TEEN PREGNANCY

Baby 101

OK! magazine's executive editor discusses their cover story on 17-year-old actress and new mom, Jamie Lynn Spears. Does the spread glamorize teen pregnancy?

By Sarah Kliff | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Jul 12, 2008 | Updated: 11:20  a.m. ET Jul 12, 2008

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  • Posted By: eileenmadrid @ 05/01/2009 1:51:02 PM

    yo my name be eileen madrid dont get it twisted. i think jamies acting like a genuine ho bag like her big sis so im not too suprised. yall people need to realize this isnt something to be proud of shes a dumb ass and should feel embarrased. shes a straight skizank but its pretty funny watching her *** up her kid no lie

  • Posted By: jamnurse @ 07/19/2008 11:29:01 PM

    This is the reality of teen pregnancy that is NOT on the covers of the magazines......

    (1) Babies born in the U.S. to teenage mothers are at risk for long-term problems in many major areas of life, including school failure, poverty, and physical or mental illness. The teenage mothers themselves are also at risk for these problems.......

    (2) Less than one-third of teens who begin their families before age 18 ever earn a high school diploma. Only 1.5% earn a college degree by the age of 30.4......

    (3) Later in life, adolescent mothers tend to be at greater risk for obesity and hypertension than women who were not teenagers when they had their first child....

    (4) almost one-half of all teenage mothers and over three-quarters of unmarried teen mothers began receiving welfare within five years of the birth of their first child......

    (5) The proportion of babies with low birth weights born to teens is 21 percent higher than the proportion for mothers age 20-24.....


    • Posted By: Agnapostate @ 11/14/2008 3:52:17 AM

      This might be somewhat more compelling if you had provided us with any actual evidence that the wholly detrimental effects you list were inherently connected with teenage pregnancy. Your "evidence" is flawed and fails to take into account socioeconomic factors such as poverty. You might be better informed by noting that teenage pregnancy may be an asset to many economically disenfranchised populations: www.youthfacts.org/teenmoth.html

      Also, what utter lunacy to claim that the media is "biased" in favor of teenage pregnancy. Name one social commentator who has defened teenage pregnancy.

    • Posted By: cherbear @ 07/20/2008 7:22:54 AM

      Thank you very much for bringing this to light. I think good parenting may be able to quell both girls and boys from having sex before age 18, or until they are ready or married. I also believe that in some cases the parents try to be friends with their kids instead of parents and authority figures first. I find myself nodding in agreement or cheering out loud at my computer when people type out their good and moral opinions. On the other hand, I find myself making a snicker at those who, for instance, say that a kid, especially a female, is mature and ready at as young as 15 to become a mom! Goodness, I don't even think I knew how to use my part at even age 17 or 18. I have read time and time again about how young teens/college kids don't have all their brain development completed via nature/biology and even how boys are somewhat slower in advancing in this area as well. Unfortunately, the young, especially females at my job(i'm 40) laugh me right out of the room when I tell them that babiies having babies are wrong, even if you have big bucks. This makes your statistics very noteworthy . I hope it is recognized by both boys and girls so kids can hopefully clean up their act and go back to holding hands on dates/social gatherings instead of concentrating on what sexual position to engage in.

  • Posted By: pshyaitsjamie @ 10/27/2008 10:24:25 AM

    i think that if jamie is ready to have a baby then that is her decision and the press should get off her back about it, and britney is a whole other story but if needs help then let her want it just dont make her get it..
    -jamie (: <3

  • Posted By: pshyaitsjamie @ 10/27/2008 10:24:16 AM

    i think that if jamie is ready to have a baby then that is her decision and the press should get off her back about it, and britney is a whole other story but if needs help then let her want it just dont make her get it..
    -jamie (: <3

  • Posted By: pshyaitsjamie @ 10/27/2008 10:24:06 AM

    i think that if jamie is ready to have a baby then that is her decision and the press should get off her back about it, and britney is a whole other story but if needs help then let her want it just dont make her get it..
    -jamie (: <3

  • Posted By: pshyaitsjamie @ 10/27/2008 10:23:56 AM

    i think that if jamie is ready to have a baby then that is her decision and the press should get off her back about it, and britney is a whole other story but if needs help then let her want it just dont make her get it..
    -jamie (: <3

