Pregnant at 12 years old

[ChrisH]

I was horrified at hearing and reading about this girl.

A 15-year-old boy is being prosecuted in connection with the case of a girl who fell pregnant at the age of 11.

The girl from West Lothian - who would become one of the UK's youngest mothers - told a newspaper that she was looking forward to having her child.

The teenage boy is due to appear in court in July charged with rape because of the age of the girl, who is now 12.

The case has prompted calls for a better teenage sexual health strategy in Scotland.

Green MSP Patrick Harvie said it showed that deficiencies in Scottish sex education must be addressed.

The Scottish Sun said the girl, who has not been named, had unprotected sex with the boy on a night out with friends in Edinburgh in August.

She said she was looking forward to motherhood and hopes she has a boy when she gives birth.

The girl added that she thought she would be able to cope as she'd had "lots of practice" looking after young children.

"I'm enjoying being pregnant - even though I get a bit of a sore back and sore ribs."

Her 34-year-old mother told the newspaper: "I'm not ashamed of my daughter at all - in fact, I'm proud of her for keeping her baby."

The newspaper said the girl smokes up to 20 cigarettes a day.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/...st/4764417.stm

[Karen]

Her mother should be slapped upside the head. The whole situation is appalling. If the girl is smoking up to 20 cigarettes a day, the baby may not even survive - the mother's young age and the cigarette smoking combined do not bode well. What are they thinking?

The 34-year-old is obviously no great shakes, being proud of her then-11-year-old keeping the baby - who will support them all? The government? The "mom-to-be" is still a child in every respect - won't even legally be an adult for years. What kind of future do any of them have?

Yes, I had a classmate leave school pregnant at age 12, and this was many years ago. It was NOT celebrated in the national press, her mother was NOT proud, the father of the child was not served with legal action, and the baby was carried to term then adopted quietly by an unrelated couple.

[gini]

Twelve years old?? A baby will be raising a baby! How very sad for all concerned.

[JenBKR]

OH. MY. GOSH. I can't even imagine.......what in the world is wrong with her mom - she's PROUD of her daughter?

[Edwina's Secretary]

I wonder if mum is also proud of her daughter smoking at age 12. Isn't that illegal too?

Poor child...both of them....

[Corinna]

Health stratagies? how about Morals and common sense.!

[Vela]

Her mother should be slapped upside the head. The whole situation is appalling. If the girl is smoking up to 20 cigarettes a day, the baby may not even survive - the mother's young age and the cigarette smoking combined do not bode well. What are they thinking?

The 34-year-old is obviously no great shakes, being proud of her then-11-year-old keeping the baby - who will support them all? The government? The "mom-to-be" is still a child in every respect - won't even legally be an adult for years. What kind of future do any of them have?

Yes, I had a classmate leave school pregnant at age 12, and this was many years ago. It was NOT celebrated in the national press, her mother was NOT proud, the father of the child was not served with legal action, and the baby was carried to term then adopted quietly by an unrelated couple.

Very well said. That's disgusting.