16 and Pregnant

MTV’s hit reality show 16 and Pregnant chronicles the drama-filled lives of teens who find themselves facing parenthood at a very young age.

16 and Pregnant: Babies having babies.

In an effort to show its young viewers that teenage pregnancy is less than glamorous, MTV greenlighted 16 and Pregnant. The reality show is shot in a documentary format and is the brainchild of award-winning actor Morgan Freeman. The series debuted in June 2009 and quickly attracted a legion of loyal fans.

In season one of 16 and Pregnant, six girls from different parts of the country shared their tales of unplanned parenthood. Each 60-minute episode typically begins when the girl is about six to eight months pregnant and ends shortly after the baby is born. In between, viewers get a taste of what happens when average high school students are forced to grow up at lightening speed. The drama-packed show is filled with tears, arguments and regret. It also exposes the stark reality of stolen childhoods and rocky relationships.

The teen moms portrayed on 16 and Pregnant run the gamut from the outgoing, popular high school cheerleader to the shy bookworm with self esteem issues. Still, despite their differences the girls share one thing in common: They’re scared to death to give birth.

Maci is on the college fast track. She is smart, athletic and has lots of friends. However, having unprotected sex with her boyfriend Ryan leads to an unplanned pregnancy. The Tennessee teen decides to keep the baby, but in doing so she learns that she must sacrifice her dreams. What’s more, Maci and Ryan’s rocky relationship intensifies when they move into an apartment together. Ryan is not thrilled about the prospect of becoming a new father and it shows.

Shortly after Maci gives birth to baby Bentley her life begins to crumble around her. Maci struggles to balance motherhood, college and a part-time job. In addition, Ryan is no help and hints at wanting to break-up. In the end, the teen parents agree to put more effort in to their relationship for the sake of their young son.

Farrah seems to have the perfect life. She is a pretty cheerleader who loves to party and has no shortage of friends. However, her life gets turned upside down when she learns that she is pregnant. Not only do Farrah’s friends abandon her, but the baby’s daddy is no longer in the picture and her relationship with her mother becomes strained as well.

Farrah gives birth to a baby girl named Sophia and is faced with finishing high school, juggling mommy duties and dealing with her overbearing mother, who constantly admonishes the teen for making bad choices. In the weeks following Sophia’s birth the tension between Farrah and her mother mounts and culminates with Farrah’s mother slapping her teenage daughter. At that point Farrah realizes her young, carefree days are over and she devises a plan to balance school and life as a young mother.

Amber is a typical high school senior living in conservative Anderson, Indiana. She and her boyfriend Gary spend a lot of time together and end up having unprotected sex. When the couple finds out they are having a baby they decide to move in together, much to the chagrin of Amber’s parents, who don’t approve of Gary.

While Amber prepares the baby’s nursery Gary blows money on expensive video games. Financial strains begin to take their toll of the young couple and their strained relationship takes a toll on Amber’s health. In an effort to make amends, Gary proposes to Amber and a few weeks later they welcome their daughter Leah. After the birth of the baby, Amber and Gary vow to stay together no matter what life hands them.

Ebony has always dreamed of joining the US Air Force. Unfortunately, the high school senior is forced to put her plans on hold when she learns that she is pregnant. Ebony’s boyfriend Josh is still a child himself and makes life more difficult for the soon-to-be teen mom. Adding to the drama is the rocky relationship Josh has with his own parents and the boy’s lack of desire to grow up. While Josh skips school and jeopardizes his chance of graduating, Ebony is hard at work trying to finish her courses and enroll in college, all while coming to terms with the fact that her life is about to change forever.

Once the baby arrives the fighting between Ebony and Josh escalates. Ebony chastises her baby’s daddy about being immature and selfish, then urges him to start acting like a father. She also points out that she has made more sacrifices than he has. In the end, Josh promises to step it up and make the relationship work.

Whitney is a shy, soft-spoken southern girl from Rome, Georgia, who is living with her boyfriend Weston, her pregnant mother Michelle, her mother's boyfriend, and her grandmother in her grandmother's tiny house. The crowded home becomes even more cramped when Whitney learns she is about to add to the family. The high school junior has a hard time going from being the baby of the family to having her own child.

Ashamed of her situation, Whitney drops out of high school and remains in seclusion with Weston. Things go from bad to worse when Whitney develops pregnancy complications and her doctor decides to induce her. The timid teen gives birth to a baby boy she names after his father, Weston. After Weston's Jr.'s birth, the young couple moves in with Weston's parents. Fortunately, Weston Sr. is a hands-on daddy, who picks up the slack while Whitney adjusts to life as a teen mom.

When 16-year-old Catelynn and her boyfriend Tyler learn that they are about to become parents, they choose an unlikely option — adoption. Going against the wishes of their parents, the teens choose a wealthy suburban Michigan couple, Brandon and Theresa, to raise their daughter Carly. However, the decision doesn’t come easy and is made even harder by Catelynn and Tyler’s unsupportive and emotionally unstable parents.

Catelynn and Tyler admit that the adoption was the hardest thing they had to do, but they know they couldn’t have provided for their daughter the way Brandon and Theresa could. The teen couple agrees to a semi-open adoption, which allows them to visit their baby as she grows. The powerful episode illustrates the courage and strength of character Catelynn and Tyler possess in making the ultimate sacrifice for the welfare of their daughter.

In July 2009 MTV announced plans to renew 16 and Pregnant, though no airdate has been set for season two’s debut. In addition, the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy has teamed up with MTV to provide viewing guides for each episode so teens who watch the show, can learn more about safe sex and options available for teen mothers.

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