  • Posted By: pshyaitsjamie @ 10/27/2008 10:23:47 AM

    i think that if jamie is ready to have a baby then that is her decision and the press should get off her back about it, and britney is a whole other story but if needs help then let her want it just dont make her get it..
    -jamie (: <3

  • Posted By: pshyaitsjamie @ 10/27/2008 10:23:31 AM

    i think that if jamie is ready to have a baby then that is her decision and the press should get off her back about it, and britney is a whole other story but if needs help then let her want it just dont make her get it..
    -jamie (: <3

  • Posted By: pshyaitsjamie @ 10/27/2008 10:22:38 AM

    i think that if jamie is ready to have a baby then that is her decision and the press should get off her back about it, and britney is a whole other story but if needs help then let her want it just dont make her get it..
    -jamie (: <3

  • Posted By: alejandracastro07 @ 07/18/2008 9:26:58 AM

    Hi, Im a 19 yr. old mother. I got pregnant at age17, graduated, got married to my baby's daddy and my boyfriend of 3 yrs. And I gave birth @ 18 yrs. And although it hasn't been easy it also hasnt been hard. Some teens are alot more mature than your average 30 or even 40 yr old. Believe me I've seen some pretty selfish and immature parents. And maybe you have too. So I think that we shouldn't judge on age but maturity and although this story did "glamorize" teen pregnancy parents should tell their children that it's not the same with everyone. There are differences between a teen in school and a teen who has a career.

    ~Proud Teen Mother in Texas <3

    • Posted By: ahowa007 @ 07/18/2008 12:01:57 PM

      i think your immature for saying "my baby's daddy".

      • Posted By: alejandracastro07 @ 07/18/2008 4:29:14 PM

        I think ur immature for pointing that out. Would you rather me say The Father of My Child?

        • Posted By: eiu_graduate08 @ 07/18/2008 7:08:23 PM

          Yeah, you could do that for starters....."my baby's daddy" isn't something to proudly say....how lame is the younger generation? What's sad is that I am 22 and saying that....girls can get on birth control without their parents knowing!! The health department hands out free condoms!! To get pregnant accidentally (in most cases) requires you to be completely and utterly......well....STUPID!!!

          • Posted By: alejandracastro07 @ 07/31/2008 12:42:15 PM

            Would you call me stupid if I let you people know I'm in the Military? I didn't know that saying "My baby's daddy" made you immature and incompetent to raise a child. Have you watched I AM SAM? Very beautiful movie, if mentally challenged people can raise I child anyone should be able to. And yes I know it's just a movie but stuff like that happens in real life too. Here's a reason to call me immature... : P *PFFFT* ^^

          • Posted By: alejandracastro07 @ 07/31/2008 12:42:10 PM

            Would you call me stupid if I let you people know I'm in the Military? I didn't know that saying "My baby's daddy" made you immature and incompetent to raise a child. Have you watched I AM SAM? Very beautiful movie, if mentally challenged people can raise I child anyone should be able to. And yes I know it's just a movie but stuff like that happens in real life too. Here's a reason to call me immature... : P *PFFFT* ^^

          • Posted By: alejandracastro07 @ 07/31/2008 12:42:10 PM

            Would you call me stupid if I let you people know I'm in the Military? I didn't know that saying "My baby's daddy" made you immature and incompetent to raise a child. Have you watched I AM SAM? Very beautiful movie, if mentally challenged people can raise I child anyone should be able to. And yes I know it's just a movie but stuff like that happens in real life too. Here's a reason to call me immature... : P *PFFFT* ^^

          • Posted By: alejandracastro07 @ 07/31/2008 12:42:10 PM

            Would you call me stupid if I let you people know I'm in the Military? I didn't know that saying "My baby's daddy" made you immature and incompetent to raise a child. Have you watched I AM SAM? Very beautiful movie, if mentally challenged people can raise I child anyone should be able to. And yes I know it's just a movie but stuff like that happens in real life too. Here's a reason to call me immature... : P *PFFFT* ^^

          • Posted By: alejandracastro07 @ 07/31/2008 12:42:10 PM

            Would you call me stupid if I let you people know I'm in the Military? I didn't know that saying "My baby's daddy" made you immature and incompetent to raise a child. Have you watched I AM SAM? Very beautiful movie, if mentally challenged people can raise I child anyone should be able to. And yes I know it's just a movie but stuff like that happens in real life too. Here's a reason to call me immature... : P *PFFFT* ^^

