- Syphilis, which can cause blindness, maternal death and infant death.
- HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Treatment during pregnancy greatly reduces the risk of an infected mother passing HIV to her baby.
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A baby born to a teenage mother is at higher risk than a baby born to an older mother for premature birth, low birthweight, other serious health problems and death.
Babies of teenage mothers are more likely to die in the first year of life than babies of women in their twenties and thirties. The risk is highest for babies of mothers under age 15.
Teenage mothers are are more likely to have a low-birthweight baby. Most low-birthweght babies are born prematurely. The earlier a baby is born, the less she is likely to weigh.
Babies who are premature and low birthweight may have organs that are not fully developed. This can lead to breathing problems, such as respiratory distress syndrome, bleeding in the brain, vision loss and serious intestinal problems.
Very low-birthweight babies (less than 3 1/3 pounds) are more than 100 times as likely to die, and moderately low-birthweight babies (between 3 1/3 and 5½ pounds) are more than 5 times as likely to die, in their first year of life than normal-weight babies.
Life may be difficult for a teenage mother and her child. Teen mothers are more likely to drop out of high school than girls who delay childbearing. Only 40 percent of teenagers who have children before age 18 go on to graduate from high school, compared to 75 percent of teens from similar social and economic backgrounds who do not give birth until ages 20 or 21.
With her education cut short, a teenage mother may lack job skills, making it hard for her to find and keep a job. A teenage mother may become financially dependent on her family or on public assistance. Teen mothers are more likely to live in poverty than women who delay childbearing, and more than 75 percent of all unmarried teen mothers go on welfare within 5 years of the birth of their first child.
About 64 percent of children born to an unmarried teenage high-school dropout live in poverty, compared to 7 percent of children born to women over age 20 who are married and high school graduates.
A child born to a teenage mother is 50 percent more likely to repeat a grade in school and is more likely to perform poorly on standardized tests and drop out before finishing high school.
Because we all know that BC doesn’t fail amirite(nothing is 100% except abstinence)?
or that some girls are allergic to it? or have bad reactions to hormonal based birth control? i use condoms and spermicide, but i have HORRIBLE side effects from birth control, which in turn makes me not want to have sex, which in turn makes the bc pretty useless to have. Guess i just wasn’t responsible enough if the condom happens to break huh?
If anything, you people should be trying to advertise male birth control and such so that all these unhealthy chemicals aren’t just a woman’s responsibility.