Interview With Sarah Matthews On Teenage Pregnancy

Kylie — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 04:28:06 -0600

Sarah was in year 11 at high school on the Gold Coast and 16 years old when she found out that she was pregnant. Her beautiful baby girl is now 15 months old and Sarah is a dedicated and loving mother. Read our interview with her:

Was your pregnancy planned?

No, not at all!

How did you get into this situation?

I think I was in denial about being in a sexual relationship. I am from a Christian home and we don't believe in sex before marriage.

Had you thought about using protection?

No, because I was denying (even to myself) that I was having sex.

Had you discussed sexual issues with any adults prior to falling pregnant?

No. We didn't have any sex education courses at school and I hadn't felt comfortable speaking with my parents about sex.

What made you think you could be pregnant?

I missed my period a couple of times.

How did you confirm it and what was the time frame from suspecting to finding out?

Well, I thought I could be pregnant so I searched the Internet to find out some more information about things to look for if you are pregnant. I guess some time passed by and it was on my mind…but then we had an accident with the computer and in short, Mum and Dad ended up seeing what I had been searching on the Internet. They realized the situation, I did a home pregnancy test which had a positive result and then it was confirmed shortly after when I visited the doctor.

So, how were the initial discussions with your parents?

It was really difficult. It was hard to see their disappointment. They were shocked but I guess it wasn't too bad considering the circumstances.

How did you make your decisions about keeping your baby?

As a Christian, I didn't even consider abortion. I thought, "It's not the baby's fault!". I considered adoption but knew that after carrying the child for 9 months I wouldn't be able to give her up. So, I decided to keep the baby

What kind of support do you have?

Well, my parents have been a great source of support and I have just recently married the baby's father who has also been fantastic…..so I'm very lucky. My entire family has been great.

What advice do you have for teenage girls?

If you don't want to have sex, don't spend too much time alone together. My parents always said this but I didn't understand……now it makes sense! Group dating is good! Also you should make sure you are informed and have knowledge about the consequences of sex and understand your body and how it works. Finally, you should know that after having a baby your body is never the same! Weight becomes an issue and your boobs aren't perky anymore…it's not a big deal but it is different!

Thanks so much Sarah for sharing your experience with us and we wish you, your husband and your daughter all the very best!!!

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