          • Posted By: alejandracastro07 @ 07/31/2008 12:42:09 PM

            Would you call me stupid if I let you people know I'm in the Military? I didn't know that saying "My baby's daddy" made you immature and incompetent to raise a child. Have you watched I AM SAM? Very beautiful movie, if mentally challenged people can raise I child anyone should be able to. And yes I know it's just a movie but stuff like that happens in real life too. Here's a reason to call me immature... : P *PFFFT* ^^

          • Posted By: alejandracastro07 @ 07/31/2008 12:42:09 PM

            Would you call me stupid if I let you people know I'm in the Military? I didn't know that saying "My baby's daddy" made you immature and incompetent to raise a child. Have you watched I AM SAM? Very beautiful movie, if mentally challenged people can raise I child anyone should be able to. And yes I know it's just a movie but stuff like that happens in real life too. Here's a reason to call me immature... : P *PFFFT* ^^

          • Posted By: alejandracastro07 @ 07/31/2008 12:42:08 PM

            Would you call me stupid if I let you people know I'm in the Military? I didn't know that saying "My baby's daddy" made you immature and incompetent to raise a child. Have you watched I AM SAM? Very beautiful movie, if mentally challenged people can raise I child anyone should be able to. And yes I know it's just a movie but stuff like that happens in real life too. Here's a reason to call me immature... : P *PFFFT* ^^

          • Posted By: alejandracastro07 @ 07/31/2008 12:42:07 PM

            Would you call me stupid if I let you people know I'm in the Military? I didn't know that saying "My baby's daddy" made you immature and incompetent to raise a child. Have you watched I AM SAM? Very beautiful movie, if mentally challenged people can raise I child anyone should be able to. And yes I know it's just a movie but stuff like that happens in real life too. Here's a reason to call me immature... : P *PFFFT* ^^

          • Posted By: alejandracastro07 @ 07/31/2008 12:41:51 PM

            Would you call me stupid if I let you people know I'm in the Military? I didn't know that saying "My baby's daddy" made you immature and incompetent to raise a child. Have you watched I AM SAM? Very beautiful movie, if mentally challenged people can raise I child anyone should be able to. And yes I know it's just a movie but stuff like that happens in real life too. Here's a reason to call me immature... : P *PFFFT* ^^

          • Posted By: alejandracastro07 @ 07/31/2008 12:41:41 PM

            Would you call me stupid if I let you people know I'm in the Military? I didn't know that saying "My baby's daddy" made you immature and incompetent to raise a child. Have you watched I AM SAM? Very beautiful movie, if mentally challenged people can raise I child anyone should be able to. And yes I know it's just a movie but stuff like that happens in real life too. Here's a reason to call me immature... : P *PFFFT* ^^

          • Posted By: alejandracastro07 @ 07/31/2008 12:41:32 PM

            Would you call me stupid if I let you people know I'm in the Military? I didn't know that saying "My baby's daddy" made you immature and incompetent to raise a child. Have you watched I AM SAM? Very beautiful movie, if mentally challenged people can raise I child anyone should be able to. And yes I know it's just a movie but stuff like that happens in real life too. Here's a reason to call me immature... : P *PFFFT* ^^

  • Posted By: Danjiela @ 07/28/2008 2:20:05 AM

    who cares what's the name of the teenager girl, who having a baby. Itj's a celebrity or not, it is just a little girl for herself. This OK! magazine editors, would wish the same situation to their teenager girl/boy? How do they talk about this problem, in a point of you that tomorrow may hurt their own children decision for life. Inresponsible actions of their age are bing promoted!! God has mercy for! us, and help our youngs too

