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| We Are Middlesbrough: Pregnant teenagers tell their story | We Are Middlesbrough: Pregnant teenagers tell their story |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Middlesbrough has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in England and Wales. But for one 16-year-old from the town, getting pregnant saved her life. | Middlesbrough has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in England and Wales. But for one 16-year-old from the town, getting pregnant saved her life. |
| Robyn used to "get mortal" (drunk) and "end up at random parties". But when she was pregnant, she vowed to change. | |
| She stopped drinking and smoking marijuana, saying: "I used to be pretty crazy. Being pregnant has calmed me down." | She stopped drinking and smoking marijuana, saying: "I used to be pretty crazy. Being pregnant has calmed me down." |
| Teen births have been falling nationally but rising in Middlesbrough. | Teen births have been falling nationally but rising in Middlesbrough. |
| Robyn's mother Shelly recalls one night when the police arrived at the house - yet again. | Robyn's mother Shelly recalls one night when the police arrived at the house - yet again. |
| "It was around midnight and the police knocked on the door - they were bringing Robyn home from a party. | "It was around midnight and the police knocked on the door - they were bringing Robyn home from a party. |
| "She'd drunk an entire bottle of vodka at an unknown man's flat, passed out, got into the bath and was found sprawled naked on the living room floor. She was 15." | "She'd drunk an entire bottle of vodka at an unknown man's flat, passed out, got into the bath and was found sprawled naked on the living room floor. She was 15." |
| Robyn added: "When I met my boyfriend and got pregnant I realised that that couldn't happen any more. | Robyn added: "When I met my boyfriend and got pregnant I realised that that couldn't happen any more. |
| "I'm so excited to meet my baby girl - we had a gender reveal party and even though I would have been happy with a boy, I really wanted my own little girl. | "I'm so excited to meet my baby girl - we had a gender reveal party and even though I would have been happy with a boy, I really wanted my own little girl. |
| "When we popped the balloon and I saw the pink confetti, I cried with happiness." | "When we popped the balloon and I saw the pink confetti, I cried with happiness." |
| Her daughter is due at the end of June. | Her daughter is due at the end of June. |
| Shelly said: "Robyn is actually the fourth generation of teen mams in our family. | Shelly said: "Robyn is actually the fourth generation of teen mams in our family. |
| "I've told Robyn it's time to grow up now and she has - I'm proud of how she's changed for her baby. | "I've told Robyn it's time to grow up now and she has - I'm proud of how she's changed for her baby. |
| "When Robyn was a bit older I went to Durham University and completed a degree in human science - I think of it as doing my life the other way around." | "When Robyn was a bit older I went to Durham University and completed a degree in human science - I think of it as doing my life the other way around." |
| In Middlesbrough, there were 43.8 teen pregnancies per 1,000 girls in the year to December 2017, compared with an average of 17.9 in England and Wales. | In Middlesbrough, there were 43.8 teen pregnancies per 1,000 girls in the year to December 2017, compared with an average of 17.9 in England and Wales. |
| The next highest rate was in St Helens in Merseyside with 37.1 pregnancies per 1,000 teenagers. | |
| Teenage pregnancy is linked to fewer life chances - a higher risk of the child and the parent living in poverty, an increased risk of infant mortality and a higher chance of the mother experiencing mental health problems. | Teenage pregnancy is linked to fewer life chances - a higher risk of the child and the parent living in poverty, an increased risk of infant mortality and a higher chance of the mother experiencing mental health problems. |
| It is more then 15 years since the government launched its Teenage Pregnancy Strategy in response to England having one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Western Europe. | It is more then 15 years since the government launched its Teenage Pregnancy Strategy in response to England having one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Western Europe. |
| Since then, the under-18 conception rate has dropped by 60% and the proportion of teenage mothers in education and training has doubled. | Since then, the under-18 conception rate has dropped by 60% and the proportion of teenage mothers in education and training has doubled. |
| But in Middlesbrough over the two years from 2015 to 2017 it jumped from 36.5 to 43.8 - a rise of 20%. | But in Middlesbrough over the two years from 2015 to 2017 it jumped from 36.5 to 43.8 - a rise of 20%. |
| Megan, who is also from Middlesbrough, was 17 when she learned she was 23 weeks pregnant with her baby boy. | Megan, who is also from Middlesbrough, was 17 when she learned she was 23 weeks pregnant with her baby boy. |
| She said: "My baby will be loved and cared for. | She said: "My baby will be loved and cared for. |
| "I've finished my college course in performing arts and after about a year out I plan to either go back to college or get a job. | "I've finished my college course in performing arts and after about a year out I plan to either go back to college or get a job. |
| "Being a teenage mam won't stop me. I'm lucky - my family are supportive." | "Being a teenage mam won't stop me. I'm lucky - my family are supportive." |
| Durham University's professor of sociology Dr Kimberly Jamie said: "We need to stop accepting the middle-class life trajectory as the 'right' way for young people, especially women, to live their lives. | Durham University's professor of sociology Dr Kimberly Jamie said: "We need to stop accepting the middle-class life trajectory as the 'right' way for young people, especially women, to live their lives. |
| "The school to university to career to house to marriage to children isn't possible or desirable for all young women, yet those who take a different route through life are positioned as irresponsible, or as having somehow failed. | "The school to university to career to house to marriage to children isn't possible or desirable for all young women, yet those who take a different route through life are positioned as irresponsible, or as having somehow failed. |
| "Teenage pregnancy is understood as a death knell for any kind of career success rather than acknowledging that post-16 education and careers are still available for women in their 30s or 40s when their children are grown up and they have time to start a new career." | "Teenage pregnancy is understood as a death knell for any kind of career success rather than acknowledging that post-16 education and careers are still available for women in their 30s or 40s when their children are grown up and they have time to start a new career." |
| This story was created as part of We Are Middlesbrough - a BBC project with people of the town to tell the stories that matter to them. | This story was created as part of We Are Middlesbrough - a BBC project with people of the town to tell the stories that matter to them. |