  • Posted By: jada3007 @ 07/28/2008 1:45:26 AM

    I think that many are forgetting that our grandparents and thier parents were also teen parents, if people look back it was thought to be bad if a women did not marry by the time she was 19 yrs old. Their relationships last for decades. Giving birth at a young age is hard and posses many difficulties. I should now I had my son when I was 17yrs old. People should understand that it is a choice that we all have to make, that is up to oneself to determine if we are ready for sex, for us to look for the information and the things needed to protect oneself from what can come with having sex. Teens should ask questions and parents should speak, yes, but even the best informed teenager can make a mistake at any moment, that is the reason why we should not judge. Teens girls are the ones that get judge and get called names but how about the teen boys making the baby with them? Shouldn't they be told something too? They neglect their responsiblity and keep living life like nothing ever happened! Problems like these are not going to go away because no one is perfect and temptation and the will to do what is wrong is in all of us! We, oneself should be the one to try to change our own life for the better. I am proud to say that I am 22 yrs old now, I am about to graduate college, married to the father of my children, and have two beautiful, healthy, intelligent boys! ( to make a marriage work, one should be willing to make sacrifices, love without greed, forgive and ask for forgiveness and above all love and follow God's advice!) Life your own life knowing and being informed. I learned all of this from my mom!

  • Posted By: jada3007 @ 07/28/2008 1:42:53 AM

    I think that many are forgetting that our grandparents and thier parents were also teen parents, if people look back it was thought to be bad if a women did not marry by the time she was 19 yrs old. Their relationships last for decades. Giving birth at a young age is hard and posses many difficulties. I should now I had my son when I was 17yrs old. People should understand that it is a choice that we all have to make, that is up to oneself to determine if we are ready for sex, for us to look for the information and the things needed to protect oneself from what can come with having sex. Teens should ask questions and parents should speak, yes, but even the best informed teenager can make a mistake at any moment, that is the reason why we should not judge. Teens girls are the ones that get judge and get called names but how about the teen boys making the baby with them? Shouldn't they be told something too? They neglect their responsiblity and keep living life like nothing ever happened! Problems like these are not going to go away because no one is perfect and temptation and the will to do what is wrong is in all of us! We, oneself should be the one to try to change our own life for the better. I am proud to say that I am 22 yrs old now, I am about to graduate college, married to the father of my children, and have two beautiful, healthy, intelligent boys! ( to make a marriage work, one should be willing to make sacrifices, love without greed, forgive and ask for forgiveness and above all love and follow God's advice!) Life your own life knowing and being informed. I learned all of this from my mom!

  • Posted By: jada3007 @ 07/28/2008 1:42:38 AM

    I think that many are forgetting that our grandparents and thier parents were also teen parents, if people look back it was thought to be bad if a women did not marry by the time she was 19 yrs old. Their relationships last for decades. Giving birth at a young age is hard and posses many difficulties. I should now I had my son when I was 17yrs old. People should understand that it is a choice that we all have to make, that is up to oneself to determine if we are ready for sex, for us to look for the information and the things needed to protect oneself from what can come with having sex. Teens should ask questions and parents should speak, yes, but even the best informed teenager can make a mistake at any moment, that is the reason why we should not judge. Teens girls are the ones that get judge and get called names but how about the teen boys making the baby with them? Shouldn't they be told something too? They neglect their responsiblity and keep living life like nothing ever happened! Problems like these are not going to go away because no one is perfect and temptation and the will to do what is wrong is in all of us! We, oneself should be the one to try to change our own life for the better. I am proud to say that I am 22 yrs old now, I am about to graduate college, married to the father of my children, and have two beautiful, healthy, intelligent boys! ( to make a marriage work, one should be willing to make sacrifices, love without greed, forgive and ask for forgiveness and above all love and follow God's advice!) Life your own life knowing and being informed. I learned all of this from my mom!

  • Posted By: heartily23 @ 07/27/2008 9:02:30 PM

    for me ok magazne did a fine job in handlng this kind of situation... i know having a baby at a young age is really bad but isn't taking responsibility bad too! that's all

  • Posted By: Striving_Neutral @ 07/27/2008 8:11:48 PM

    I'm fairly certain that it is a sin to have pre-marital sex, correct? But that isn't the point here. The point is that there is a 16 yr old child flaunting her own child on the cover of a magazine!!!! What does this say to young girls? I can tell you exactly what it says! "Hey, it's okay to be 16 years old and give birth to a baby!!! You are going to feel so great being a mother!" But what it doesn't say is there aren't going to be nannies, money, and carefree teenage days that these teens need! They don't see the cons to having a baby! They don't see the sleepless nights, the midnight trips to emergency rooms, the worrying about money so you can buy your child formula and diapers. Nope!!! They don't see all the things that could be stressful. They don't even realize that they might not get the opportunity to even finish high school. They think they will rely on their own parents to provide for their child's needs and wants. I, truthfully, think that the coverage on Jamie Lynn should come to an immediate halt. Don't sugar-coat it with all smiles and fun! It's given young girls the wrong impression. Some of these girls look up to her and want to be just like her...how do you think this is going to effect their lives, and the lives of their families?????

  • Posted By: Striving_Neutral @ 07/27/2008 8:11:16 PM

    I'm fairly certain that it is a sin to have pre-marital sex, correct? But that isn't the point here. The point is that there is a 16 yr old child flaunting her own child on the cover of a magazine!!!! What does this say to young girls? I can tell you exactly what it says! "Hey, it's okay to be 16 years old and give birth to a baby!!! You are going to feel so great being a mother!" But what it doesn't say is there aren't going to be nannies, money, and carefree teenage days that these teens need! They don't see the cons to having a baby! They don't see the sleepless nights, the midnight trips to emergency rooms, the worrying about money so you can buy your child formula and diapers. Nope!!! They don't see all the things that could be stressful. They don't even realize that they might not get the opportunity to even finish high school. They think they will rely on their own parents to provide for their child's needs and wants. I, truthfully, think that the coverage on Jamie Lynn should come to an immediate halt. Don't sugar-coat it with all smiles and fun! It's given young girls the wrong impression. Some of these girls look up to her and want to be just like her...how do you think this is going to effect their lives, and the lives of their families?????

  • Posted By: litapita @ 07/27/2008 8:02:26 PM

    so its just fine and dandy for her to get pregnant at 16 as long as she is able to pay her electricity bill??? i really dont understand the comments about her taking responsibilty, like just because she is a millionaire its somehow ok or negates the fact that she had a baby as a teen???

  • Posted By: MGCurmudgeon @ 07/23/2008 11:38:27 AM

    Complete twaddle. The girl is a rich slut and her mom is a nut case for exploiting her daughters in this way. What happened to common decency.

    • Posted By: inallfairness @ 07/27/2008 4:21:34 PM

      Very nice, a completely thoughtless curmudgeon, just what the world needs another opine from another small mind. Hey, remember this, ???judge not, unless you want to be judged.??? From the Bible, isn???t it? Slut? Quite interesting, I suppose you know this girl personally. And of course, people such as yourself are without sin, yes? Exactly, that was what I was thinking :)

  • Posted By: dianamcconnell @ 07/18/2008 8:48:50 PM

    Well with my daughter, before she started having sex, I spoke to her about it. I took her to a gyno Doc. and got her started on bitrh control. Jamie Lynn obviously, wasn't on birth control. But look how she handled it. She acted responsible and had the baby. CHEERS TO HER!! That is what this is about . IT just happened to someone famous. She should be happy and loving to her baby girl. It has absolutely nothing to do with glamorizing. I wish her the best!

    • Posted By: AWESOMENESS @ 07/18/2008 10:32:51 PM

      That is just fantastic that you gave your daughter the go-ahead... I hope I will one day know that my daughter is whoring around without having to worry about getting knocked up! Hopefully she avoids the dudes with rashes!

      Ever stop to think she may not be psychologically ready for sexual contact? Ever think, 'I am her parent... She is living in my house and I say 'NO'. Ever think of getting her into something constructive instead of giving into her hormones??? Sports, school, family time... "Idle hands are the devil's tools!" I guess you didn't... spend more time with your children parents! Let them be children! Don't be lazy! Don't let them fill their time with useless ventures!

      • Posted By: inallfairness @ 07/27/2008 4:12:10 PM

        Awesomeness, you are a quite an interesting creature. This woman didn???t say that she encouraged her daughter to go out and act promiscuously. What she wrote, if you bothered to read, was that she prepared her daughter for the world, i.e., Life 101. I think you are confusing your own lurid thought and behavioral patterns with this woman???s. If I remember correctly, the Bible says, ???judge not, unless you want to be judged (modernized).??? It is so hypocritical for someone who probably considers themselves to be good or godly to cast the first stone. You need to make sure that your house isn???t made of glass before you go throwing stones around :)

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